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Phys. Rev. A 72, 022107 (2005) [12 pages]

Quantum theory of friction

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Stephen M. Barnett1 and James D. Cresser2,3
1Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom
2Department of Physics, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
3Australian Centre for Quantum Computer Technology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia

Received 11 May 2005; published 17 August 2005

We present a Markovian quantum theory of friction. Our approach is based on the idea that collisions between a Brownian particle and single molecules of the surrounding medium constitute, as far as the particle is concerned, instantaneous simultaneous measurements of its position and momentum.

© 2005 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.72.022107
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevA.72.022107
PACS:
03.65.Ta, 05.40.−a
 
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