Microscopic mechanism of 'quantum collapse' in real-world environments uncovered for the first time

Key Points:

• A research team led by Professor JaeDong Lee at DGIST has, for the first time, elucidated the microscopic mechanism behind the loss and collapse of quantum order in open quantum environments, bridging the gap between ideal quantum theory and real-world quantum technologies.
• The study, published in Advanced Science, addresses the long-standing mystery of ultrafast electronic decoherence occurring within 1–2 femtoseconds during high-order harmonic generation in solids, a process important for material characterization and ultrafast light pulse generation.
• By developing a novel computational approach based on the Lindblad master equation, the team precisely modeled electron-electron and electron-environment interactions, overcoming limitations of previous quantum master equations.
• The researchers discovered that interference between superradiance and broadband emission leads to mutual cancellation, confirming that environmental interactions are key to ultrafast electronic decoherence in solids.
• This breakthrough provides a foundation for connecting theoretical quantum physics with practical quantum engineering, challenging existing quantum technology concepts that assume isolated quantum systems.