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decoherence

Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Decohering action.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun engineering the normal condition of sensitiveness in a coherer (disused)
  • noun physics The process by which a quantum system interacts with its environment in such a way that no interference between states of the system can be observed.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

First attested 1902 (OED), in the context of electrical engineering, in the sense of the resetting of a coherer. Decoherence is the verbal noun, standing besides decohesion, derived from decohere (also attested from 1902), the de- negative of cohere (17th century).

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Examples

  • A popular interpretation of Quantum Mechanics called "decoherence" is one interpretation where a conscious mind is not an essential component to physics but is a passive spectator.

    Another Look 2009

  • Whether his idea about gravity causing quantum decoherence is a correct physical theory remains to be seen.

    Are Changes Brewing and How Does the Mind Fit In? 2008

  • Whether his idea about gravity causing quantum decoherence is a correct physical theory remains to be seen.

    Are Changes Brewing and How Does the Mind Fit In? 2008

  • That process is called decoherence, and it happens very fast.

    How to Teach Physics to Your Dog CHAD ORZEL 2009

  • This process of random interactions destroying quantum effects is known as decoherence, because it’s destroying the coherence between the different parts of the photon wavefunction.

    How to Teach Physics to Your Dog CHAD ORZEL 2009

  • The answer is a process called decoherence, which prevents the different branches of the wavefunction from interacting with one another.

    How to Teach Physics to Your Dog CHAD ORZEL 2009

  • As I understand it, decoherence occurs when the wave functions of two possible states of a system become sufficiently different (that is, sufficiently nearly orthogonal, right?) that no interference effects between the two states are observable.

    Quantum Hyperion Sean 2008

  • Personally, I am hoping for the first - I rather like the idea of decoherence as a limiting process.

    Humankind’s Basic Picture of the Universe Sean 2006

  • This loss of coherence, appropriately called decoherence, is among other reasons why we perceive everyday objects as separate and not as blurred together.

    ENTANGLED MINDS DEAN RADIN 2006

  • This loss of coherence, appropriately called decoherence, is among other reasons why we perceive everyday objects as separate and not as blurred together.

    ENTANGLED MINDS DEAN RADIN 2006

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same context (24)

Words that are found in similar contexts

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  11. kool-aid
  12. manageability
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  16. physics
  17. polluter
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  19. ramjet
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  22. regimentation
  23. slipperiness
  24. teleportation

relateds (1)

relateds

  1. decoherent

Comments

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  • scarequotes commented on the word decoherence

    http://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2015/9/11/9310873/decoherence-democracy-doomed

    Wallach starts his essay by noting that a growing number of scholars have raised concerns that government policymaking institutions are operating in ways that are provisional at best, possibly bordering on illegitimate: "Caesarism. Government by Deal. Government by Waiver. Kludgeocracy. Lawless law... adhocracy," Wallach writes (providing useful links). He argues, however, that these are all just pieces of a larger puzzle: "The deeper and greater problem is — if I can be forgiven for adding yet another label to the already lengthy list —decoherence."

    Wallach borrows "decoherence" from quantum mechanics, and takes the term to describe the condition where "elements of a system that had been interacting become disconnected from each other, no longer sharing information"

    September 11, 2015