Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Loss of quantum coherence (phase relation between the quantum states of particles) in a physical system as it interacts with its environment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Qualifier: quantum mechanics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The normal condition of sensitiveness in a coherer; reversion to such condition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, dated, uncountable
Topics: engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
First attested 1902 (OED) in the electrical engineering sense "the resetting of a coherer." From decohere (also 1902) + -ence, representing the verbal noun (compare decohesion, decoherency). The quantum mechanics concept was introduced in 1970 by German physicist H. Dieter Zeh, writing in the journal Foundations of Physics.
Across languages
7 source translations are retained for this English entry.
