A research team has pinpointed the microscopic process behind quantum order collapse in natural open quantum systems for the first time. This breakthrough connects ideal quantum theory with practical technologies that function in everyday conditions, where perfect isolation proves impossible.
Decoding Ultrafast Electronic Decoherence
High-order harmonics emerge when intense light strikes solid materials, offering value for material analysis, ultrafast pulses, and high-energy light sources. Yet, ultrafast electronic decoherence disrupts the quantum state in just 1–2 femtoseconds during this process. Researchers worldwide puzzled over its root cause for over a decade.
Professor JaeDong Lee from DGIST’s Department of ics and Chemistry led the team in developing a new computational method using the Lindblad master equation. This approach surpasses traditional quantum master equations by precisely modeling electron-electron interactions alongside electron-environment exchanges.
Unraveling Superradiance and Broadband Emission
The study examines superradiance and broadband emission in solid-state high-order harmonic generation. It reveals interference between these effects, resulting in mutual cancellation. Environment interactions, like superradiance, drive ultrafast electronic decoherence in open quantum systems, solving a persistent scientific riddle.
Boost for Practical Quantum Technologies
“Ultrafast electronic decoherence in solids—a mystery for over a decade—stems from environmental interactions in open quantum systems,” states Professor JaeDong Lee from DGIST’s Department of ics and Chemistry. “This work links ideal quantum theory to reliable quantum engineering, challenging assumptions of isolated systems in quantum tech.”
The findings appear in Advanced Science under the title “Superradiance and Broadband Emission Driving Fast Electron Dephasing in Open Quantum Systems” by Gimin Bae et al. (2026). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202522729
