Comparing Information Loss: Time Dilation vs. Decoherence

[asklepian]

TL;DR Summary

How do time dilation and decoherence cause apparent information loss? Is perceived information loss in high decoherence environments due to faster information transfer, and how does this compare to time dilation effects?

Hello everyone,

In light of this recent paper, I have some questions. I'm trying to deepen my understanding of information loss in the contexts of time dilation and quantum decoherence and would appreciate some insights grounded in established physics theories.

Time Dilation and Information Loss:​

In the case of time dilation, particularly near a black hole, a distant observer sees a clock slowing down as it approaches the event horizon. The clock's ticks (emissions of photons) appear to become less frequent until they cease altogether at the event horizon. This leads to an apparent loss of information about the clock's state for the distant observer.

Decoherence and Information Transfer:​

In quantum mechanics, decoherence describes how a quantum system loses its coherent superposition states due to interactions with its environment. In a high decoherence environment, this process happens rapidly, causing the system to appear more classical and less quantum. The information about the quantum state is transferred to the environment, making it inaccessible to local measurements of the system alone.

Key Questions:​

1. Apparent Information Loss in Decoherence:
   • Is it scientifically accurate to consider the apparent information loss in a high decoherence environment as an increase in the rate of information transfer to the environment?
   • How does this rapid transfer of information lead to an apparent loss of information for an outside observer, who is part of that environment but cannot access the detailed environmental states?
2. Comparison to Time Dilation:
   • Given that both phenomena involve the observer's inability to access complete information, can we draw a meaningful analogy between the information loss due to time dilation and the rapid information transfer in decoherence?
   • How do established theories in quantum mechanics and general relativity explain these apparent losses of information, and what are the key differences and similarities?

I'm looking for explanations that adhere to well-established scientific principles and avoid speculative theories. Your insights and references to relevant literature would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help!
Asklepian

 

[PeterDonis]

In the case of time dilation, particularly near a black hole, a distant observer sees a clock slowing down as it approaches the event horizon. The clock's ticks (emissions of photons) appear to become less frequent until they cease altogether at the event horizon. This leads to an apparent loss of information about the clock's state for the distant observer.

No, there is no loss of information due to time dilation. The distant observer takes longer to see the clock's ticks, but each tick that takes place above the horizon is still seen.

In quantum mechanics, decoherence describes how a quantum system loses its coherent superposition states due to interactions with its environment. In a high decoherence environment, this process happens rapidly, causing the system to appear more classical and less quantum. The information about the quantum state is transferred to the environment, making it inaccessible to local measurements of the system alone.

That doesn't mean the information is lost. Decoherence is a unitary process, and unitary processes do not create or destroy information.

Your questions are unanswerable as they are based on false premises.