INTRINSIC DECOHERENCE IN THE ATOM-FIELD INTERACTION

Milburn has recently proposed [Phys. Rev. A '', 5401 (1991)] a variati on of the Schrodinger equation which models decoherence as the system evolves through intrinsic mechanisms beyond conventional quantum mecha nics rather than dissipative interaction with an environment. In this paper we give an exact solution of this equation and apply it to the J aynes-Cummings model of atom-field interaction with nontrivial dynamic s. We show that the intrinsic decoherence is responsible for deteriora tion of quantum coherence effects in this model, such as revivals of t he atomic inversion. We discuss the applicability of the Milburn equat ion.