METRIC FLUCTUATIONS, THERMODYNAMICS, AND CLASSICAL PHYSICS - A PROPOSED CONNECTION

Quantum fluctuations on the metrics of three-space are supposed to uni versally affect the time evolution of the systems. The Schrodinger equ ation is modified to account for these fluctuations and the density ma trix of one-particle system, in the coordinates representation, is cal culated by using Feynman's path integral method. The evolution is nonu nitary, although preserving the initial normalization of the wavefunct ion. This leads initially to loss of quantum coherence and increase of entropy. For longer times the system loses its quantum interference p roperties, thus becoming classical. All that can happen very fast for macroscopic systems. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.