A nuclear magnetic resonance answer to the Boltzmann-Loschmidt controversy?

Citation
Hm. Pastawski et al., A nuclear magnetic resonance answer to the Boltzmann-Loschmidt controversy?, PHYSICA A, 283(1-2), 2000, pp. 166-170
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICA A
ISSN journal
03784371 → ACNP
Volume
283
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
166 - 170
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-4371(20000801)283:1-2<166:ANMRAT>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
A unique experimental tool to deepen into the Boltzmann-Loschmidt controver sy is provided by the NMR polarization echoes (PE). These appear when a loc al spin excitation, evolving with a many-body "diffusive" spin dynamics, is reversed. The attenuation of the PEs represents a progresive failure of th e quantum interferences to rebuild the local excitation. Our results indica te that, in the absence of detectable environmental interactions, the chara cteristic time of this attenuation is determined by the reversible dynamics itself, i.e., spin-spin interaction time. This supports the Boltzmann's hy pothesis of molecular "chaos". (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.