‘Blind spot’ moment when quantum order dies decoded as researchers find femtosecond chaos

Researchers found that quantum order can collapse within one to two femtoseconds during high-order harmonic generation.

Using the Lindblad master equation with a 1D Hubbard model, they simulated open quantum systems including environmental interactions.

They show destructive interference between superradiance and broadband emission rapidly destroys coherence.

The work explains ultrafast electron dephasing microscopically and may guide experiments to test the findings.