Theory of decoherence at solid surfaces

Decoherence processes at solid surfaces are observed at all time scales. The most common surface processes are classified according to the presently common view on decoherence theory. Prominent examples of decoherent surface processes are electronic relaxation and deexcitation, vibrational relaxation, diffusion, inelastic scattering, sticking, STM-induced chemical reactions and desorption, localization of adsorbates. Various mechanisms, suggested at the present state of the art of decoherence theory, are investigated for their ability of providing the understanding of decoherence at solid surfaces. In some cases environmental decoherence by coupling to phonons and electron-hole pairs in the surface is a viable mechanism. Some new ideas are introduced, which have not been discussed in the framework of decoherence theory so far.