title: Generation of macroscopic superpositions of quantum states by linear coupling to a bath.
abstract: We demonstrate through an exactly solvable model that collective coupling to any thermal bath induces effectively nonlinear couplings in a quantum many-body (multispin) system. The resulting evolution can drive an uncorrelated large-spin system with high probability into a macroscopic quantum-superposition state. We discuss possible experimental realizations.
authors.affiliation: Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. dasari@weizmann.ac.il
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Bhaktavatsala Rao
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bar-Gill
authors.forename: Gershon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurizki