Effects of initial coherence on distinguishability of pure/mixed states and chiral stability in an open chiral system

We examine how initial coherences in open chiral systems affect distinguishability of pure versus mixed states and purity decay. Interaction between a system and an environment is modeled by a continuous position measurement and a two-level approximation is taken for the system. The resultant analytical solution is explored for various parameters, with emphasis on the interplay of initial coherences of the system and dephasing rate in determining the purity decay and differences in the time evolution of pure versus mixed initial states. Implications of the results for several fundamental problems are noted. (author)