The effect of decoherence is analyzed for a free particle interacting with an environment via dissipative coupling. The interaction between the particle and the environment occurs by a coupling of the position operator of the particle with the environmental degrees of freedom. By examining the exact solution of the density-matrix equation, one finds that the density matrix becomes completely diagonal in momentum with time, while the position space density matrix remains nonlocal. This establishes the momentum basis as the emergent ‘‘preferred basis’’ selected by the environment, which is contrary to the general expectation that position should emerge as the preferred basis, since the coupling with the environment is via the position coordinate.

• Received 4 March 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.50.2742