We extend previous work on the arrival time problem in quantum mechanics, in the framework of decoherent histories, to the case of a particle coupled to an environment. The usual arrival time probabilities are related to the probability current, so we explore the properties of the current for general open systems that can be written in terms of a master equation of the Lindblad form. We specialize to the case of quantum Brownian motion, and show that after a time of order the localization time of the current becomes positive. We show that the arrival time probabilities can then be written in terms of a positive operator-valued measure (POVM), which we compute. We perform a decoherent histories analysis including the effects of the environment and show that time-of-arrival probabilities are decoherent for a generic state after a time much greater than the localization time, but that there is a fundamental limitation on the accuracy $\ensuremath{\delta}t$, with which they can be specified which obeys $E\ensuremath{\delta}t\ensuremath{\gg}\ensuremath{\hbar}$. We confirm that the arrival time probabilities computed in this way agree with those computed via the current, provided there is decoherence. We thus find that the decoherent histories formulation of quantum mechanics provides a consistent explanation for the emergence of the probability current as the classical arrival time distribution, and a systematic rule for deciding when probabilities may be assigned.
An effective approach to open systems and irreversible phenomena is presented, where an open system
Σ(d) with
d-dimensional Hilbert space, is a subsystem of a larger isolated system
Σ(2d) (the `full universe') with
2d-dimensional Hilbert space. A family of Bargmann-like representations (called
z-Bargmann representations) introduces naturally the larger space. The
z-Bargmann representations are defined through semi-unitary matrices (which are a coherent states formalism in disguise). The `openness' of the system is quantified with the probability current that flows from the system to the external world. The Grothendieck quantity
Q is shown to be related to the probability current, and is used as a figure of merit for the `openness' of a system.
Q is expressed in terms of `rescaling transformations' which change not only the phase but also the absolute value of the wavefunction, and are intimately linked to irreversible phenomena (e.g., damping/amplification). It is shown that unitary transformations in the isolated system
Σ(2d) (full universe), reduce to rescaling transformations when projected to its open subsystem
Σ(d). The values of the Grothendieck
Q for various quantum states in an open system, are compared with those for their counterpart states in an isolated system.
We derive the equations of quantum mechanics and quantum thermodynamics from the assumption that a quantum system can be described by an underlying classical system of particles. Each component
ϕj of the wave vector is understood as a stochastic complex variable whose real and imaginary parts are proportional to the coordinate and momentum associated to a degree of freedom of the underlying classical system. From the classical stochastic equations of motion, we derive a general equation for the covariance matrix of the wave vector which turns out to be of the Lindblad type. When the noise changes only the phase of
ϕj, the Schrödinger and the quantum Liouville equation are obtained. The component
ψj of the wave vector obeying the Schrödinger equation is related to stochastic wave vector by
∣ψj∣2=⟨∣ϕj∣2⟩.
Abstract There is a current interest in quantum thermodynamics in the context of open quantum systems. An important issue is the consistency of quantum thermodynamics, in particular the second law of thermodynamics, i.e. the flow of heat from a hot reservoir to a cold reservoir. Here recent emphasis has been on composite system and in particular the issue regarding the application of local or global master equations. In order to contribute to this discussion we discuss two cases, namely as an example a single qubit and as a simple composite system two coupled qubits driven by two heat reservoirs at different temperatures, respectively. Applying a global Lindblad master equation approach we present explicit expressions for the heat currents in agreement with the second law of thermodynamics. The analysis is carried out in the Born–Markov approximation. We also discuss issues regarding the possible presence of coherences in the steady state.
It is shown that evolution of an open quantum system can be exactly described in terms of wave function which obeys Schrodinger equation with randomly varying parameters whose statistics is universally determined by separate dynamics of the system's environment. Corresponding stochastic evolution of the wave function is unitary on average, and this property implies optical theorem for inelastic scattering as demonstrated by the example of one-dimensional conducting channel with thermally fluctuating potential perturbation.
Abstract We derive the equations of quantum mechanics and quantum thermodynamics from the assumption that a quantum system can be described by an underlying classical system of particles. Each component φ j of the wave vector is understood as a stochastic complex variable whose real and imaginary parts are proportional to the coordinate and momentum associated with a degree of freedom of the underlying classical system. From the classical stochastic equations of motion, we derive a general equation for the covariance matrix of the wave vector, which turns out to be of the Lindblad type. When the noise changes only the phase of φ j , the Schrödinger and the quantum Liouville equations are obtained. The component ψ j of the wave vector obeying the Schrödinger equation is related to the stochastic wave vector by | ψ j | 2 = ⟨ | ϕ j | 2 ⟩ .