Abstract Quantum dissipation is studied for a discrete system that linearly interacts with a reservoir of harmonic oscillators at thermal equilibrium. Initial correlations between system and reservoir are assumed to be absent. The dissipative dynamics as determined by the unitary evolution of system and reservoir is described by a Kraus map consisting of an infinite number of matrices. For all Laplace-transformed Kraus matrices exact solutions are constructed in terms of continued fractions that depend on the pair correlation functions of the reservoir. By performing factorizations in the Kraus map a perturbation theory is set up that conserves in arbitrary perturbative order both positivity and probability of the density matrix. The latter is determined by an integral equation for a bitemporal matrix and a finite hierarchy for Kraus matrices. In the lowest perturbative order this hierarchy reduces to one equation for one Kraus matrix. Its solution is given by a continued fraction of a much simpler structure as compared to the non-perturbative case. In the lowest perturbative order our non-Markovian evolution equations are applied to the damped Jaynes–Cummings model. From the solution for the atomic density matrix it is found that the atom may remain in the state of maximum entropy for a significant time span that depends on the initial energy of the radiation field.
Abstract Quantum dissipation is studied for a discrete system that linearly interacts with a reservoir of harmonic oscillators at thermal equilibrium. Initial correlations between system and reservoir are assumed to be absent. The dissipative dynamics as determined by the unitary evolution of system and reservoir is described by a Kraus map consisting of an infinite number of matrices. For all Laplace-transformed Kraus matrices exact solutions are constructed in terms of continued fractions that depend on the pair correlation functions of the reservoir. By performing factorizations in the Kraus map a perturbation theory is set up that conserves in arbitrary perturbative order both positivity and probability of the density matrix. The latter is determined by an integral equation for a bitemporal matrix and a finite hierarchy for Kraus matrices. In the lowest perturbative order this hierarchy reduces to one equation for one Kraus matrix. Its solution is given by a continued fraction of a much simpler structure as compared to the non-perturbative case. In the lowest perturbative order our non-Markovian evolution equations are applied to the damped Jaynes–Cummings model. From the solution for the atomic density matrix it is found that the atom may remain in the state of maximum entropy for a significant time span that depends on the initial energy of the radiation field.
Quantum dissipation is studied for a discrete system that linearly interacts with a reservoir of harmonic oscillators at thermal equilibrium. Initial correlations between system and reservoir are assumed to be absent. The dissipative dynamics as determined by the unitary evolution of system and reservoir is described by a Kraus map consisting of an infinite number of matrices. For all Laplace-transformed Kraus matrices exact solutions are constructed in terms of continued fractions that depend on the pair correlation functions of the reservoir.
Starting from unitary dynamics we study the evolution in time of a non-relativistic quantum system that exchanges energy with a thermal reservoir of harmonic oscillators. System and reservoir are assumed to be initially decorrelated. Reservoir correlation functions are factorized by means of a Kraus compliant version of Wick's theorem. As a result, the non-Markovian Kraus map for the system density operator can be completely expressed in terms of system potentials and reservoir pair correlation functions. An infinite hierarchy for the evolution operators of the Kraus map is derived. The system density operator is obtained as a time-ordered exponential containing a non-Markovian counterpart of the standard Markovian generator for dissipative dynamics. We specify a condition on this non-Markovian generator for return to thermal equilibrium. We set up a non-Markovian perturbation theory that preserves both trace and positivity of the system density operator.
Starting from a prescribed Hamiltonian, we construct a non-Markovian evolution equation for a non-relativistic quantum system that exchanges energy with a large reservoir. In order to create sufficient mathematical freedom, the density operator is replaced by a more flexible entity that depends on two times. If these times are chosen equal, the density operator is recovered. In deriving a non-Markovian integral equation for our bitemporal operator, it is assumed that initially system and reservoir are completely uncorrelated. Furthermore, in employing Wick's theorem for factorization of reservoir correlation functions, only those Wick contractions between reservoir potentials are retained that belong to a generalized nearest-neighbour class. The latter is established by subjecting the set of plain nearest-neighbour contractions to any cyclic permutation of reservoir potentials. Through generalizing the notion of nearest-neighbour contraction, it is ensured that the trace of the density operator is conserved. By construction, our bitemporal evolution equation agrees with the Kraus map for quantum dissipation. Moreover, a sound Markovian limit exists that reproduces the complete van Hove–Davies theory. By making use of a rotating-wave approximation and Laplace transformation, the density operator of a damped N -level atom can be computed. For large times and moderate coupling to the reservoir, the atom ends up near the state of thermal equilibrium. At zero temperature, our non-Markovian integral equation gives an exact solution for the atomic density operator.
In order to describe the evolution of a quantum system that is coupled to a reservoir, a non-phenomenological Kraus map is constructed. At time zero, system and reservoir are not entangled. In the perturbative series for the density operator of the system all reservoir correlation functions are factorised into products of pair-correlation functions. This allows for a resummation of the perturbative series up to infinite order. The density operator can be expressed in terms of an auxiliary system operator that satisfies an analytically tractable integral equation. Hence, the difficulties caused by integral kernels of Nakajima-Zwanzig type are circumvented. Assuming an interaction between system and reservoir of the Jaynes-Cummings form, one shows that the Kraus map is capable of generating Rabi oscillations of a two-level atom. If the reservoir is a continuum, the Kraus map reproduces the Wigner-Weisskopf theory of spontaneous emission.
By combining iterative methods with Laplace transformation, we construct the solution of a dissipative Jaynes–Cummings model. The dissipative part of the model is based on the standard Markovian master equation for a harmonic oscillator that is coupled to a heat bath of nonzero temperature. Besides photon loss, we also take into account frequency detuning between atom and field. Before commencing the iteration, we subject the matrix elements of the density operator to a transformation that depends on temperature. As a result, the pole structure of all Laplace transformed matrix elements is improved. It becomes manifest which poles do not contribute to the asymptotic behavior of the density operator. In proving that our iterative process yields convergent results, we assume upper bounds on: the matrix elements of the density operator, the matrix elements of the initial density operator, the damping parameter of the heat bath, and the temperature of the heat bath. All of these bounds are physically acceptable. The photon field may start from a coherent state or a number state. For experiments in a microwave cavity, temperatures of the order of 0.1 [K] are allowed. As an application, the evolution of the atomic density matrix is studied. We propose a limit for which this matrix converges to the state of maximum von Neumann entropy. The time, the cubed initial energy density, and the inverse of the damping parameter must tend to infinity equally fast. The photon field is assumed to be in a number state at time zero, whereas the initial state of the atom can be chosen freely.
These notes are a short introduction to the mathematical theory of open quantum systems. They are meant to serve as an entry point into a broad research area which has applications across the quantum sciences dealing with systems subjected to external noise. The guiding idea is to let the key structures of the theory emerge from a concrete model. By working through the dissipative Jaynes-Cummings model the reader will dis- cover explicitly how irreversible dynamics arises from a unitary system-reservoir evolution. The notions of the continuous mode limit, correlation functions, spectral density appear in a natural manner and lead to the evolution equation of the open system in form of a master equation. This sets the stage for the more general analysis of completely positive, trace preserving (CPTP) maps and the study of quantum dynamical semigroups. We motivate and prove the Kraus representation theorem, the dilation theorem and the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad (GKSL) theorem. Working through the exercises (for which full solutions are supplied) will reinforce the ideas introduced in the main text.