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arXiv:2305.19704 · Quantum

Tutorial: projector approach to master equations for open quantum systems

Carlos Gonzalez-Ballestero

Published Aug 29, 2024• 5 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Most quantum theorists are familiar with different ways of describing the effective quantum dynamics of a system coupled to external degrees of freedom, such as the Born-Markov master equation or the adiabatic elimination. Understanding the deep connection between these -- sometimes apparently unrelated -- methods can be a powerful tool, allowing us to derive effective dynamics in unconventional systems or regimes. This tutorial aims at providing quantum theorists across multiple fields (e.g., quantum and atom optics, optomechanics, or hybrid quantum systems) with a self-contained practical toolbox to derive effective quantum dynamics, applicable to systems ranging from N -level emitters to mechanical resonators. First, we summarize the projector approach to open quantum systems and the derivation of the fundamental Nakajima-Zwanzig equation. Then, we show how three common effective equations, namely the Brownian master equation, the Born-Markov master equation, and the adiabatic elimination used in atom and molecular optics, can be derived from different perturbative expansions of the Nakajima-Zwanzig equation. We also solve in detail four specific examples using this formalism, namely a harmonic oscillator subject to displacement noise, the effective equations of a mechanical resonator cooled by an optical cavity, the Purcell effect for a qubit coupled to an optical cavity, and the adiabatic elimination in a Lambda system.

DOI
10.22331/q-2024-08-29-1454

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Most quantum theorists are familiar with different ways of describing the effective quantum dynamics of a system coupled to external degrees of freedom, such as the Born-Markov master equation or the adiabatic elimination. Understanding the deep connection between these -- sometimes apparently unrelated -- methods can be a powerful tool, allowing us to derive effective dynamics in unconventional systems or regimes. This tutorial aims at providing quantum theorists across multiple fields (e.g., quantum and atom optics, optomechanics, or hybrid quantum systems) with a self-contained practical toolbox to derive effective quantum dynamics, applicable to systems ranging from N -level emitters to mechanical resonators. First, we summarize the projector approach to open quantum systems and the derivation of the fundamental Nakajima-Zwanzig equation. Then, we show how three common effective equations, namely the Brownian master equation, the Born-Markov master equation, and the adiabatic elimination used in atom and molecular optics, can be derived from different perturbative expansions of the Nakajima-Zwanzig equation. We also solve in detail four specific examples using this formalism, namely a harmonic oscillator subject to displacement noise, the effective equations of a mechanical resonator cooled by an optical cavity, the Purcell effect for a qubit coupled to an optical cavity, and the adiabatic elimination in a Lambda system.
Open Quantum Brownian Motion (OQBM) is a new class of quantum Brownian motion in which the dynamics of the Brownian particle depend not only on interactions with a thermal environment but also on the state of its internal degrees of freedom. For an Ohmic bath spectral density with a Lorentz--Drude cutoff frequency at a high-temperature limit, we derive the Born--Markov master equation for the reduced density matrix of an open Brownian particle in a harmonic potential. The resulting master equation is written in phase-space representation using the Wigner function, and due to the separation of associated timescales in the high-damping limit, we perform adiabatic elimination of the momentum variable to obtain OQBM. We numerically solve the derived master equation for the reduced density matrix of the OQBM, using both Gaussian and non-Gaussian initial distributions. In each case, the OQBM dynamics converge to several Gaussian distributions. To gain physical insight into the studied system, we also plotted the dynamics of the off-diagonal element of the open quantum Brownian particle and found damped coherent oscillations. Finally, we investigated the time-dependent variance in the position of the OQBM walker and observed initial diffusive spreading, followed by a crossover to a finite steady-state value.
This thesis investigates two thematic lines of research, both underpinned by non-Markovian system-reservoir interactions in quantum optics. The overarching focus is on modelling the open system dynamics in a non-perturbative fashion, broadly on - though not restricted to - instances when the environment is structured. A theory is developed by means of enlarging the open system over environmental degrees of freedom to include memory effects in its dynamics. This is achieved using an established technique that involves mapping a bosonic environment onto a 1D chain of harmonic oscillators. Within this setting, we apply a Heisenberg equation-of-motion approach to derive an exact set coupled differential equations for the open system and a single auxiliary oscillator of the chain. The combined equations are shown to have their interpretation rooted in a quantum Markov stochastic process. Including the auxiliary chain oscillator as part of the original system then enables us to obtain an exact master equation for the enlarged system, avoiding any need for the Born-Markov approximations. Our method is valid for a dissipative two-state system, with cases of multiple excitations and added driving discussed. Separately, we apply the framework of quantum Darwinism to an atom-cavity system, and, subsequently, to a more general multiple-environment model. In both cases, the time-dependent spread of correlations between the open system and fractions of the environment is analysed during the course of the decoherence process. The degree to which information is redundant across different fractions is checked to infer the emergence of classicality. In the second case, we go further and present a decomposition of information in terms of its quantum and classical correlations. A quantitative measure of redundancy is also studied with regard to its ability to witness non-Markovian behaviour. Besides fundamental interest, our results have application to quantum information processing and quantum technologies, keeping in mind the potential beneficial use of non-Markovian effects in reservoir engineering.
Typically, we are interested in a small system (a few particles, or some region in space), entangled with its surroundings. Exact equations (Dyson or Nakajima–Zwanzig) for the reduced system dynamics are readily derived using suitable projection operators. They are rarely solvable, however, since full account is taken for mutual influences between the system and its environment. Nevertheless, for weak mutual coupling, environment-induced dynamics in the (small) system can be much slower than system-induced dynamics in the (large) environment. This justifies the Born–Markov approximation, leading to closed equations for the system. In Hilbert space, we demonstrate the emergence of irreversible dynamics and exponential decay for pure sates. In Liouville space, we derive the Redfield equation. Invoking the secular (or, rotating-wave) approximation, we derive Pauli’s master equations, which properly account for relaxation to equilibrium. Rates of spontaneous emission, coherence transfer (Bloch equations), and pure dephasing are derived and analyzed for a dissipative qubit.
We develop a systematic field-theoretical approach to open quantum systems based on condensed-matter many-body methods. The time evolution of the reduced density matrix for the open quantum system is determined by a transmission matrix. Developing diagrammatic perturbation theory, invoking Wick's theorem in connection with a Caldeira-Leggett quantum oscillator environment in thermal equilibrium, the transmission matrix satisfies a Dyson equation characterized by an irreducible kernel. Unlike the Nakajima-Zwanzig and standard approaches, the Dyson equation is equivalent to a general non-Markovian master equation for the reduced density matrix, incorporating secular effects and independent of the initial preparation. The kernel is determined by a systematic diagrammatic expansion in powers of the interaction. We consider the Born approximation for the kernel. Applying a condensed-matter pole or, equivalently, a quasiparticle-type approximation, equivalent to the usual assumption of a timescale separation, we derive a master equation of the Markov type. Furthermore, imposing the rotating-wave approximation, we obtain a Markov master equation of the Lindblad form. To illustrate the method, we consider the standard example of a single qubit coupled to a thermal heat bath.
The non-Markovian master equation for open quantum systems is obtained by generalization of the ordinary Zwanzig-Nakajima (ZN) projection technique. To this end, a coupled chain of equations for the reduced density matrices of the bath ϱB(t)\varrho_{B}(t)ϱB​(t) and the system ϱS(t)\varrho_{S}(t)ϱS​(t) are written down. A formal solution of the equation for ϱB(t)\varrho_{B}(t)ϱB​(t), having been inserted in the equation for the reduced density matrix of the system, in the 2-nd approximation in interaction yields a very specific extra term in the generalized master equation. This term, being nonlinear in ϱS(t)\varrho_{S}(t)ϱS​(t), is related to the intrinsic bath dynamics and vanishes in the Markovian limit. To verify the consistence and robustness of our approach, we applied the generalized ZN projection scheme to a simple dephasing model. It is shown that consideration of the lowest order in interaction is insufficient to describe time evolution of the system coherence adequately. We explain this fact by analyzing the exact and approximate forms of ϱB(t)\varrho_{B}(t)ϱB​(t) and give some hints how to take the dynamic correlations (which originate from the spin-bath coupling) into account.
We discuss the use of the Born and Markov approximations in describing the dynamics of an atom laser. In particular, we investigate the applicability of the quantum optical Born-Markov master equation for describing output coupling. We derive conditions based on the atomic reservoir and atom dispersion relations for when the Born-Markov approximations are valid and discuss parameter regimes where these approximations fail in our atom laser model. Differences between the standard optical laser model and the atom laser are due to a combination of factors, including the parameter regimes in which a typical atom laser would operate, the different reservoir state that is appropriate for atoms, and the different dispersion relations between atoms and photons. We present results based on an exact method in the regimes in which the Born-Markov approximation fails. The exact solutions in some experimentally relevant parameter regimes give a nonexponential loss of atoms from a cavity.