Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2306.04677 · New Journal of Physics

Modified quantum regression theorem and consistency with Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition

Sakil Khan, Bijay Kumar Agarwalla, Sachin Jain

Published Nov 26, 2024• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We show that the long-time limit of the two-point correlation function obtained via the standard quantum regression theorem (QRT), a standard tool to compute correlation functions in open quantum systems, does not respect the Kubo–Martin–Schwinger equilibrium condition to the non-zero order of the system-bath coupling. We then follow the recently developed Heisenberg operator method for open quantum systems and by applying a ‘weak’ Markov approximation, derive a new modified version of the QRT that not only respects the KMS condition but further predicts exact answers for certain paradigmatic models in specific limits. We also show that in cases where the modified QRT does not match with exact answers, it always performs better than the standard QRT.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/ad976f

Related papers

Steady-state correlation function beyond the standard weak-coupling limit and consistency with the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger relation

Sakil Khan, Lokendra Singh Rathore, Sachin Jain

Thermalization of a system when interacting with a thermal bath is an interesting problem. If a system eventually reaches a thermal state in the long time limit, it's expected that its density matrix would resemble the mean-force Gibbs state. Moreover, the correlation function must satisfy the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition, or equivalently, the fluctuation-dissipation relation (FDR). In this paper, we derive a formal expression for the non-Markovian two-point function within the context of the weak coupling limit. Using this expression, we explicitly compute the two-point function for specific models, demonstrating their adherence to the KMS. In addition, we formulate a nonperturbative approach in the form of a self-consistent approximation that includes a partial resummation of perturbation theory. This approach can capture strong coupling phenomena while still relying on simple equations. Notably, we verify that the two-point function obtained through this method also satisfies the KMS condition.

Physical Review A•Mar 17, 2025•2 citations

Emergence of distinct relaxation behaviour and Quantum Regression Theorem in the Ultra-strong Coupling Limit

Sakil Khan, Bijay Kumar Agarwalla

In the framework of open quantum systems, we derive the dynamical equation governing two-time correlation functions in the ultra-strong coupling (USC) regime between the system and its environment. Unlike the case of the standard weak-coupling regime, in the USC case, we find distinct relaxation behavior for two-time correlators depending on the types of the operators involved in the correlation function. Interestingly, the Quantum Regression Theorem (QRT) emerges after the fastest relaxation time-scale, which is governed by the system-bath coupling strength. We exemplify our findings for the dissipative spin-boson model and further find excellent agreement with the numerically exact hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) method.

arXiv:2508.08378•Aug 11, 2025•0 citations

Steady state correlation function beyond the standard weak coupling limit and consistency with KMS relation

Sakil Khan, Rathore, Lokendra Singh, Sachin Jain

Thermalization of a system when interacting with a thermal bath is an interesting problem. If a system eventually reaches a thermal state in the long time limit, it's expected that its density matrix would resemble the mean-force Gibbs state. Moreover, the correlation function must satisfy the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition or equivalently the Fluctuation-Dissipation Relation (FDR). In this paper, we derive a formal expression for the non-Markovian two-point function within the context of the weak coupling limit. Using this expression, we explicitly compute the two-point function for specific models, demonstrating their adherence to the KMS. In addition, we have formulated a non-perturbative approach in the form of a self-consistent approximation that includes a partial resummation of perturbation theory. This approach can capture strong coupling phenomena while still relying on simple equations. Notably, we verify that the two-point function obtained through this method also satisfies the KMS condition.

arXiv:2401.16488•Jan 29, 2024•0 citations

Quantum regression theorem for multi-time correlators: A detailed analysis in the Heisenberg picture

Sakil Khan, Bijay Kumar Agarwalla, Sachin Jain

The quantum regression theorem is one of the central results in open quantum systems and is extensively used for computing multi-point correlation functions. Traditionally it is derived for two-time correlators in the Markovian limit employing the Schr\"odinger picture. In this paper we make use of the Heisenberg picture to derive the quantum regression theorems for multi-time correlation functions, which in the special limit reduce to the well-known two-time regression theorem. For the multi-time correlation function we find that the regression theorem takes the same form as it takes for the two-time correlation function with a mild restriction that one of the times should be greater than all other time variables. Interestingly, the Heisenberg picture also allows us to derive an analog of regression theorem for out-of-time-ordered correlators. We further extend our study for the case of non-Markovian dynamics and report the modifications to the standard quantum regression theorem. We illustrate all of the above results using the paradigmatic dissipative spin-boson model.

arXiv:2111.14879•Physical Review A•Aug 23, 2022•17 citations

Beyond the Quantum Regression Theorem in Variational Polaron Master Equations: from Ohmic to Super-Ohmic Environments

Matias Bundgaard-Nielsen, Jake Iles-Smith

While the quantum regression theorem (QRT) is the standard tool for computing multi-time correlation functions in open quantum systems, it relies on system-bath separability and an environment that remains in equilibrium, assumptions that are violated once dynamical correlations develop. Using the projection operator formalism, we derive an extension to the QRT that explicitly incorporates these correlation-induced corrections, enabling us to capture multi-time correlation functions in non-Markovian regimes. We apply this framework to the variational polaron master equation for the spin-boson model in ohmic and super-ohmic regimes, where the polaron transformation mixes system-bath degrees of freedom to produce a non-thermal effective environment. Benchmarking against numerically exact tensor-network simulations, we demonstrate quantitative agreement for single- and two-time observables, including linear-response spectra, even at strong coupling. Our approach broadens the reach of analytic master equations to multi-time observables in strong-coupling and non-Markovian regimes, where environmental memory effects and system-bath correlations are crucial.

quant-pharXiv:2604.13541•The Journal of Chemical Physics•Apr 16, 2026•0 citations

Non-Markovian finite-temperature two-time correlation functions of system operators: Beyond the quantum regression theorem

Hsi‐Sheng Goan, Po‐Wen Chen, Chung-Chin Jian

An extremely useful evolution equation that allows systematically calculating the two-time correlation functions (CF's) of system operators for non-Markovian open (dissipative) quantum systems is derived. The derivation is based on perturbative quantum master equation approach, so non-Markovian open quantum system models that are not exactly solvable can use our derived evolution equation to easily obtain their two-time CF's of system operators, valid to second order in the system-environment interaction. Since the form and nature of the Hamiltonian are not specified in our derived evolution equation, our evolution equation is applicable for bosonic and/or fermionic environments and can be applied to a wide range of system-environment models with any factorized (separable) system-environment initial states (pure or mixed). When applied to a general model of a system coupled to a finite-temperature bosonic environment with a system coupling operator L in the system-environment interaction Hamiltonian, the resultant evolution equation is valid for both L = L(†) and L ≠ L(†) cases, in contrast to those evolution equations valid only for L = L(†) case in the literature. The derived equation that generalizes the quantum regression theorem (QRT) to the non-Markovian case will have broad applications in many different branches of physics. We then give conditions on which the QRT holds in the weak system-environment coupling case and apply the derived evolution equation to a problem of a two-level system (atom) coupled to the finite-temperature bosonic environment (electromagnetic fields) with L ≠ L(†).

arXiv:1103.1502•The Journal of Chemical Physics•Mar 28, 2011•41 citations
Abstract We show that the long-time limit of the two-point correlation function obtained via the standard quantum regression theorem (QRT), a standard tool to compute correlation functions in open quantum systems, does not respect the Kubo–Martin–Schwinger equilibrium condition to the non-zero order of the system-bath coupling. We then follow the recently developed Heisenberg operator method for open quantum systems and by applying a ‘weak’ Markov approximation, derive a new modified version of the QRT that not only respects the KMS condition but further predicts exact answers for certain paradigmatic models in specific limits. We also show that in cases where the modified QRT does not match with exact answers, it always performs better than the standard QRT.
Thermalization of a system when interacting with a thermal bath is an interesting problem. If a system eventually reaches a thermal state in the long time limit, it's expected that its density matrix would resemble the mean-force Gibbs state. Moreover, the correlation function must satisfy the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition, or equivalently, the fluctuation-dissipation relation (FDR). In this paper, we derive a formal expression for the non-Markovian two-point function within the context of the weak coupling limit. Using this expression, we explicitly compute the two-point function for specific models, demonstrating their adherence to the KMS. In addition, we formulate a nonperturbative approach in the form of a self-consistent approximation that includes a partial resummation of perturbation theory. This approach can capture strong coupling phenomena while still relying on simple equations. Notably, we verify that the two-point function obtained through this method also satisfies the KMS condition.
In the framework of open quantum systems, we derive the dynamical equation governing two-time correlation functions in the ultra-strong coupling (USC) regime between the system and its environment. Unlike the case of the standard weak-coupling regime, in the USC case, we find distinct relaxation behavior for two-time correlators depending on the types of the operators involved in the correlation function. Interestingly, the Quantum Regression Theorem (QRT) emerges after the fastest relaxation time-scale, which is governed by the system-bath coupling strength. We exemplify our findings for the dissipative spin-boson model and further find excellent agreement with the numerically exact hierarchical equations of motion (HEOM) method.
Thermalization of a system when interacting with a thermal bath is an interesting problem. If a system eventually reaches a thermal state in the long time limit, it's expected that its density matrix would resemble the mean-force Gibbs state. Moreover, the correlation function must satisfy the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition or equivalently the Fluctuation-Dissipation Relation (FDR). In this paper, we derive a formal expression for the non-Markovian two-point function within the context of the weak coupling limit. Using this expression, we explicitly compute the two-point function for specific models, demonstrating their adherence to the KMS. In addition, we have formulated a non-perturbative approach in the form of a self-consistent approximation that includes a partial resummation of perturbation theory. This approach can capture strong coupling phenomena while still relying on simple equations. Notably, we verify that the two-point function obtained through this method also satisfies the KMS condition.
The quantum regression theorem is one of the central results in open quantum systems and is extensively used for computing multi-point correlation functions. Traditionally it is derived for two-time correlators in the Markovian limit employing the Schr\"odinger picture. In this paper we make use of the Heisenberg picture to derive the quantum regression theorems for multi-time correlation functions, which in the special limit reduce to the well-known two-time regression theorem. For the multi-time correlation function we find that the regression theorem takes the same form as it takes for the two-time correlation function with a mild restriction that one of the times should be greater than all other time variables. Interestingly, the Heisenberg picture also allows us to derive an analog of regression theorem for out-of-time-ordered correlators. We further extend our study for the case of non-Markovian dynamics and report the modifications to the standard quantum regression theorem. We illustrate all of the above results using the paradigmatic dissipative spin-boson model.
While the quantum regression theorem (QRT) is the standard tool for computing multi-time correlation functions in open quantum systems, it relies on system-bath separability and an environment that remains in equilibrium, assumptions that are violated once dynamical correlations develop. Using the projection operator formalism, we derive an extension to the QRT that explicitly incorporates these correlation-induced corrections, enabling us to capture multi-time correlation functions in non-Markovian regimes. We apply this framework to the variational polaron master equation for the spin-boson model in ohmic and super-ohmic regimes, where the polaron transformation mixes system-bath degrees of freedom to produce a non-thermal effective environment. Benchmarking against numerically exact tensor-network simulations, we demonstrate quantitative agreement for single- and two-time observables, including linear-response spectra, even at strong coupling. Our approach broadens the reach of analytic master equations to multi-time observables in strong-coupling and non-Markovian regimes, where environmental memory effects and system-bath correlations are crucial.
An extremely useful evolution equation that allows systematically calculating the two-time correlation functions (CF's) of system operators for non-Markovian open (dissipative) quantum systems is derived. The derivation is based on perturbative quantum master equation approach, so non-Markovian open quantum system models that are not exactly solvable can use our derived evolution equation to easily obtain their two-time CF's of system operators, valid to second order in the system-environment interaction. Since the form and nature of the Hamiltonian are not specified in our derived evolution equation, our evolution equation is applicable for bosonic and/or fermionic environments and can be applied to a wide range of system-environment models with any factorized (separable) system-environment initial states (pure or mixed). When applied to a general model of a system coupled to a finite-temperature bosonic environment with a system coupling operator L in the system-environment interaction Hamiltonian, the resultant evolution equation is valid for both L = L(†) and L ≠ L(†) cases, in contrast to those evolution equations valid only for L = L(†) case in the literature. The derived equation that generalizes the quantum regression theorem (QRT) to the non-Markovian case will have broad applications in many different branches of physics. We then give conditions on which the QRT holds in the weak system-environment coupling case and apply the derived evolution equation to a problem of a two-level system (atom) coupled to the finite-temperature bosonic environment (electromagnetic fields) with L ≠ L(†).