We study a non-Markovian spin-1∕2 master equation with exponential memory. We derive the conditions under which the dynamical map describing the reduced system dynamics is completely positive, i.e., the nonunitary evolution of the system is compatible with a description in terms of a closed total spin-reservoir system. Our results show that for a zero-T reservoir, the dynamical map of the model here considered is never completely positive. For moderate- and high-T reservoirs, on the contrary, positivity is a necessary and sufficient condition for complete positivity. We also consider the Shabani-Lidar master equation recently introduced [A. Shabani and D.A. Lidar, Phys. Rev. A 71, 020101(R) (2005)] and we demonstrate that such a master equation is always completely positive.
We study the concepts of complete positivity and positivity in a two-level open quantum system whose dynamics are governed by a time-local quantum master equation. We establish necessary and sufficient conditions on the time-dependent relaxation rates to ensure complete positivity and positivity of the dynamical map. We discuss their relations with the non-Markovian behavior of the open system. We also analyze the long-time asymptotic behavior of the dynamics as a function of the rates. We show under which conditions on the rates the system tends to an equilibrium state. Different examples illustrate this general study.