We present a general treatment of a bosonic dissipative network: a chain of coupled dissipative harmonic oscillators whatever its topology---i.e., whichever the way the oscillators are coupled together, the strength of their couplings, and their natural frequencies. Starting with a general more realistic scenario where each oscillator is coupled to its own reservoir, we also discuss the case where all the network oscillators are coupled to a common reservoir. We obtain the master equation governing the dynamic of the network states and the associated evolution equation of the Glauber-Sudarshan $P$ function. With these instruments we briefly show how to analyze the decoherence and the evolution of the linear entropy of general states of the network. We also show how to obtain the master equation for the case of distinct reservoirs from that of a common one.We present a general treatment of a bosonic dissipative network: a chain of coupled dissipative harmonic oscillators whatever its topology---i.e., whichever the way the oscillators are coupled together, the strength of their couplings, and their natural frequencies. Starting with a general more realistic scenario where each oscillator is coupled to its own reservoir, we also discuss the case where all the network oscillators are coupled to a common reservoir. We obtain the master equation governing the dynamic of the network states and the associated evolution equation of the Glauber-Sudarshan $P$ function. With these instruments we briefly show how to analyze the decoherence and the evolution of the linear entropy of general states of the network. We also show how to obtain the master equation for the case of distinct reservoirs from that of a common one.

Physical Review ASep 4, 200726 citations

Perturbative treatment of inter-site couplings in the local description of open quantum networks

Anton Sergeevich Trushechkin, Igor Vasil'evich Volovich

A system of sites weakly coupled to each other and to one or more reservoirs (open quantum network) is considered. A new quantum master equation which improves shortcomings of the master equation known in the so-called local approach is derived. The usual quantum master equation describing the weak coupling of the system with reservoir requires the knowledge of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian of the system, so it often becomes impractical. By this reason, when the inter-site couplings are weak, the local approach, which neglects the influence of the inter-site couplings on the system-reservoir couplings, is often used. However, recently, it was reported that the local approach master equation leads to the violation of the second law of thermodynamics. We develop a systematic perturbation expansion to derive corrections to the local approach master equation. Using this improvement of the local approach, we derive an expression for the heat flux for a particular model and show that it does not violate the second law of thermodynamics.A system of sites weakly coupled to each other and to one or more reservoirs (open quantum network) is considered. A new quantum master equation which improves shortcomings of the master equation known in the so-called local approach is derived. The usual quantum master equation describing the weak coupling of the system with reservoir requires the knowledge of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Hamiltonian of the system, so it often becomes impractical. By this reason, when the inter-site couplings are weak, the local approach, which neglects the influence of the inter-site couplings on the system-reservoir couplings, is often used. However, recently, it was reported that the local approach master equation leads to the violation of the second law of thermodynamics. We develop a systematic perturbation expansion to derive corrections to the local approach master equation. Using this improvement of the local approach, we derive an expression for the heat flux for a particular model and show that it does not violate the second law of thermodynamics.

arXiv:1509.05754Europhysics Letters (EPL)Feb 1, 2016145 citations

Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics of Open Systems

Gérard G. Emch, Geoffrey L. Sewell

A theoretical framework for the nonequilibrium statistical mechanics of open systems is constructed. This is concerned with a formulation of a generalized master equation governing the evolution of an arbitrary system S in interaction with a ``large'' reservoir R. The dynamics of S are analyzed on the basis of a precise quantum-mechanical treatment of the microscopic equations of motion for the combined system S + R. On proceeding to the thermodynamical limit for R we obtain a generalized master equation for S, subject to specified conditions on the many-particle structure of R, its initial state, and its coupling to S. This master equation corresponds to a self-contained law of motion for S, in which the R variables appear only in the forms of certain thermal averages, taken over the initial state. This dynamical law is a generalization of the quantum-mechanical Liouville equation to a form appropriate to open systems.A theoretical framework for the nonequilibrium statistical mechanics of open systems is constructed. This is concerned with a formulation of a generalized master equation governing the evolution of an arbitrary system S in interaction with a ``large'' reservoir R. The dynamics of S are analyzed on the basis of a precise quantum-mechanical treatment of the microscopic equations of motion for the combined system S + R. On proceeding to the thermodynamical limit for R we obtain a generalized master equation for S, subject to specified conditions on the many-particle structure of R, its initial state, and its coupling to S. This master equation corresponds to a self-contained law of motion for S, in which the R variables appear only in the forms of certain thermal averages, taken over the initial state. This dynamical law is a generalization of the quantum-mechanical Liouville equation to a form appropriate to open systems.

Journal of Mathematical PhysicsJun 1, 196860 citations

A Theoretical Solution for a Nonlinear Master Equation

Gang Ren, Jian-ming Du

International Journal of Theoretical PhysicsMar 26, 20120 citations

P

function. With these instruments we briefly show how to analyze the decoherence and the evolution of the linear entropy of general states of the network. We also show how to obtain the master equation for the case of distinct reservoirs from that of a common one.