Spin-boson models are paradigmatic examples of open quantum systems and serve as the theoretical paradigm for current quantum computers based on single-ion trap technology. Despite their ubiquity, a complete spectral diagonalization of these models remains an open problem, except in highly singular regimes. This paper establishes a rigorous framework for the approximate diagonalization of generalized spin-boson systems. Our approach is inspired by the Brockett-Wegner double-commutator flow, which is a non-linear differential equation governing the evolution of (here unbounded) operators. Unlike relatively recent applications of this flow to quadratic Hamiltonians in quantum field theory, it does not close in the spin-boson context. We overcome this fundamental obstruction by performing a detailed analysis of the resulting non-closed algebraic structure, allowing us to explicitly bound the higher-order error term with respect to the spin-boson coupling strength. Consequently, this work provides the first mathematically rigorous justification for several heuristic diagonalization techniques widely employed in the theoretical physics literature for small-coupling regimes, in the simplest non-trivial cases. More broadly, our framework renders a flow-based algorithm feasible for systematic higher-order diagonalization and self-energy renormalization. This strategy is conceptually akin to multi-scale analysis, or, much more recently, to the iterative, local Lie-Schwinger block-diagonalization method by Fröhlich and Pizzo.Spin-boson models are paradigmatic examples of open quantum systems and serve as the theoretical paradigm for current quantum computers based on single-ion trap technology. Despite their ubiquity, a complete spectral diagonalization of these models remains an open problem, except in highly singular regimes. This paper establishes a rigorous framework for the approximate diagonalization of generalized spin-boson systems. Our approach is inspired by the Brockett-Wegner double-commutator flow, which is a non-linear differential equation governing the evolution of (here unbounded) operators. Unlike relatively recent applications of this flow to quadratic Hamiltonians in quantum field theory, it does not close in the spin-boson context. We overcome this fundamental obstruction by performing a detailed analysis of the resulting non-closed algebraic structure, allowing us to explicitly bound the higher-order error term with respect to the spin-boson coupling strength. Consequently, this work provides the first mathematically rigorous justification for several heuristic diagonalization techniques widely employed in the theoretical physics literature for small-coupling regimes, in the simplest non-trivial cases. More broadly, our framework renders a flow-based algorithm feasible for systematic higher-order diagonalization and self-energy renormalization. This strategy is conceptually akin to multi-scale analysis, or, much more recently, to the iterative, local Lie-Schwinger block-diagonalization method by Fröhlich and Pizzo.

arXiv:2608.28208Aug 28, 20260 citations

Dynamics of the spin–boson system

Ulrich Weiß, Maura Sassetti

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksDec 1, 19933 citations

Some results on the spin-boson model

Juan José García‐Ripoll

Aug 20, 20140 citations

Functional renormalization group for few-nucleon systems: SU(4) symmetry and its breaking

Michael C. Birse, Boris Krippa, Niels R. Walet

We apply the functional renormalization group to few-nucleon systems. Our starting point is a local effective action that includes three- and four-nucleon interactions, expressed in terms of nucleon and two-nucleon boson fields. The evolution of the coupling constants in this action is described by a renormalization group flow. We derive these flow equations both in the limit of exact Wigner SU(4) symmetry and in the realistic case of broken symmetry. In the symmetric limit we find that the renormalization flow equations decouple and can be combined into two sets, one of which matches the known results for bosons, and the other result matches the one for a single flavor of spin $1/2$ fermions. The equations show universal features in the unitary limit, which is obtained when the two-body scattering length tends to infinity. We calculate the spin-quartet neutron-deuteron scattering length and the deuteron-deuteron scattering lengths in the spin-singlet and spin-quintet channels.We apply the functional renormalization group to few-nucleon systems. Our starting point is a local effective action that includes three- and four-nucleon interactions, expressed in terms of nucleon and two-nucleon boson fields. The evolution of the coupling constants in this action is described by a renormalization group flow. We derive these flow equations both in the limit of exact Wigner SU(4) symmetry and in the realistic case of broken symmetry. In the symmetric limit we find that the renormalization flow equations decouple and can be combined into two sets, one of which matches the known results for bosons, and the other result matches the one for a single flavor of spin $1/2$ fermions. The equations show universal features in the unitary limit, which is obtained when the two-body scattering length tends to infinity. We calculate the spin-quartet neutron-deuteron scattering length and the deuteron-deuteron scattering lengths in the spin-singlet and spin-quintet channels.

arXiv:1207.5735Physical Review CMay 8, 20137 citations

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fermions. The equations show universal features in the unitary limit, which is obtained when the two-body scattering length tends to infinity. We calculate the spin-quartet neutron-deuteron scattering length and the deuteron-deuteron scattering lengths in the spin-singlet and spin-quintet channels.