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

Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics

Averaged master equation for a quantum system coupled to a heat bath with fluctuating energy levels

Elmar G. Petrov

Published Jan 1, 1998• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A master equation for a quantum system coupled to a heat bath with stochastically fluctuating energy levels is derived by making use of the ensemble averaging and the averaging with respect to a stochastic process in the bath. Relaxation terms are determined in the Born approximation with respect to the system-bath interaction and the damping parameters related to a relaxation kernel are specified. In parallel with the spectral strength of the bath, the damping parameters determine the transient times for the Markovian description creating the physical origin of the slippage [A. Suarez, R. Sibey, and I. Oppenheim, J. Chem. Phys. 97, 5101 (1992)]. The influence of energy fluctuations of the bath is analyzed for a two-level system including the solution of the corresponding non-Markovian equation for the level population difference. The conditions for the formation of Boltzmann's thermal ratio between steady-state populations are evaluated as well.

DOI
10.1103/physreve.57.94

Related papers

Stochastically averaged master equation for a quantum-dynamic system interacting with a thermal bath

Elmar G. Petrov, V. I. Teslenko, Igor Goychuk

The methods of nonequilibrium density-matrix and coarse-temporal conception are used to obtain the kinetic equation for the parameters ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}$(t)=Sp[\ensuremath{\rho}^(t)\ensuremath{\Vert}n〉〈m\ensuremath{\Vert}] of a quantum-dynamic system (QDS) interacting with a thermal bath and external stochastic field. It is important that the stochastic field is taken exactly into consideration. For diagonal QDS parameters ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{n}}$(t) this equation is reduced to the generalized Pauli equation (GPE) with stochastic time-dependent coefficients ${\mathit{w}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}$(t). Special attention is given to the procedure of averaging over stochastic processes. It is shown that after averaging over energy fluctuations affected by the stochastic field, in the first cumulant approximation in terms of stochastic processes ${\mathit{w}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}$(t), the GPE is transformed to the Pauli equation for the QDS state population ${\mathit{P}}_{\mathit{n}}$(t)=〈${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{n}}$(t)${\mathrm{〉}}_{\mathit{f}}$. As an example, the relaxation behavior of a two-level system interacting with a dichotomous field (dichotomous Markovian process of kangaroo type) and a harmonic oscillator coupled with a thermal bath is considered. It is shown that the probability of relaxation transitions between energy levels may be changed by several orders of magnitude under the influence of the dichotomous field.

Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics•May 1, 1994•34 citations

Non-Markovian quantum trajectories versus master equations: Finite-temperature heat bath

Ting Yu

The interrelationship between the non-Markovian stochastic Schr\"odinger equations and the corresponding non-Markovian master equations is investigated in the finite-temperature regimes. We show that the general finite-temperature non-Markovian trajectories can be used to derive the corresponding non-Markovian master equations. A simple, yet important solvable example is the well-known damped harmonic oscillator model in which a harmonic oscillator is coupled to a finite-temperature reservoir in the rotating-wave approximation. The exact convolutionless master equation for the damped harmonic oscillator is obtained by averaging the quantum trajectories, relying upon no assumption of coupling strength or time scale. The master equation derived in this way automatically preserves the positivity, Hermiticity, and unity.

arXiv:quant-ph/0402086•Physical Review A•Jun 18, 2004•138 citations

Master equation averaged over stochastic process realizations for the description of a three-level atom relaxation

V. Mikhailov, Nikolay V. Troshkin

The relaxation of a three-level atom interacting with a photon heat bath and an external stochastic field is investigated. For the reduced density matrix, a master equation averaged over stochastic process realizations is derived. An exact solution is obtained and the radiation line shapes are calculated.

Computer Optics•Jan 1, 2016•5 citations

Stochastic process behind nonlinear thermodynamic quantum master equation. II. Simulation

Jérôme Flakowski, Marco Schweizer, Hans Christian Öttinger

We simulate a piecewise deterministic Markovian jump process that represents an unraveling of a nonlinear quantum master equation describing the evolution of a quantum subsystem in contact with a heat bath. This process relies on running ensemble averages and state vectors normalized only on average. The latter causes the normalization of a small subset of trajectories to grow exponentially, resulting in numerical instability. We propose an efficient solution to this problem and illustrate the general ideas for a harmonic oscillator and a two-level system, each of them being weakly coupled to a heat reservoir. Our findings lay the foundation for a powerful simulation technique for dissipative quantum systems surrounded by general classical nonequilibrium environments.

Physical Review A•Sep 4, 2012•10 citations

A test of

Tatsuro Kawamoto, Naomichi Hatano

We study fluctuation theorems for open quantum systems with a non-Markovian heat bath using the approach of quantum master equations and examine the physical quantities that appear in those fluctuation theorems. The approach of Markovian quantum master equations to the fluctuation theorems was developed by Esposito and Mukamel [Phys. Rev. E {\bf73}, 046129 (2006)]. We show that their discussion can be formally generalized to the case of a non-Markovian heat bath when the local system is linearly connected to a Gaussian heat bath with the spectrum distribution of the Drude form. We found by numerically simulating the spin-boson model in non-Markovian regime that the detailed balance condition is well satisfied except in a strongly non-equilibrium transient situation, and hence our generalization of the definition of the entropy production is almost always legitimate. Therefore, our generalization of the fluctuation theorem seems meaningful in wide regions.

•May 18, 2011•24 citations

Heat and work in Markovian quantum master equations: concepts, fluctuation theorems, and computations

Fei Liu

Markovian quantum master equations (MQMEs) were established nearly half a century ago. They have often been used in the study of irreversible thermodynamics. However, the previous results were mainly concerned about ensemble averages; the stochastic thermodynamics of these systems went unnoticed for a very long time. This situation remained unchanged until a variety of fluctuation theorems in classical and quantum regimes were found in the past two decades. In this paper, we systematically summarize the current understanding on the stochastic heat and work in MQMEs using two distinct strategies. One strategy is to treat the system and its surrounding heat bath as a closed quantum system, to suppose that the evolution of the composite system is unitary under a time-dependent total Hamiltonian and to define the heat and work as the changes in energy by applying two energy measurements scheme to the composite system. The other strategy is to unravel these MQMEs into random quantum jump trajectories (QJTs) and to define the stochastic heat and work along the individual trajectories. Many important physical concepts, mathematical techniques, and fluctuation theorems at different descriptive levels are given in as detailed a manner as possible. We also use concrete models to illustrate these results.

arXiv:1710.02311•Oct 6, 2017•6 citations
A master equation for a quantum system coupled to a heat bath with stochastically fluctuating energy levels is derived by making use of the ensemble averaging and the averaging with respect to a stochastic process in the bath. Relaxation terms are determined in the Born approximation with respect to the system-bath interaction and the damping parameters related to a relaxation kernel are specified. In parallel with the spectral strength of the bath, the damping parameters determine the transient times for the Markovian description creating the physical origin of the slippage [A. Suarez, R. Sibey, and I. Oppenheim, J. Chem. Phys. 97, 5101 (1992)]. The influence of energy fluctuations of the bath is analyzed for a two-level system including the solution of the corresponding non-Markovian equation for the level population difference. The conditions for the formation of Boltzmann's thermal ratio between steady-state populations are evaluated as well.
The methods of nonequilibrium density-matrix and coarse-temporal conception are used to obtain the kinetic equation for the parameters ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}$(t)=Sp[\ensuremath{\rho}^(t)\ensuremath{\Vert}n〉〈m\ensuremath{\Vert}] of a quantum-dynamic system (QDS) interacting with a thermal bath and external stochastic field. It is important that the stochastic field is taken exactly into consideration. For diagonal QDS parameters ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{n}}$(t) this equation is reduced to the generalized Pauli equation (GPE) with stochastic time-dependent coefficients wnm{\mathit{w}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}wnm​(t). Special attention is given to the procedure of averaging over stochastic processes. It is shown that after averaging over energy fluctuations affected by the stochastic field, in the first cumulant approximation in terms of stochastic processes wnm{\mathit{w}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{m}}wnm​(t), the GPE is transformed to the Pauli equation for the QDS state population Pn{\mathit{P}}_{\mathit{n}}Pn​(t)=〈${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{n}\mathit{n}}$(t)〉f{\mathrm{〉}}_{\mathit{f}}〉f​. As an example, the relaxation behavior of a two-level system interacting with a dichotomous field (dichotomous Markovian process of kangaroo type) and a harmonic oscillator coupled with a thermal bath is considered. It is shown that the probability of relaxation transitions between energy levels may be changed by several orders of magnitude under the influence of the dichotomous field.
The interrelationship between the non-Markovian stochastic Schr\"odinger equations and the corresponding non-Markovian master equations is investigated in the finite-temperature regimes. We show that the general finite-temperature non-Markovian trajectories can be used to derive the corresponding non-Markovian master equations. A simple, yet important solvable example is the well-known damped harmonic oscillator model in which a harmonic oscillator is coupled to a finite-temperature reservoir in the rotating-wave approximation. The exact convolutionless master equation for the damped harmonic oscillator is obtained by averaging the quantum trajectories, relying upon no assumption of coupling strength or time scale. The master equation derived in this way automatically preserves the positivity, Hermiticity, and unity.
We simulate a piecewise deterministic Markovian jump process that represents an unraveling of a nonlinear quantum master equation describing the evolution of a quantum subsystem in contact with a heat bath. This process relies on running ensemble averages and state vectors normalized only on average. The latter causes the normalization of a small subset of trajectories to grow exponentially, resulting in numerical instability. We propose an efficient solution to this problem and illustrate the general ideas for a harmonic oscillator and a two-level system, each of them being weakly coupled to a heat reservoir. Our findings lay the foundation for a powerful simulation technique for dissipative quantum systems surrounded by general classical nonequilibrium environments.
We study fluctuation theorems for open quantum systems with a non-Markovian heat bath using the approach of quantum master equations and examine the physical quantities that appear in those fluctuation theorems. The approach of Markovian quantum master equations to the fluctuation theorems was developed by Esposito and Mukamel [Phys. Rev. E {\bf73}, 046129 (2006)]. We show that their discussion can be formally generalized to the case of a non-Markovian heat bath when the local system is linearly connected to a Gaussian heat bath with the spectrum distribution of the Drude form. We found by numerically simulating the spin-boson model in non-Markovian regime that the detailed balance condition is well satisfied except in a strongly non-equilibrium transient situation, and hence our generalization of the definition of the entropy production is almost always legitimate. Therefore, our generalization of the fluctuation theorem seems meaningful in wide regions.
Markovian quantum master equations (MQMEs) were established nearly half a century ago. They have often been used in the study of irreversible thermodynamics. However, the previous results were mainly concerned about ensemble averages; the stochastic thermodynamics of these systems went unnoticed for a very long time. This situation remained unchanged until a variety of fluctuation theorems in classical and quantum regimes were found in the past two decades. In this paper, we systematically summarize the current understanding on the stochastic heat and work in MQMEs using two distinct strategies. One strategy is to treat the system and its surrounding heat bath as a closed quantum system, to suppose that the evolution of the composite system is unitary under a time-dependent total Hamiltonian and to define the heat and work as the changes in energy by applying two energy measurements scheme to the composite system. The other strategy is to unravel these MQMEs into random quantum jump trajectories (QJTs) and to define the stochastic heat and work along the individual trajectories. Many important physical concepts, mathematical techniques, and fluctuation theorems at different descriptive levels are given in as detailed a manner as possible. We also use concrete models to illustrate these results.