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Physical Review A

Non-Markovian quantum dynamics from environmental relaxation

Stefan K. Possanner, Benjamin A. Stickler

Published Jun 20, 2012• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We consider the dynamics of composite quantum systems in the particular case that the state operator relaxes towards the Born approximation. For this we augment the von Neumann equation by a relaxation operator imposing a finite relaxation time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}$. Under the premise that the relaxation is the dominant process we obtain a hierarchy of non-Markovian master equations. The latter arises from an expansion of the total state operator in powers of the relaxation time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}$. In the Born-Markov limit ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ the Lindblad master equation is recovered. Higher-order contributions enable a systematic treatment of correlations and non-Markovian dynamics in a recursive manner.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.85.062115

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We consider the dynamics of composite quantum systems in the particular case that the state operator relaxes towards the Born approximation. For this we augment the von Neumann equation by a relaxation operator imposing a finite relaxation time \ensuremathτr{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}\ensuremathτr​. Under the premise that the relaxation is the dominant process we obtain a hierarchy of non-Markovian master equations. The latter arises from an expansion of the total state operator in powers of the relaxation time \ensuremathτr{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}\ensuremathτr​. In the Born-Markov limit \ensuremathτr\ensuremath→0{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{r}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0\ensuremathτr​\ensuremath→0 the Lindblad master equation is recovered. Higher-order contributions enable a systematic treatment of correlations and non-Markovian dynamics in a recursive manner.
Markovian quantum master equations are generally thought to satisfy the following three conditions: (i) they describe the dynamics of time scales that are larger than the reservoir correlation time scale, (ii) these stationary solutions give the thermal equilibrium states with a reservoir, and (iii) they can be written in the Lindblad form. In fact, for single systems such as a single harmonic oscillator and a single two-level system, Markovian quantum master equations satisfying all these conditions can be obtained. However, for composite systems, which consist of more than one subsystem coupled with each other, such equations have not been obtained thus far. In this study, we found that we cannot use the Born–Markov approximation for obtaining quantum master equations for composite systems in the strong-coupling regime, no matter how short the reservoir correlation time is.
In a unitary approach generally used in quantum optics, we consider Lindblad's Markovian master equation and the non- Markovian master equation of Ford, Lewis and O'Connell. We show that the second-order master equation in the hierarchy obtained from a Krylov-Bogoliubov expansion corresponds to the Born approximation. By time averaging, and neglecting the rapidly varying terms, Lindblad's master equation is obtained. With these two equations, we calculate the decay spectrum. We find that for rather low dissipated energies, only the non-Markovian master equation provides correct results. Based on the independent oscillator model of the dissipative coupling, explicit expressions of the dissipative coefficients are obtained.
In this paper we derive an extra class of non-Markovian master equations where the system state is written as a sum of auxiliary matrixes whose evolution involve Lindblad contributions with local coupling between all of them, resembling the structure of a classical rate equation. The system dynamics may develop strong nonlocal effects such as the dependence of the stationary properties with the system initialization. These equations are derived from alternative microscopic interactions, such as complex environments described in a generalized Born-Markov approximation and tripartite system-environment interactions, where extra unobserved degrees of freedom mediates the entanglement between the system and a Markovian reservoir. Conditions that guarantee the completely positive condition of the solution map are found. Quantum stochastic processes that recover the system dynamics in average are formulated. We exemplify our results by analyzing the dynamical action of nontrivial structured dephasing and depolarizing reservoirs over a single qubit.
A perturbative quantum master equation is derived for a system interacting with its environment, which is more general than the ones derived before. Our master equation takes into account the effect of the energy exchanges between the system and the environment and the conservation of energy in the finite total system. This master equation describes relaxation mechanisms in isolated nanoscopic quantum systems. In its most general form, this equation is non-Markovian and a Markovian version of it rules the long-time relaxation. We show that our equation reduces to the Redfield equation in the limit where the energy of the system does not affect the density of state of its environment. This master equation and the Redfield one are applied to a spin-environment model defined in terms of random matrices and compared with the solutions of the exact von Neumann equation. The comparison proves the necessity to allow energy exchange between the subsystem and the environment in order to correctly describe the relaxation in an isolated nanoscopic total system.
Recent advances in quantum technologies and related experiments have created a need for highly accurate, versatile, and computationally efficient simulation techniques for the dynamics of open quantum systems. Long-lived correlation effects (non-Markovianity), system-environment hybridization, and the necessity for accuracy beyond the Born-Markov approximation form particular challenges. Approaches to meet these challenges have been introduced, originating from different fields, such as hierarchical equations of motion, Lindblad-pseudomode formulas, chain-mapping approaches, quantum Brownian motion master equations, stochastic unravelings, and refined quantum master equations. This diversity, while indicative of the field's relevance, has inadvertently led to a fragmentation that hinders cohesive advances and their effective cross-community application to current problems for complex systems. How are different approaches related to each other? What are their strengths and limitations? Here we give a systematic overview and concise discussion addressing these questions. We make use of a unified framework which very conveniently allows to link different schemes and, this way, may also catalyze further progress. In line with the state of the art, this framework is formulated not in a fully reduced space of the system but in an extended state space which in a minimal fashion includes effective reservoir modes. This in turn offers a comprehensive understanding of existing methods, elucidating their physical interpretations, interconnections, and applicability.
We present a perturbation theory for non-Markovian quantum-state diffusion (QSD), the theory of diffusive quantum trajectories for open systems in a bosonic environment [Phys. Rev. A 58, 1699 (1998)]. We establish a systematic expansion in the ratio between the environmental correlation time and the typical system time scale. The leading order recovers the Markov theory, so here we concentrate on the next-order correction corresponding to first-order non-Markovian master equations. These perturbative equations greatly simplify the general non-Markovian QSD approach, and allow for efficient numerical simulations beyond the Markov approximation. Furthermore, we show that each perturbative scheme for QSD naturally gives rise to a perturbative scheme for the master equation which we study in some detail. Analytical and numerical examples are presented, including the quantum Brownian motion model.