The principles of quantum mechanics impose certain restrictions on acceptable position operators. The probability density as derived from the position operator should agree with the fourth component of the current vector. The various relativistic wave equations are reexamined from the point of view of this consistency test. These and the group theoretical considerations lead to the conclusion that only a Dirac particle can be considered to be elementary. The position operator of the infinite-dimensional theories is investigated and the advantages of theories using the unitary representations of the Lorentz group are discussed.
Markovian open quantum systems are described by the Lindblad master equation
∂tρ=L(ρ), where
ρ denotes the system's density operator and
L the Liouville super-operator, which is also known as the Liouvillian. For systems with a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, it is a fundamental property of the Liouvillian that the real parts of all its eigenvalues are non-positive. Analogously, for infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, the Liouvillian as a map on trace-class operators only has spectral values with non-positive real parts. The usual arguments for these properties are indirect, using that
L generates a quantum channel and that quantum channels are contractive. We provide a direct algebraic proof based on the Lindblad form of Liouvillians. Subtleties for infinite-dimensional systems are highlighted. For example, unbounded operators can then be eigenvectors of the adjoint Liouvillian with positive eigenvalues, corresponding to a physical instability of the system. As an illustrative application of the algebraic approach, we prove that a strict minimum can be imposed on the dissipative gap of any Markovian spin-
s or fermionic many-particle system with normal Lindblad operators by adding simple local dissipators. The added dissipators comprise Pauli or generalized Pauli Lindblad operators for spin systems and Majorana Lindblad operators for fermionic systems.
Abstract Markovian open quantum systems are described by the Lindblad master equation ∂ t ρ = L ( ρ ) , where ρ denotes the system’s density operator and L the Liouville super-operator, which is also known as the Liouvillian. For systems with a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, it is a fundamental property of the Liouvillian that the real parts of all its eigenvalues are non-positive. Analogously, for infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces, the Liouvillian as a map on trace-class operators only has spectral values with non-positive real parts. The usual arguments for these properties are indirect, using that L generates a quantum channel and that quantum channels are contractive. We provide a direct algebraic proof based on the Lindblad form of Liouvillians. Subtleties for infinite-dimensional systems are highlighted. For example, unbounded operators can then be eigenvectors of the adjoint Liouvillian with positive eigenvalues, corresponding to a physical instability of the system. As an illustrative application of the algebraic approach, we prove that a strict minimum can be imposed on the dissipative gap of any unital Markovian spin- s or fermionic many-particle system by adding simple local dissipators. The added dissipators comprise Pauli or generalized Pauli Lindblad operators for spin systems and Majorana Lindblad operators for fermionic systems.