We present a theory for the dynamical evolution of a quantum system coupled to a complex many-body intrinsic system (environment). By modeling the intrinsic many-body system with parametric random matrices, we study the types of effective stochastic models that emerge from random matrix theory. Using the Feynman-Vernon path integral formalism, we derive the influence functional and obtain either analytical or numerical solutions for the time evolution of the entire quantum system. We discuss thoroughly the structure of the solutions for some representative cases and make connections to well known limiting results, particularly to Brownian motion, Kramers classical limit, and the Caldeira-Leggett approach.
We present a theory for the dynamical evolution of a quantum system coupled to a complex many-body intrinsic system (environment). By modeling the intrinsic many-body system with parametric random matrices, we study the types of effective stochastic models that emerge from random matrix theory. Using the Feynman-Vernon path integral formalism, we derive the influence functional and obtain either analytical or numerical solutions for the time evolution of the entire quantum system. We discuss thoroughly the structure of the solutions for some representative cases and make connections to well known limiting results, particularly to Brownian motion, Kramers classical limit, and the Caldeira-Leggett approach.
Stochastic processes are shown to emerge from the time evolution of complex quantum systems. Using parametric, banded random matrix ensembles to describe a quantum chaotic environment, we show that the dynamical evolution of a particle coupled to such environments displays a variety of stochastic behaviors, ranging from turbulent diffusion to Lévy processes and Brownian motion. Dissipation and diffusion emerge naturally in the stochastic interpretation of the dynamics. This approach provides a derivation of a fractional kinetic theory in the classical limit and leads to classical Lévy dynamics.
We study certain aspects of the effective, occasionally called collective, description of complex quantum systems within the framework of the path integral formalism, in which the environment is integrated out. Generalising the standard Feynman-Vernon Caldeira-Leggett model to include a non-linear coupling between ``particle'' and environment, and considering a particular spectral density of the coupling, a coordinate-dependent mass (or velocity-dependent potential) is obtained. The related effective quantum theory, which depends on the proper discretisation of the path integral, is derived and discussed. As a result, we find that in general a simple effective low-energy Hamiltonian, in which only the coordinate-dependent mass enters, cannot be formulated. The quantum theory of weakly coupled superconductors and the quantum dynamics of vortices in Josephson junction arrays are physical examples where these considerations, in principle, are of relevance.
We establish a direct connection between the Feynman-Vernon path integral formalism for open quantum systems and the Wiener path integral used in classical stochastic dynamics. By considering a generalized influence functional in the strong decoherence limit, we demonstrate that integrating over the quantum coherence length leads to a derivation of stochastic Langevin dynamics. Specifically, we show that the quantum Feynman measure transforms into the stochastic Wiener measure. Applying this framework to the Wigner function representation, we show that the system follows a stochastic path interpretable via classical probability theory. Finally, we address the inverse problem: constructing an equivalent quantum influence functional from a given classical Langevin equation.
We study certain aspects of the effective, occasionally called collective, description of complex quantum systems within the framework of the path integral formalism, in which the environment is integrated out. Generalising the standard Feynman-Vernon Caldeira-Leggett model to include a non-linear coupling between “particle ” and environment, and considering a particular spectral density of the coupling, a coordinatedependent mass (or velocity-dependent potential) is obtained. The related effective quantum theory, which depends on the proper discretisation of the path integral, is derived and discussed. As a result, we find that in general a simple effective low-energy Hamiltonian, in which only the coordinate-dependent mass enters, cannot be formulated. The quantum theory of weakly coupled superconductors and the quantum dynamics of vortices in Josephson junction arrays are physical examples where these considerations, in principle, are of relevance. 1
Abstract Dedicated to Bernhard Mühlschlegel on the occasion of his 80th birthday We study certain aspects of the effective, occasionally called collective, description of complex quantum systems within the framework of the path integral formalism, in which the environment is integrated out. Generalising the standard Feynman‐Vernon Caldeira‐Leggett model to include a non‐linear coupling between “particle” and environment, and considering a particular spectral density of the coupling, a coordinate‐dependent mass (or velocity‐dependent potential) is obtained. The related effective quantum theory, which depends on the proper discretisation of the path integral, is derived and discussed. As a result, we find that in general a simple effective low‐energy Hamiltonian, in which only the coordinate‐dependent mass enters, cannot be formulated. The quantum theory of weakly coupled superconductors and the quantum dynamics of vortices in Josephson junction arrays are physical examples where these considerations, in principle, are of relevance.
Abstract We establish a formal connection between the Feynman–Vernon path integral formalism for open quantum systems and the Wiener path integral used in classical stochastic dynamics, further exploring its applications. By considering a generalized influence functional in the strong decoherence limit, we demonstrate that integrating over the quantum coherence length leads to stochastic Langevin dynamics. Specifically, under our model, we show that the quantum Feynman differential transforms into an underdamped multiplicative non-Markovian Langevin dynamics. Applying this framework to the Wigner function representation, we show that the system follows a stochastic path interpretable via classical probability theory, allowing for the investigation of decoherence through classical dynamics. Finally, we address the inverse problem: constructing an equivalent quantum influence functional from a given classical Langevin equation.