A brief analysis of the compatibility between the quantum jump and the Markov property for quantum systems described by a stochastic evolution scheme is presented.
In the paper with the above-noted title, D. T. Gillespie [Phys. Rev. A 49, 1607 (1994)] claims that the theory of Markov stochastic processes cannot provide an adequate mathematical framework for quantum mechanics. In conjunction with the specific quantum dynamics considered there, we give a general analysis of the associated dichotomic jump processes. If we assume that Gillespie's ``measurement probabilities'' are the transition probabilities of a stochastic process, then the process must have an invariant (time independent) probability measure. Alternatively, if we demand the probability measure of the process follow the quantally implemented (via the Born statistical postulate) evolution, then we arrive at the jump process which can be interpreted as a Markov process if restricted to a suitable duration time. However, there is no corresponding Markov process consistent with the Z2 event space assumption, if we require its existence for all times t\ensuremath{\in}R+. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
In the presence of quantum measurements with direct photon detection, the evolution of open quantum systems is usually described by stochastic master equations with jumps. Heuristically, diffusion models can be obtained from these equations as an approximation. A condition for a general diffusion approximation for jump master equations is presented. This approximation is rigorously proved by using techniques for Markov processes, which are based on the convergence of Markov generators and martingale problems. This result is illustrated by rigorously obtaining the diffusion approximation for homodyne and heterodyne detection.