Partition-free approach to open quantum systems in harmonic environments: An exact stochastic Liouville equation

G. M. G. McCaul, C. D. Lorenz, and L. Kantorovich
Phys. Rev. B 95, 125124 – Published 21 March 2017

Abstract

We present a partition-free approach to the evolution of density matrices for open quantum systems coupled to a harmonic environment. The influence functional formalism combined with a two-time Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation allows us to derive a set of exact differential equations for the reduced density matrix of an open system, termed the extended stochastic Liouville–von Neumann equation. Our approach generalizes previous work based on Caldeira-Leggett models and a partitioned initial density matrix. This provides a simple, yet exact, closed-form description for the evolution of open systems from equilibriated initial conditions. The applicability of this model and the potential for numerical implementations are also discussed.

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  • Received 16 December 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.125124

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & ThermodynamicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

G. M. G. McCaul, C. D. Lorenz, and L. Kantorovich

  • Physics Department, King's College London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 12 — 15 March 2017

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