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Measure for the Degree of Non-Markovian Behavior of Quantum Processes in Open Systems

Heinz-Peter Breuer, Elsi-Mari Laine, and Jyrki Piilo
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 210401 – Published 16 November 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: A way to distinguish quantum noise

Abstract

We construct a general measure for the degree of non-Markovian behavior in open quantum systems. This measure is based on the trace distance which quantifies the distinguishability of quantum states. It represents a functional of the dynamical map describing the time evolution of physical states, and can be interpreted in terms of the information flow between the open system and its environment. The measure takes on nonzero values whenever there is a flow of information from the environment back to the open system, which is the key feature of non-Markovian dynamics.

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  • Received 31 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.210401

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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A way to distinguish quantum noise

Published 16 November 2009

Whether two quantum states can be distinguished over time provides a test to characterize noise from the environment.

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Authors & Affiliations

Heinz-Peter Breuer1,*, Elsi-Mari Laine2, and Jyrki Piilo2,†

  • 1Physikalisches Institut, Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Turku Center for Quantum Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turun yliopisto, Finland

  • *breuer@physik.uni-freiburg.de
  • jyrki.piilo@utu.fi

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 21 — 20 November 2009

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