Current in open quantum systems

We show that a dissipative current component is present in the dynamics generated by a Liouville-master equation, in addition to the usual component associated with Hamiltonian evolution. The dissipative component originates from coarse graining in time, implicit in a master equation, and needs to be included to preserve current continuity. We derive an explicit expression for the dissipative current in the context of the Markov approximation. Finally, we illustrate our approach with a simple numerical example, in which a quantum particle is coupled to a harmonic phonon bath and dissipation is described by the Pauli master equation.     

Time evolution of quantum fractals

We propose a general construction of wave functions of arbitrary prescribed fractal dimension, for a wide class of quantum problems, including the infinite potential well, harmonic oscillator, linear potential, and free particle. The box-counting dimension of the probability density P(t)(x) = |Psi(x,t)|(2) is shown not to change during the time evolution. We prove a universal relation D(t) = 1+Dx/2 linking the dimensions of space cross sections Dx and time cross sections D(t) of the fractal quantum carpets.     

Phase transitions in open quantum systems

We consider the behavior of open quantum systems through the dependence of the coupling to one decay channel by introducing the coupling parameter alpha, which is proportional to the average degree of overlapping. Under critical conditions, a reorganization of the spectrum takes place that creates a bifurcation of the time scales with respect to the lifetimes of the resonance states. We derive analytically the conditions under which the reorganization process can be understood as a second-order phase transition and illustrate our results by numerical investigations. The conditions are fulfilled, e.g., for a uniform picket-fence level distribution with equal coupling of the states to the continuum. Energy dependencies within the system are included. We consider also the case of an unfolded Gaussian orthogonal ensemble and of a spectrum bounded from below. In all these cases, the reorganization of the spectrum occurs at the critical value alpha(crit) of the control parameter globally over the whole energy range of the spectrum. All states act cooperatively.     

Zeno dynamics for open quantum systems

In this paper, we formulate limit Zeno dynamics of general open systems as the adiabatic elimination of fast components. We are able to exploit previous work on adiabatic elimination of quantum stochastic models to give explicitly the conditions under which open Zeno dynamics will exist. The open systems formulation is further developed as a framework for Zeno master equations, and Zeno filtering (that is, quantum trajectories based on a limit Zeno dynamical model). We discuss several models from the point of view of quantum control. For the case of linear quantum stochastic systems, we present a condition for stability of the asymptotic Zeno dynamics.     

Multiple-scale analysis of open quantum systems

In this work, we present a multiple-scale perturbation technique suitable for the study of open quantum systems, which is easy to implement and in few iterative steps allows us to find excellent approximate solutions. For any time-local quantum master equation, whether markovian or non-markovian, in Lindblad form or not, we give a general procedure to construct analytical approximations to the corresponding dynamical map and, consequently, to the temporal evolution of the density matrix. As a simple illustrative example of the implementation of the method, we study an atom-cavity system described by a dissipative Jaynes-Cummings model. Performing a multiple-scale analysis we obtain approximate analytical expressions for the strong and weak coupling regimes that allow us to identify characteristic time scales in the state of the physical system.     

Adiabatic quantum computation in open systems

We analyze the performance of adiabatic quantum computation (AQC) subject to decoherence. To this end, we introduce an inherently open-systems approach, based on a recent generalization of the adiabatic approximation. In contrast to closed systems, we show that a system may initially be in an adiabatic regime, but then undergo a transition to a regime where adiabaticity breaks down. As a consequence, the success of AQC depends sensitively on the competition between various pertinent rates, giving rise to optimality criteria.     

Fat fractals in quantum chaos

Semiclassical quantum wavefunctions in a nonintegrable exchange-coupled three-spin system are studied by using Fock representations. Their projected binary phase patterns show a fat fractal area-scaling property, whose exponent distinguishes the difference between the quantum analogs of classical regular orbits and of chaos.     

Quasiprobability distributions in open quantum systems: Spin-qubit systems

We study nonclassical features in a number of spin-qubit systems including single, two and three qubit states, as well as an N$N$ qubit Dicke model and a spin-1 system, of importance in the fields of quantum optics and information. This is done by analyzing the behavior of the well known Wigner, P$P$, and Q$Q$ quasiprobability distributions on them. We also discuss the not so well known F$F$ function and specify its relation to the Wigner function. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of quasiprobability distributions for spin-qubit systems under general open system effects, including both pure dephasing as well as dissipation. This makes it relevant from the perspective of experimental implementation.     

Entanglement within the quantum trajectory description of open quantum systems

The degree of entanglement in an open quantum system varies according to how information in the environment is read. A measure of this contextual entanglement is introduced based on quantum trajectory unravelings of the open system dynamics. It is used to characterize the entanglement in a driven quantum system of dimension 2 x infinity where the entanglement is induced by the environmental interaction. A detailed mechanism for the environment-induced entanglement is given.     

Detailed balance in open quantum Markoffian systems

Agarwal's definition of detailed balance for open quantum Markoffian systems is shown to arise from microreversibility in an analogous fashion to the familiar classical concept. It is therefore presented as the appropriate formal generalisation of the classical result to the quantum-mechanical regime. This fully quantum-mechanical approach is discussed in relation to the Fokker-Planck equations of the phase-space calculus and the Pauli master equation; two contexts in which a pseudo-classical form of detailed balance is well known. Our discussion is illustrated through the examples of the damped harmonic oscillator and the single mode laser.Supported by a New Zealand U.G.C. Post Graduate Scholarship.     

Nonequilibrium entropy production for open quantum systems

We consider open quantum systems weakly coupled to a heat reservoir and driven by arbitrary time-dependent parameters. We derive exact microscopic expressions for the nonequilibrium entropy production and entropy production rate, valid arbitrarily far from equilibrium. By using the two-point energy measurement statistics for system and reservoir, we further obtain a quantum generalization of the integrated fluctuation theorem put forward by Seifert [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 040602 (2005)].     

The non-Markovian quantum behavior of open systems

It is shown that the exact dynamics of a composite quantum system can be represented through a pair of product states which evolve according to a Markovian random jump process. This representation is used to design a general Monte Carlo wave function method that enables the stochastic treatment of the full non-Markovian behavior of open quantum systems. Numerical simulations are carried out which demonstrate that the method is applicable to open systems strongly coupled to a bosonic reservoir, as well as to the interaction with a spin bath. Full details of the simulation algorithms are given, together with an investigation of the dynamics of fluctuations. Several potential generalizations of the method are outlined.Received: 29 October 2003, Published online: 10 February 2004PACS: 03.65.Yz Decoherence; open systems; quantum statistical methods - 02.70.Ss Quantum Monte Carlo methods - 05.10.Gg Stochastic analysis methods (Fokker-Planck, Langevin, etc.)     

Scalar quantum field theory on fractals

We investigate scale invariant measures over multiple variables for scalar field theories by imitating Wiener’s construction of the measure on the space of functions of one variable. We assign random fields values on the vertices of simple geometric shapes (triangles, squares, tetrahedra) which are subdivided into a finite number of similar shapes. We find several Gaussian measures with anomalous scaling associated with these field variables. A non-Gaussian fixed point arises from the Ising model on a fractal. In the continuum limit, we construct correlation functions that vary as a power of the distance. It is either a positive power (analogous to the Wiener process) or a negative power depending on the subdivision scheme used; however it is an irrational number for all the examples. This suggests that in the continuum limits it corresponds to quantum field theories (random fields) on spaces of fractional dimension.     

The dynamical-quantization approach to open quantum systems

The dynamical-quantization approach to open quantum systems does consist in quantizing the Brownian motion starting directly from its stochastic dynamics under the framework of both Langevin and Fokker–Planck equations, without alluding to any model Hamiltonian. On the ground of this non-Hamiltonian quantization method, we can derive a non-Markovian Caldeira–Leggett quantum master equation as well as a non-Markovian quantum Smoluchowski equation. The former is solved for the case of a quantum Brownian particle in a gravitational field whilst the latter for a harmonic oscillator. In both physical situations, we come up with the existence of a non-equilibrium thermal quantum force and investigate its classical limit at high temperatures as well as its quantum limit at zero temperature. Further, as a physical application of our quantum Smoluchowski equation, we take up the tunneling phenomenon of a non-inertial quantum Brownian particle over a potential barrier. Lastly, we wish to point out, corroborating conclusions reached in our previous paper [A. O. Bolivar, Ann. Phys. 326 (2011) 1354], that the theoretical predictions in the present article uphold the view that our non-Hamiltonian quantum mechanics is able to capture novel features inherent in quantum Brownian motion, thereby overcoming shortcomings underlying the Caldeira–Leggett Hamiltonian model.     

Nonequilibrium quantum criticality in open electronic systems

A theory is presented of quantum criticality in open (coupled to reservoirs) itinerant-electron magnets, with nonequilibrium drive provided by current flow across the system. Both departures from equilibrium at conventional (equilibrium) quantum critical points and the physics of phase transitions induced by the nonequilibrium drive are treated. Nonequilibrium-induced phase transitions are found to have the same leading critical behavior as conventional thermal phase transitions.     

The dynamics of infinite open quantum systems

We establish the existence of the thermodynamic limit of quantum dynamical semigroups describing the irreversible dynamics of a class of mean-field quantum systems coupled to collective or individual reservoirs.     

A stochastic approach to open quantum systems

Stochastic methods are ubiquitous to a variety of fields, ranging from physics to economics and mathematics. In many cases, in the investigation of natural processes, stochasticity arises every time one considers the dynamics of a system in contact with a somewhat bigger system, an environment with which it is considered in thermal equilibrium. Any small fluctuation of the environment has some random effect on the system. In physics, stochastic methods have been applied to the investigation of phase transitions, thermal and electrical noise, thermal relaxation, quantum information, Brownian motion and so on. In this review, we will focus on the so-called stochastic Schr?dinger equation. This is useful as a starting point to investigate the dynamics of open quantum systems capable of exchanging energy and momentum with an external environment. We discuss in some detail the general derivation of a stochastic Schr?dinger equation and some of its recent applications to spin thermal transport, thermal relaxation, and Bose-Einstein condensation. We thoroughly discuss the advantages of this formalism with respect to the more common approach in terms of the reduced density matrix. The applications discussed here constitute only a few examples of a much wider range of applicability.     

Critical phenomena in open quantum systems and collective excitations

In quantum systems at high level density, the states of the system are mixed strongly via the continuum of decay channels. This mixing creates states with large external collectivity if the level density reaches some critical value. Besides this external collectivity, the states may have some internal collectivity created by (internal) residual interaction in the corresponding closed system. The cross section pattern at high level density is determined by the interplay of internal and external collectivity. Presented at the International Conference on “Atomic Nuclei and Metallic Clusters”, Prague, September 1–5, 1997.