Decay of correlations. IV. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a rapid decay of correlations

We considerN-particle systems whose probability distributions obey the master equation. For these systems, we derive the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the reducedn-particle (n) probabilities also obey master equations and under which the Ursell functions decay to their equilibrium values faster than the probability distributions. These conditions impose restrictions on the form of the transition rate matrix and thus on the form of its eigenfunctions. We first consider systems in which the eigenfunctions of theN-particle transition rate matrix are completely factorized and demonstrate that for such systems, the reduced probabilities obey master equations and the Ursell functions decay rapidly if certain additional conditions are imposed. As an example of such a system, we discuss a random walk ofN pairwise interacting walkers. We then demonstrate that for systems whoseN-particle transition matrix can be written as a sum of one-particle, two-particle, etc. contributions, and for which the reduced probabilities obey master equations, the reduced master equations become, in the thermodynamic limit, those for independent particles, which have been discussed by us previously. As an example of suchN-particle systems, we discuss the relaxation of a gas of interacting harmonic oscillators.Supported in part (grants to D.B. and K.E.S.) by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the Department of Defense as monitored by the U.S. Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-69-A-0200-6018, and in part (grant to I.O.) by the National Science Foundation.     

Homogeneous Generalized Master Equations

It is shown that the method proposed in V. F. Los [J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 34: 638–6403 (2001)], which allows for turning the inhomogeneous time-convolution generalized master equation (TC-GME) into homogeneous (while retaining initial correlations) time-convolution generalized master equation (TC-HGME) for the relevant part of a distribution function, is fully applicable to the quantum case and to the time-convolutionless GME (TCL-GME). It is demonstrated by rederiving the TC-HGME and showing that it works in both the classical and quantum physics cases. The time-convolutionless HGME (TCL-HGME) retaining initial correlations, which is formally the same for both the classical and quantum physics, has also been derived. Both the TC-HGME and TCL-HGME are exact equations applicable on any timescale and allow for consecutive treating the initial correlations and collisions on the equal footing. A new equation for a momentum distribution function retaining initial correlations has been obtained in the linear in the density of quantum particles approximation. Connection of this equation to the quantum Boltzmann equation is discussed.     

Master Equation in Phase Space for a Uniaxial Spin System

A master equation, for the time evolution of the quasi-probability density function of spin orientations in the phase space representation of the polar and azimuthal angles is derived for a uniaxial spin system subject to a magnetic field parallel to the axis of symmetry. This equation is obtained from the reduced density matrix evolution equation (assuming that the spin-bath coupling is weak and that the correlation time of the bath is so short that the stochastic process resulting from it is Markovian) by expressing it in terms of the inverse Wigner-Stratonovich transformation and evaluating the various commutators via the properties of polarization operators and spherical harmonics. The properties of this phase space master equation, resembling the Fokker-Planck equation, are investigated, leading to a finite series (in terms of the spherical harmonics) for its stationary solution, which is the equilibrium quasi-probability density function of spin “orientations” corresponding to the canonical density matrix and which may be expressed in closed form for a given spin number. Moreover, in the large spin limit, the master equation transforms to the classical Fokker-Planck equation describing the magnetization dynamics of a uniaxial paramagnet.     

Dynamics of collective decoherence and thermalization

We analyze the dynamics of N interacting spins (quantum register) collectively coupled to a thermal environment. Each spin experiences the same environment interaction, consisting of an energy conserving and an energy exchange part.We find the decay rates of the reduced density matrix elements in the energy basis. We show that if the spins do not interact among each other, then the fastest decay rates of off-diagonal matrix elements induced by the energy conserving interaction is of order N², while that one induced by the energy exchange interaction is of the order N only. Moreover, the diagonal matrix elements approach their limiting values at a rate independent of N. For a general spin system the decay rates depend in a rather complicated (but explicit) way on the size N and the interaction between the spins.Our method is based on a dynamical quantum resonance theory valid for small, fixed values of the couplings. We do not make Markov-, Born- or weak coupling (van Hove) approximations.     

A density-corrected quantum Boltzmann equation

Binary correlations are a recognized part of the pair density operator, but the influence of binary correlations on the singlet density operator is usually not emphasized. Here free motion and binary correlations are taken as independent building blocks for the structure of the nonequilibrium singlet and pair density operators. Binary correlations are assumed to arise from the collision of twofree particles. Together with the first BBGKY equation and a retention of all terms that are second order in gas density, a generalization of the Boltzmann equation is obtained. This is an equation for thefree particle density operator rather than for the (full) singlet density operator. The form for the pressure tensor calculated from this equation reduces at equilibrium to give the correct (Beth-Uhlenbeck) second virial coefficient, in contrast to a previous quantum Boltzmann equation, which gave only part of the quantum second virial coefficient. Generalizations to include higher-order correlations and collision types are indicated.     

Quantum Discord in Two-Qubit System Constructed from the Yang–Baxter Equation

Quantum correlations among parts of a composite quantum system are a fundamental resource for several applications in quantum information. In general, quantum discord can measure quantum correlations. In that way, we investigate the quantum discord of the two-qubit system constructed from the Yang-Baxter Equation. The density matrix of this system is generated through the unitary Yang-Baxter matrix R. The analytical expression and numerical result of quantum discord and geometric measure of quantum discord are obtained for the Yang-Baxter system. These results show that quantum discord and geometric measure of quantum discord are only connect with the parameter θ, which is the important spectral parameter in Yang Baxter equation.     

Exactly Solvable Model of Quantum Diffusion

We study the transport property of diffusion in a finite translationally invariant quantum subsystem described by a tight-binding Hamiltonian with a single energy band. The subsystem interacts with its environment by a coupling expressed in terms of correlation functions which are delta-correlated in space and time. For weak coupling, the time evolution of the subsystem density matrix is ruled by a quantum master equation of Lindblad type. Thanks to the invariance under spatial translations, we can apply the Bloch theorem to the subsystem density matrix and exactly diagonalize the time evolution superoperator to obtain the complete spectrum of its eigenvalues, which fully describe the relaxation to equilibrium. Above a critical coupling which is inversely proportional to the size of the subsystem, the spectrum at given wave number contains an isolated eigenvalue describing diffusion. The other eigenvalues rule the decay of the populations and quantum coherences with decay rates which are proportional to the intensity of the environmental noise. An analytical expression is obtained for the dispersion relation of diffusion. The diffusion coefficient is proportional to the square of the width of the energy band and inversely proportional to the intensity of the environmental noise because diffusion results from the perturbation of quantum tunneling by the environmental fluctuations in this model. Diffusion disappears below the critical coupling     

Ruelle resonances in kicked quantum spin chain

We study exponential decay of high temperature time correlation functions in a non-integrable quantum spin chain problem, namely Ising spin 1/2 chain kicked with tilted homogeneous magnetic field. For this purpose we define a master propagator over a suitable banach space of quantum observables (quantum many-body analogue of Perron–Frobenius operator) whose leading eigenvalue determines the asymptotic decay of correlations. This is demonstrated with explicit calculation for which a fast algorithm for the construction of the master propagator is developed.     

电子关联效应对平行双量子点系统磁输运性质的影响

从理论上研究了平行双量子点系统中的电子关联效应对该系统磁输运性质的影响. 基于广义主方程方法, 计算了通过此系统的电流、微分电导和隧穿磁阻. 计算结果表明: 电子自旋关联效应可以促发一个很大的隧穿磁阻, 而电子库仑关联效应不仅可以压制电子自旋关联效应, 还可以导致负隧穿磁阻和负微分电导的出现. 对相关的基本物理问题进行了讨论.     

Linear quantum Enskog equation. I. Homogeneous quantum fluids

The quantum-statistical generalization of the well-known classical, linear revised Enskog equation is derived for spatially uniform systems. This new quantum kinetic equation allows the study of equilibrium time correlation functions and their associated transport coefficients of normal quantum fluids where static correlations and degeneracy effects due to particle statistics (both are treated exactly) are important. Furthermore, we derive the quantum-statistical analog of the classical ring operator. These microscopic and systematic derivations are based on a recently developed superoperator formalism (including cluster expansion techniques) that, as a main feature, allows a clear distinction between static and dynamic correlations, which is crucial in the discussion of the Enskog approximation.     

Dynamics of a Fermi system with resonant dissipation and dynamical detailed balance

The dissipative dynamics of a system of Fermions is described in the framework of a resonance model—the quantum master equation describes two-body correlations of the system with the environment particles. This equation, with microscopic coefficients depending on the exactly known two-body potential between the system and the environment particles, is discussed in comparison with other master equations, obtained on axiomatic grounds, or derived from a coupling with an environment of harmonic oscillators without altering the quantum conditions. The asymptotic solution is in accordance with the detailed balance principle, and with other generally accepted conditions satisfied during the whole time-evolution: Pauli master equations for the diagonal elements of the density matrix, and damped Bloch–Feynman equations for the non-diagonal ones, that we call dynamical detailed balance. For a harmonic oscillator coupled with the electromagnetic field through dipole interaction, a master equation with transition operators between successive levels is obtained. As an application, the decay width of a quantum logic gate is calculated.     

Quantum Gravity and the Problem of Measurement

We discuss the proposal that the quantumcorrelations contained in the pure statevector evolvingaccording to Schrodinger equation can be eliminated bythe action of multiply connected wormholes during measurement. A procedure is devised to obtaina proper master equation which governs the changes ofthe reduced density matrix of matter fields interactingwith doubly connected wormholes. It is shown that this master equation predicts an appropriatedamping of the off-diagonal correlations contained inthe state vector.     

Quantum and Classical Correlations in the Solid-State NMR Free Induction Decay

The free induction decay (FID) of the transverse magnetization in a dipolar-coupled rigid lattice is a fundamental problem in magnetic resonance and in the theory of many-body systems. As it was shown earlier the FID shapes for the systems of classical magnetic moments and for quantum nuclear spin ones coincide if there are many nearly equivalent nearest neighbors n in a solid lattice. In this paper, we reduce a multispin density matrix of above system to a two-spin matrix. Then we obtain analytic expressions for the mutual information and the quantum and classical parts of correlations at the arbitrary spin quantum number S, in the high-temperature approximation. The time dependence of these functions is expressed via the derivative of the FID shape. To extract classical correlations for S > 1/2 we provide generalized POVM measurement (positive-operator-valued measure) using the basis of spin coherent states. We show that in every pair of spins the portion of quantum correlations changes from 1/2 to 1/(S + 1) when S is growing up, and quantum properties disappear completely only if S → ∞.     

The double Caldeira-Leggett model: Derivation and solutions of the master equations, reservoir-induced interactions and decoherence

In this paper we analyze the double Caldeira-Leggett model: the path integral approach to two interacting dissipative harmonic oscillators. Assuming a general form of the interaction between the oscillators, we consider two different situations: (i) when each oscillator is coupled to its own reservoir, and (ii) when both oscillators are coupled to a common reservoir. After deriving and solving the master equation for each case, we analyze the decoherence process of particular entanglements in the positional space of both oscillators. To analyze the decoherence mechanism we have derived a general decay function, for the off-diagonal peaks of the density matrix, which applies both to common and separate reservoirs. We have also identified the expected interaction between the two dissipative oscillators induced by their common reservoir. Such a reservoir-induced interaction, which gives rise to interesting collective damping effects, such as the emergence of relaxation- and decoherence-free subspaces, is shown to be blurred by the high-temperature regime considered in this study. However, we find that different interactions between the dissipative oscillators, described by rotating or counter-rotating terms, result in different decay rates for the interference terms of the density matrix.     

Quantifying interference in multipartite quantum systems

The characterization of quantum correlations is crucial to the development of new quantum technologies and to understand how dramatically quantum theory departs from classical physics. Here we systematically study single- and multiparticle interference patterns produced by general two- and three-qubit systems. From this we establish on phenomenological grounds a new type of quantum correlation for these systems, which we name quantum interference, deriving some quantifiers that are given explicitly in terms of the density matrix elements of the complete system. By using these quantifiers, we show that, contrary to our expectations, entanglement is not a required property for a composite quantum system to manifest multiparticle interference.     

One-dimensional Ising model in arbitrary external field

The external potential needed to produce an arbitrary equilibrium density profile for a one-dimensional lattice gas with nearest neighbor interactions is solved exactly. The resulting sequence of direct correlation functions is shown to be of short range, and in the ferromagnetic case the even members alternate in sign at zero spin. The even Ursell distributions in this case likewise alternate in sign.Supported in part by U.S. ERDA under contract E(11-1)-3077.     

Spontaneous decay controlled inversionless laser in a V-type four level system

By using a semiclassical approach, we obtain 16 coupled optical Bloch equations involving density matrix elements for a V-type four level system with three closely spaced upper levels irradiated by a single mode of the electromagnetic field. The off-diagonal elements of the density matrix ρ_ij are in general complex and arise due to the interference between the probability amplitudes of the levels i and j. Through the complex off-diagonal density matrix elements, we introduce the phase angles between the levels participating in dipole allowed/forbidden transitions. Therefore, the phase angles may be regarded as the outcome of the quantum coherence. Under rotating wave approximation, we use a perturbative approach to solve these Bloch equations analytically. These solutions for density matrix elements are used to obtain a closed form analytical expression for the imaginary part of the polarization and hence the absorptive lineshape. The proper choice of the decay constants induces the necessary coherence responsible for inversionless laser.     

Coherent control of the spin current through a quantum dot

Within the weak-coupling regime the spin current through a quantum dot system is calculated using a quantum master equation approach which includes a sum over Matsubara terms. To be able to efficiently calculate, also at low temperatures, the time evolution of the reduced density matrix a high-temperature approximation was derived which proves to be rather accurate in comparison to the exact results. In the present model it is assumed that the energy levels of the dot are split by a constant magnetic field. An additional external (laser) field is used to control the currents of the two spin polarizations. This is either done using the phenomenon of coherent destruction of tunneling or optimal control theory. Scenarios are studied in which the spin current is reversed while the charge current is kept constant.     

Nonlinear relaxation and fluctuations of damped quantum systems

The paper reexamines the treatment of irreversible quantum systems by master equations. Shortcomings of the conventional theory of quantum Markov processes pointed out by Talkner are analyzed. It is shown that a frequently used quantum regression hypothesis is not correct, in general. A new generalized master equation determining the relaxation to equilibrium is derived by means of time-dependent projection operator techniques. It is shown that this master equation also determines the time evolution of equilibrium correlations and response functions. The Markovian approximation is discussed, and a new type of Markovian limit, the Brownian motion limit, is introduced besides the weak coupling limit. The shortcomings of the conventional approach are resolved by deriving new formulae for the time evolution of the correlation and response functions of a quantum Markov process. The symmetries of the process are emphasized, and it is shown how the fluctuation-dissipation theorem and the detailed balance symmetry emerge from the master equation approach.