Completely positive post-Markovian master equation via a measurement approach

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2005 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.71.020101· OSTI ID:20650022

Shabani, A ^[1]; Lidar, D A ^[2]

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1. Physics Department and Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto, 60 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A7 (Canada)
2. Chemical Physics Theory Group, Chemistry Department, and Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto, 80 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6 (Canada)

A post-Markovian quantum master equation is derived, which includes bath memory effects via a phenomenologically introduced memory kernel k(t). The derivation uses as a formal tool a probabilistic single-shot bath-measurement process performed during the coupled system-bath evolution. The resulting analytically solvable master equation interpolates between the exact Nakajima-Zwanzig equation and the Markovian Lindblad equation. A necessary and sufficient condition for complete positivity in terms of properties of k(t) is presented, in addition to a prescription for the experimental determination of k(t). The formalism is illustrated with examples.

• OSTI ID: 20650022
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 71, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.71.020101; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
EQUATIONS
EVOLUTION
KERNELS
MARKOV PROCESS
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
QUANTUM MECHANICS