Non-equilibrium effects upon the non-Markovian Caldeira-Leggett quantum master equation

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Annals of Physics (New York)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2011.02.007· OSTI ID:21579898

Highlights: > Classical Brownian motion described by a non-Markovian Fokker-Planck equation. > Quantization process. > Quantum Brownian motion described by a non-Markovian Caldeira-Leggett equation. > A non-equilibrium quantum thermal force is predicted. - Abstract: We obtain a non-Markovian quantum master equation directly from the quantization of a non-Markovian Fokker-Planck equation describing the Brownian motion of a particle immersed in a generic environment (e.g. a non-thermal fluid). As far as the especial case of a heat bath comprising of quantum harmonic oscillators is concerned, we derive a non-Markovian Caldeira-Leggett master equation on the basis of which we work out the concept of non-equilibrium quantum thermal force exerted by the harmonic heat bath upon the Brownian motion of a free particle. The classical limit (or dequantization process) of this sort of non-equilibrium quantum effect is scrutinized, as well.

• OSTI ID: 21579898
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York), Journal Name: Annals of Physics (New York) Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 326; ISSN 0003-4916; ISSN APNYA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BROWNIAN MOVEMENT
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
FLUIDS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
HARMONIC OSCILLATORS
HEAT
MARKOV PROCESS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
QUANTIZATION
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES