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On the approach to equilibrium in quantum systems

Journal Article · · Physica
The formal analogy between the classical Liouville equations and the quantum mechanical von Neumann equations permits use of the classical results in the study of the asymptotic behavior of a quantum system with finite particle density. The technique of diagrams used in the classical case is generalized to permit the classification of the different contributions to the formal solution of the quantum system. Equations are obtained for the asymptotic evolution of the density matrix, and it is shown that these equations have as a stationary solution the canonical equilibrium distribution. The theory is valid for a large category of initial states. The requirements for validity are that at t = O the reduced properties of the system be finite, and that the spatial correlations between particles have finite range. (T.F.H.)
Research Organization:
Universite Libre, Brussels
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-15-028720
OSTI ID:
4838149
Journal Information:
Physica, Journal Name: Physica Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 27; ISSN 0031-8914
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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