Continuous Monitoring of Dynamical Systems and Master Equations

We illustrate the equivalence between the non-unitary evolution of an open quantum system governed by a Markovian master equation and a process of continuous measurements involving this system. We investigate a system of two coupled modes, only one of them interacting with external degrees of freedom, represented, in the first case, by a finite number of harmonic oscillators, and, in the second, by a sequence of atoms where each one interacts with a single mode during a limited time. Two distinct regimes appear, one of them corresponding to a Zeno-like behavior in the limit of large dissipation

Decay rate and decoherence control in coupled dissipative cavities

We give a detailed account of the derivation of a master equation for two coupled cavities in the presence of dissipation. The analytical solution is presented and physical limits of interest are discussed. Firstly we show that the decay rate of initial coherent states can be significantly modified if the two cavities have different decay rates and are weakly coupled through a wire. Moreover, we show that also decoherence rates can be substantially altered by manipulation of physical parameters. Conditions for experimental realizations are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 1 table, accepted by Physica