12,165 research outputs found
Quantum Brownian motion of multipartite systems and their entanglement dynamics
We solve the model of N quantum Brownian oscillators linearly coupled to an
environment of quantum oscillators at finite temperature, with no extra
assumptions about the structure of the system-environment coupling. Using a
compact phase-space formalism, we give a rather quick and direct derivation of
the master equation and its solutions for general spectral functions and
arbitrary temperatures. Since our framework is intrinsically nonperturbative,
we are able to analyze the entanglement dynamics of two oscillators coupled to
a common scalar field in previously unexplored regimes, such as off resonance
and strong coupling.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Nonequilibrium Dynamics of Charged Particles in an Electromagnetic Field: Causal and Stable Dynamics from 1/c Expansion of QED
We derive from a microscopic Hamiltonian a set of stochastic equations of
motion for a system of spinless charged particles in an electromagnetic (EM)
field based on a consistent application of a dimensionful 1/c expansion of
quantum electrodynamics (QED). All relativistic corrections up to order 1/c^3
are captured by the dynamics, which includes electrostatic interactions
(Coulomb), magnetostatic backreaction (Biot-Savart), dissipative backreaction
(Abraham-Lorentz) and quantum field fluctuations at zero and finite
temperatures. With self-consistent backreaction of the EM field included we
show that this approach yields causal and runaway-free equations of motion,
provides new insights into charged particle backreaction, and naturally leads
to equations consistent with the (classical) Darwin Hamiltonian and has quantum
operator ordering consistent with the Breit Hamiltonian. To order 1/c^3 the
approach leads to a nonstandard mass renormalization which is associated with
magnetostatic self-interactions, and no cutoff is required to prevent runaways.
Our new results also show that the pathologies of the standard Abraham-Lorentz
equations can be seen as a consequence of applying an inconsistent (i.e.
incomplete, mixed-order) expansion in 1/c, if, from the start, the analysis is
viewed as generating a low-energy effective theory rather than an exact
solution. Finally, we show that the 1/c expansion within a Hamiltonian
framework yields well-behaved noise and dissipation, in addition to the
multiple-particle interactions.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure
Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 2: Advanced Energy Conversion Systems. Part 2: Closed Turbine Cycles
For abstract, see N76-23680
Non-Markovian Dynamics and Entanglement of Two-level Atoms in a Common Field
We derive the stochastic equations and consider the non-Markovian dynamics of
a system of multiple two-level atoms in a common quantum field. We make only
the dipole approximation for the atoms and assume weak atom-field interactions.
From these assumptions we use a combination of non-secular open- and
closed-system perturbation theory, and we abstain from any additional
approximation schemes. These more accurate solutions are necessary to explore
several regimes: in particular, near-resonance dynamics and low-temperature
behavior. In detuned atomic systems, small variations in the system energy
levels engender timescales which, in general, cannot be safely ignored, as
would be the case in the rotating-wave approximation (RWA). More problematic
are the second-order solutions, which, as has been recently pointed out, cannot
be accurately calculated using any second-order perturbative master equation,
whether RWA, Born-Markov, Redfield, etc.. This latter problem, which applies to
all perturbative open-system master equations, has a profound effect upon
calculation of entanglement at low temperatures. We find that even at zero
temperature all initial states will undergo finite-time disentanglement
(sometimes termed "sudden death"), in contrast to previous work. We also use
our solution, without invoking RWA, to characterize the necessary conditions
for Dickie subradiance at finite temperature. We find that the subradiant
states fall into two categories at finite temperature: one that is temperature
independent and one that acquires temperature dependence. With the RWA there is
no temperature dependence in any case.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, v2 updated references, v3 clarified results and
corrected renormalization, v4 further clarified results and new Fig. 8-1
Case studies to enhance online student evaluation: Bond University – Surveying students online to improve learning and teaching
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Energy Conversion Alternatives Study (ECAS), General Electric Phase 1. Volume 2: Advanced energy conversion systems. Part 3: Direct energy conversion cycles
For abstract, see N76-23680
The Effect of Resistivity on the Nonlinear Stage of the Magnetorotational Instability in Accretion Disks
We present three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the nonlinear
evolution of the magnetorotational instability (MRI) with a non-zero Ohmic
resistivity. The properties of the saturated state depend on the initial
magnetic field configuration. In simulations with an initial uniform vertical
field, the MRI is able to support angular momentum transport even for large
resistivities through the quasi-periodic generation of axisymmetric radial
channel solutions rather than through the maintenance of anisotropic
turbulence. Simulations with zero net flux show that the angular momentum
transport and the amplitude of magnetic energy after saturation are
significantly reduced by finite resistivity, even at levels where the linear
modes are only slightly affected. This occurs at magnetic Reynolds numbers
expected in low, cool states of dwarf novae, these results suggest that finite
resistivity may account for the low and high angular momentum transport rates
inferred for these systems.Comment: 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Initial state preparation with dynamically generated system-environment correlations
The dependence of the dynamics of open quantum systems upon initial
correlations between the system and environment is an utterly important yet
poorly understood subject. For technical convenience most prior studies assume
factorizable initial states where the system and its environments are
uncorrelated, but these conditions are not very realistic and give rise to
peculiar behaviors. One distinct feature is the rapid build up or a sudden jolt
of physical quantities immediately after the system is brought in contact with
its environments. The ultimate cause of this is an initial imbalance between
system-environment correlations and coupling. In this note we demonstrate
explicitly how to avoid these unphysical behaviors by proper adjustments of
correlations and/or the coupling, for setups of both theoretical and
experimental interest. We provide simple analytical results in terms of
quantities that appear in linear (as opposed to affine) master equations
derived for factorized initial states.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
The Rotating-Wave Approximation: Consistency and Applicability from an Open Quantum System Analysis
We provide an in-depth and thorough treatment of the validity of the
rotating-wave approximation (RWA) in an open quantum system. We find that when
it is introduced after tracing out the environment, all timescales of the open
system are correctly reproduced, but the details of the quantum state may not
be. The RWA made before the trace is more problematic: it results in incorrect
values for environmentally-induced shifts to system frequencies, and the
resulting theory has no Markovian limit. We point out that great care must be
taken when coupling two open systems together under the RWA. Though the RWA can
yield a master equation of Lindblad form similar to what one might get in the
Markovian limit with white noise, the master equation for the two coupled
systems is not a simple combination of the master equation for each system, as
is possible in the Markovian limit. Such a naive combination yields inaccurate
dynamics. To obtain the correct master equation for the composite system a
proper consideration of the non-Markovian dynamics is required.Comment: 17 pages, 0 figures
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