Generalized master equations leading to completely positive dynamics

We provide a general construction of quantum generalized master equations with memory kernel leading to well defined, that is completely positive and trace preserving, time evolutions. The approach builds on an operator generalization of memory kernels appearing in the description of non-Markovian classical processes, and puts into evidence the non uniqueness of the relationship arising due to the typical quantum issue of operator ordering. The approach provides a physical interpretation of the structure of the kernels, and its connection with the classical viewpoint allows for a trajectory description of the dynamics. Previous apparently unrelated results are now connected in a unified framework, which further allows to phenomenologically construct a large class of non-Markovian evolutions taking as starting point collections of time dependent maps and instantaneous transformations describing the microscopic interaction dynamics.Comment: 8 pages, to appear on PR

Dissipative Systems and Objective Description: Quantum Brownian Motion as an Example

A structure of generator of a quantum dynamical semigroup for the dynamics of a test particle interacting through collisions with the environment is considered, which has been obtained from a microphysical model. The related master-equation is shown to go over to a Fokker-Planck equation for the description of Brownian motion at quantum level in the long wavelength limit. The structure of this Fokker-Planck equation is expressed in this paper in terms of superoperators, giving explicit expressions for the coefficient of diffusion in momentum in correspondence with two cases of interest for the interaction potential. This Fokker-Planck equation gives an example of a physically motivated generator of quantum dynamical semigroup, which serves as a starting point for the theory of measurement continuous in time, allowing for the introduction of trajectories in quantum mechanics. This theory had in fact already been applied to the problem of Brownian motion referring to similar phenomenological structures obtained only on the basis of mathematical requirements.Comment: 9 page

General structure of quantum collisional models

We point to the connection between a recently introduced class of non-Markovian master equations and the general structure of quantum collisional models. The basic construction relies on three basic ingredients: a collection of time dependent completely positive maps, a completely positive trace preserving transformation and a waiting time distribution characterizing a renewal process. The relationship between this construction and a Lindblad dynamics is clarified by expressing the solution of a Lindblad master equation in terms of demixtures over different stochastic trajectories for the statistical operator weighted by suitable probabilities on the trajectory space.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure; proceedings of the conference IQIS 2013 to appear on IJQ

Brownian Motion: The Quantum Perspective

We briefly go through the problem of the quantum description of Brownian motion, concentrating on recent results about the connection between dynamics of the particle and dynamic structure factor of the medium.Comment: 4 pages, revtex, no figure

Theory of decoherence due to scattering events and L\'evy processes

A general connection between the characteristic function of a L\'evy process and loss of coherence of the statistical operator describing the center of mass degrees of freedom of a quantum system interacting through momentum transfer events with an environment is established. The relationship with microphysical models and recent experiments is considered, focusing on the recently observed transition between a dynamics described by a compound Poisson process and a Gaussian process.Comment: 10 pages, revtex, no figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Non-Markovian master equations from piecewise dynamics

We construct a large class of completely positive and trace preserving non-Markovian dynamical maps for an open quantum system. These maps arise from a piecewise dynamics characterized by a continuous time evolution interrupted by jumps, randomly distributed in time and described by a quantum channel. The state of the open system is shown to obey a closed evolution equation, given by a master equation with a memory kernel and a inhomogeneous term. The non-Markovianity of the obtained dynamics is explicitly assessed studying the behavior of the distinguishability of two different initial system's states with elapsing time.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Quantum master equation for collisional dynamics of massive particles with internal degrees of freedom

We address the microscopic derivation of a quantum master equation in Lindblad form for the dynamics of a massive test particle with internal degrees of freedom interacting through collisions with a background ideal gas. When either internal or centre of mass degrees of freedom can be treated classically, previously established equations are obtained as special cases. If in an interferometric setup the internal degrees of freedom are not detected at the output, the equation can be recast in the form of a generalized Lindblad structure, which describes non-Markovian effects. The effect of internal degrees of freedom on centre of mass decoherence is considered in this framework.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures; v2: corresponds to published versio

Quantum Langevin equations for optomechanical systems

We provide a fully quantum description of a mechanical oscillator in the presence of thermal environmental noise by means of a quantum Langevin formulation based on quantum stochastic calculus. The system dynamics is determined by symmetry requirements and equipartition at equilibrium, while the environment is described by quantum Bose fields in a suitable non-Fock representation which allows for the introduction of temperature. A generic spectral density of the environment can be described by introducing its state trough a suitable P-representation. Including interaction of the mechanical oscillator with a cavity mode via radiation pressure we obtain a description of a simple optomechanical system in which, besides the Langevin equations for the system, one has the exact input-output relations for the quantum noises. The whole theory is valid at arbitrarily low temperature. This allows the exact calculation of the stationary value of the mean energy of the mechanical oscillator, as well as both homodyne and heterodyne spectra. The present analysis allows in particular to study possible cooling scenarios and to obtain the exact connection between observed spectra and fluctuation spectra of the position of the mechanical oscillator.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures. Major revisions; new reference