IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/phsmap/v254y1998i3p411-432.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Application of the time-dependent projection operator technique: The nonlinear quantum master equation

Author

Listed:
  • Linden, O.
  • May, V.

Abstract

The time-dependent projection operator technique according to Willis and Picard (Phys. Rev. A 9 (1974) 1343) offers a unique quantum statistical description of two interacting subsystems. The technique is used here to go beyond the standard quantum master equation (QME) for a small system coupled to a reservoir. Applying the time-dependent projection operator approach, one is able to overcome a perturbational treatment of the system–reservoir coupling and can incorporate, (i) how the dynamics of the system may drive the reservoir out of the equilibrium, and (ii) how this nonequilibrium state reacts back on the system dynamics. The case of a reservoir of harmonic oscillators coupled linearly by its coordinates to the small system is studied in detail. The derivation of a closed nonlinear equation of motion for the reduced statistical operator of the small system is demonstrated. The method is used to describe the motion of a quantum particle in a molecular system, e.g. a tunneling electron or an exciton, which interacts strongly with its environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Linden, O. & May, V., 1998. "Application of the time-dependent projection operator technique: The nonlinear quantum master equation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 254(3), pages 411-432.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:254:y:1998:i:3:p:411-432
    DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(98)00046-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378437198000466
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only. Journal offers the option of making the article available online on Science direct for a fee of $3,000
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/S0378-4371(98)00046-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:254:y:1998:i:3:p:411-432. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/physica-a-statistical-mechpplications/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.