Lecture Notes in Physics

Alicki, Robert; Lendi, Karl

In this text the authors develop quantum dynamics of open systems for a wide class of irreversible processes starting from the concept of completely positive semigroups. This unified approach makes the material easily accessible to non-specialists and provides an easy access to practical applications. Written for graduate students, the book presents a wealth of useful examples; in particular, models of unstable and N-level systems are treated systematically and in considerable detail including new types of generated Bloch-equations. The general theory is extensively summarized from abstract dynamical maps to those obtained by a reduction of Hamiltonian dynamics under a Markovian approximation. Various methods of determining semigroup generators and the corresponding master equations are discussed including time-dependent and nonlinear generators. Further topics treated are a generalized H-theorem, quantum detailed balance and return to equilibrium, discrete quantum Boltzmann equation, nonlinear Schrödinger equation, spin relaxation by spin waves, entropy production and its generalization by a measure of irreversibiblity.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2014-04-17

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9783662136218

DOI: 10.1007/3-540-18276-4

Dimensions: 235cm x155cm

Pages: 198