Fast quantum noise in the Landau-Zener transition

Abstract

We show by direct calculation starting from a microscopic model that the two-state system with time-dependent energy levels in the presence of fast quantum noise obeys the master equation. The solution of master equation is found analytically and analyzed in a broad range of parameters. The fast transverse noise affects the transition probability during much longer time (the accumulation time) than the longitudinal one. The action of the fast longitudinal noise is restricted by the shorter Landau-Zener time, the same as in the regular Landau-Zener process. The large ratio of time scales allows solving the Landau-Zener problem with longitudinal noise only, then solving the same problem with the transverse noise only and matching the two solutions. The correlation of the longitudinal and transverse noise renormalizes the Landau-Zener transition matrix element and can strongly enhance the survival probability, whereas the transverse noise always reduces it. Both longitudinal and transverse noise reduce the coherence. The decoherence time is inverse proportional to the noise intensity. If the noise is fast, its intensity at which the multi-quantum processes become essential corresponds to a deeply adiabatic regime. We briefly discuss possible applications of the general theory to the problem of the qubit decoherence and to the spin relaxation of molecular magnets.