Finite Temperature Dynamics of the Total State in an Open System Model

Abstract

We determine the dynamics of the total state of a system and environment for an open system model, at finite temperature. Based on a partial Husimi representation, our framework describes the full dynamics very efficiently through equations in the Hilbert space of the open system only. We briefly review the zero-temperature case and present the corresponding new finite temperature theory, within the usual Born-Markov approximation. As we will show, from a reduced point of view, our approach amounts to the derivation of a stochastic Schrödinger equation description of the dynamics. We show how the reduced density operator evolves according to the expected (finite temperature) master equation of Lindblad form.