Second-quantized molecular time scale generalized Langevin equation theory and the quantum oscillator

Abstract

The short-time Gaussian approximation to the molecular time scale generalized Langevin equation (MTGLE) friction kernel is introduced and used to compute the time dependence of a fluctuation time correlation function. The fluctuations are shown to have two time scales, namely, the dissipation time scale and a quantum time scale given by exp[−2πkTt/ℏ]. Absorption and emission spectral functions for a quantum oscillator coupled to a bath are derived with no approximations made. The second-quantized MTGLE approach is applied to the problem of a quantum oscillator coupled linearly to a bath of quantum oscillators. The method is shown to be consistent with previous work and to provide a systematic methodology to examine more general many-body boson problems.