Time-dependent Markovian master equation for adiabatic systems and its application to Cooper-pair pumping

Abstract

For adiabatically and periodically manipulated dissipative quantum systems we derive, using Floquet theory, a simple Markovian master equation. Contrary to some previous works we explicitly take into account the time dependence of the Hamiltonian and, therefore, obtain a master equation with a time-dependent dissipative part. We illustrate our theory with two examples and compare our results with the previously proposed master equations. In particular, we consider the problem of Cooper pair pumping and demonstrate the inadequacy of the secular (rotating wave) approximation when calculating the pumped charge. The secular approximation producing a master equation of the Lindblad type approximates well the quantum state (density matrix) of the system, while to determine the pumped charge a non-Lindblad master equation beyond the rotating wave approximation is necessary.