Exact Master Equation Research Articles

Approximate Master Equations for Dynamical Processes on Graphs

We extrapolate from the exact master equations of epidemic dynamics on fully connected graphs to non-fully connected by keeping the size of the state space N + 1, where N is the number of nodes in the graph. This gives rise to a system of approximate ODEs (ordinary differential equations) where the challenge is to compute/approximate analytically the transmission rates. We show that this is possible for graphs with arbitrary degree distributions built according to the configuration model. Numerical tests confirm that: (a) the agreement of the approximate ODEs system with simulation is excellent and (b) that the approach remains valid for clustered graphs with the analytical calculations of the transmission rates still pending. The marked reduction in state space gives good results, and where the transmission rates can be analytically approximated, the model provides a strong alternative approximate model that agrees well with simulation. Given that the transmission rates encompass information both about the dynamics and graph properties, the specific shape of the curve, defined by the transmission rate versus the number of infected nodes, can provide a new and different measure of network structure, and the model could serve as a link between inferring network structure from prevalence or incidence data.

Precision control of charge coherence in parallel double dot systems through spin-orbit interaction

In terms of the exact quantum master equation solution for open electronic systems, the coherent dynamics of two charge states described by two parallel quantum dots with one fully polarized electron on either dot is investigated in the presence of spin-orbit interaction. We demonstrate that the double dot system can stay in a dynamically decoherence free space. The coherence between two double dot charge states can be precisely manipulated through a spin-orbit coupling. The effects of the temperature, the finite bandwidth of lead, and the energy deviations during the coherence manipulation are also explored.

Exact solution and short-time dynamics of multimode Gaussian states embedded in a common non-Markovian environment

We investigate a system of N mutually coupled harmonic oscillators interacting with the same environment and derive the corresponding exact non-Markovian master equation using our introduced approach. We obtain an explicit formula for the covariance matrix of the evolved state by taking a Gaussian state as initial one. With this, we analyze the short-time non-Markovian dynamics of three-mode Gaussian state in high-temperature limit. Our results show that the short-time evolution behavior of bipartite entanglement for 1 × 2 bipartition is similar to that of genuine tripartite entanglement, while the 1 × 1 bipartition entanglement does not. It is also shown that there exists a threshold that makes the initial tri- and bipartite entanglement increase or decrease. For the squeezing degree of the initial state than this critical value, the entanglement is increased with the evolution time; otherwise it is decreased. Finally, we present a physical positivity criterion for the covariance matrix of the evolved state.

Non-Markovian fermionic stochastic Schrödinger equation for open system dynamics

In this paper we present an exact Grassmann stochastic Schr\"{o}dinger equation for the dynamics of an open fermionic quantum system coupled to a reservoir consisting of a finite or infinite number of fermions. We use this stochastic approach to derive the exact master equation for a fermionic system strongly coupled to electronic reservoirs. The generality and applicability of this Grassmann stochastic approach is justified and exemplified by several quantum open system problems concerning quantum decoherence and quantum transport for both vacuum and finite-temperature fermionic reservoirs. We show that the quantum coherence property of the quantum dot system can be profoundly modified by the environment memory.

Master equation and dispersive probing of a non-Markovian process

For a bosonic (fermionic) open system in a bath with many bosons (fermions) modes, we derive the exact non-Markovian master equation in which the memory effect of the bath is reflected in the time dependent decay rates. In this approach, the reduced density operator is constructed from the formal solution of the corresponding Heisenberg equations. As an application of the exact master equation, we study the active probing of non-Markovianity of the quantum dissipation of a single boson mode of electromagnetic (EM) field in a cavity QED system. The non-Markovianity of the bath of the cavity is explicitly reflected by the atomic decoherence factor.

General Non-Markovian Dynamics of Open Quantum Systems

We present a general theory of non-Markovian dynamics for open systems of noninteracting fermions (bosons) linearly coupled to thermal environments of noninteracting fermions (bosons). We explore the non-Markovian dynamics by connecting the exact master equations with the nonequilibirum Green's functions. Environmental backactions are fully taken into account. The non-Markovian dynamics consists of nonexponential decays and dissipationless oscillations. Nonexponential decays are induced by the discontinuity in the imaginary part of the self-energy corrections. Dissipationless oscillations arise from band gaps or the finite band structure of spectral densities. The exact analytic solutions for various non-Markovian thermal environments show that non-Markovian dynamics can be largely understood from the environmental-modified spectra of open systems.

Fermionic stochastic Schrödinger equation and master equation: An open-system model

This paper considers the extension of the non-Markovian stochastic approach for quantum open systems strongly coupled to a fermionic bath, to the models in which the system operators commute with the fermion bath. This technique can also be a useful tool for studying open quantum systems coupled to a spin-chain environment, which can be further transformed into an effective fermionic bath. We derive an exact stochastic Schr\"{o}dinger equation (SSE), called fermionic quantum state diffusion (QSD) equation, from the first principle by using the fermionic coherent state representation. The reduced density operator for the open system can be recovered from the average of the solutions to the QSD equation over the Grassmann-type noise. By employing the exact fermionic QSD equation, we can derive the corresponding exact master equation. The power of our approach is illustrated by the applications of our stochastic approach to several models of interest including the one-qubit dissipative model, the coupled two-qubit dissipative model, the quantum Brownian motion model and the N-fermion model coupled to a fermionic bath. Different effects caused by the fermionic and bosonic baths on the dynamics of open systems are also discussed.

Dynamically stabilized decoherence-free states in non-Markovian open fermionic systems

Decoherence-free subspaces (DFSs) provide a strategy for protecting the dynamics of an open system from decoherence induced by the system-environment interaction. So far, DFSs have been primarily studied in the framework of Markovian master equations. In this work, we study decoherence-free (DF) states in the general setting of a non-Markovian fermionic environment. We identify the DF states by diagonalizing the nonunitary evolution operator for a two-level fermionic system attached to an electron reservoir. By solving the exact master equation, we show that DF states can be stabilized dynamically.

Solving non-Markovian open quantum systems with multi-channel reservoir coupling

We extend the non-Markovian quantum state diffusion (QSD) equation to open quantum systems which exhibit multi-channel coupling to a harmonic oscillator reservoir. Open quantum systems which have multi-channel reservoir coupling are those in which canonical transformation of reservoir modes cannot reduce the number of reservoir operators appearing in the interaction Hamiltonian to one. We show that the non-Markovian QSD equation for multi-channel reservoir coupling can, in some cases, lead to an exact master equation which we derive. We then derive the exact master equation for the three-level system in a vee-type configuration which has multi-channel reservoir coupling and give the analytical solution. Finally, we examine the evolution of the three-level vee-type system with generalized Ornstein–Uhlenbeck reservoir correlations numerically.

Schloegl's second model for autocatalysis on hypercubic lattices: Dimension dependence of generic two-phase coexistence

Schloegl's second model on a (d ≥ 2)-dimensional hypercubic lattice involves: (i) spontaneous annihilation of particles with rate p and (ii) autocatalytic creation of particles at vacant sites at a rate proportional to the number of suitable pairs of neighboring particles. This model provides a prototype for nonequilibrium discontinuous phase transitions. However, it also exhibits nontrivial generic two-phase coexistence: Stable populated and vacuum states coexist for a finite range, pf(d)<p<pe(d), spanned by the orientation-dependent stationary points for planar interfaces separating these states. Analysis of interface dynamics from kinetic Monte Carlo simulation and from discrete reaction-diffusion equations (dRDEs) obtained from truncation of the exact master equation, reveals that pe(f)∼0.2113765+ce(f)/d as d→∞, where Δc=ce-cf≈0.014. A metastable populated state persists above pe(d) up to a spinodal p=ps(d), which has a well-defined limit ps(d→∞)=1/4. The dRDEs display artificial propagation failure, absent in the stochastic model due to fluctuations. This feature is amplified for increasing d, thus complicating our analysis.

Feshbach projection-operator partitioning for quantum open systems: Stochastic approach

The dynamics of a state of interest coupled to a non-Markovian environment is studied by concatenating the non-Markovian quantum state diffusion equation and the Feshbach projection-operator partitioning technique. An exact one-dimensional stochastic master equation is derived as a general tool for controlling an arbitrary component of the system. We show that the exact one-dimensional stochastic master equation can be efficiently solved beyond the widely adapted second-order master equations. The generality and applicability of this hybrid approach is justified and exemplified by several coherence control problems concerning quantum state protection against leakage and decoherence.

A quantum photonic dissipative transport theory

In this paper, a quantum transport theory for describing photonic dissipative transport dynamics in nanophotonics is developed. The nanophotonic devices concerned in this paper consist of on-chip all-optical integrated circuits incorporating photonic bandgap waveguides and driven resonators embedded in nanostructured photonic crystals. The photonic transport through waveguides is entirely determined from the exact master equation of the driven resonators, which is obtained by explicitly eliminating all the degrees of freedom of the waveguides (treated as reservoirs). Back-reactions from the reservoirs are fully taken into account. The relation between the driven photonic dynamics and photocurrents is obtained explicitly. The non-Markovian memory structure and quantum decoherence dynamics in photonic transport can then be fully addressed. As an illustration, the theory is utilized to study the transport dynamics of a photonic transistor consisting of a nanocavity coupled to two waveguides in photonic crystals. The controllability of photonic transport through the external driven field is demonstrated.

Bath-induced correlations and relaxation of vibronic dimers

We consider a vibronic dimer bilinearly coupled through its two vibrational monomer modes to two harmonic reservoirs and study, both analytically and numerically, how correlations of the reservoir-induced fluctuations affect dimer relaxation. For reservoirs with fully correlated fluctuations, we derive an exact quantum master equation for the density matrix of the symmetric vibronic dimer. We demonstrate that reservoirs with fully correlated or anticorrelated fluctuations do not allow for complete vibrational relaxation of the dimer due to the existence of decoherence-free subspaces. For reservoirs with partially correlated fluctuations, we establish the existence of three different mechanisms of vibrational relaxation. Weak inter-monomer couplings, as well as predominantly correlated or anticorrelated fluctuations, render two of these mechanisms relatively inefficient, leading to slow decays of the populations and coherences of the dimer density matrix. The analytical results are illustrated and substantiated by numerical studies of the relaxation behavior of photoexcited dimers.

Nonadiabatic quantum Vlasov equation for Schwinger pair production

Using Lewis-Riesenfeld theory, we derive an exact nonadiabatic master equation describing the time evolution of the QED Schwinger pair-production rate for a general time-varying electric field. This equation can be written equivalently as a first-order matrix equation, as a Vlasov-type integral equation, or as a third-order differential equation. In the last version it relates to the Korteweg-de Vries equation, which allows us to construct an exact solution using the well-known one-soliton solution to that equation. The case of timelike delta function pulse fields is also briefly considered.

Derivation of exact master equation with stochastic description: Dissipative harmonic oscillator

A systematic procedure for deriving the master equation of a dissipative system is reported in the framework of stochastic description. For the Caldeira-Leggett model of the harmonic-oscillator bath, a detailed and elementary derivation of the bath-induced stochastic field is presented. The dynamics of the system is thereby fully described by a stochastic differential equation, and the desired master equation would be acquired with statistical averaging. It is shown that the existence of a closed-form master equation depends on the specificity of the system as well as the feature of the dissipation characterized by the spectral density function. For a dissipative harmonic oscillator it is observed that the correlation between the stochastic field due to the bath and the system can be decoupled, and the master equation naturally results. Such an equation possesses the Lindblad form in which time-dependent coefficients are determined by a set of integral equations. It is proved that the obtained master equation is equivalent to the well-known Hu-Paz-Zhang equation based on the path-integral technique. The procedure is also used to obtain the master equation of a dissipative harmonic oscillator in time-dependent fields.

Exact quantum master equation for a molecular aggregate coupled to a harmonic bath

We consider a molecular aggregate consisting of N identical monomers. Each monomer comprises two electronic levels and a single harmonic mode. The monomers interact with each other via dipole-dipole forces. The monomer vibrational modes are bilinearly coupled to a bath of harmonic oscillators. This is a prototypical model for the description of coherent exciton transport, from quantum dots to photosynthetic antennae. We derive an exact quantum master equation for such systems. Computationally, the master equation may be useful for the testing of various approximations employed in theories of quantum transport. Physically, it offers a plausible explanation of the origins of long-lived coherent optical responses of molecular aggregates in dissipative environments.

Schloegl’s Second Model for Autocatalysis on a Cubic Lattice: Mean-Field-Type Discrete Reaction-Diffusion Equation Analysis

Schloegl’s second model for autocatalysis on a hypercubic lattice of dimension d≥2 involves: (i) spontaneous annihilation of particles at lattice sites with rate p; and (ii) autocatalytic creation of particles at vacant sites at a rate proportional to the number of diagonal pairs of particles on neighboring sites. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations for a d=3 cubic lattice reveal a discontinuous transition from a populated state to a vacuum state as p increases above p=p e . However, stationary points, p=p eq (≤p e ), for planar interfaces separating these states depend on interface orientation. Our focus is on analysis of interface dynamics via discrete reaction-diffusion equations (dRDE’s) obtained from mean-field type approximations to the exact master equations for spatially inhomogeneous states. These dRDE can display propagation failure absent due to fluctuations in the stochastic model. However, accounting for this anomaly, dRDE analysis elucidates exact behavior with quantitative accuracy for higher-level approximations.

Catalytic conversion reactions mediated by single-file diffusion in linear nanopores: Hydrodynamic versus stochastic behavior

We analyze the spatiotemporal behavior of species concentrations in a diffusion-mediated conversion reaction which occurs at catalytic sites within linear pores of nanometer diameter. Diffusion within the pores is subject to a strict single-file (no passing) constraint. Both transient and steady-state behavior is precisely characterized by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of a spatially discrete lattice-gas model for this reaction-diffusion process considering various distributions of catalytic sites. Exact hierarchical master equations can also be developed for this model. Their analysis, after application of mean-field type truncation approximations, produces discrete reaction-diffusion type equations (mf-RDE). For slowly varying concentrations, we further develop coarse-grained continuum hydrodynamic reaction-diffusion equations (h-RDE) incorporating a precise treatment of single-file diffusion in this multispecies system. The h-RDE successfully describe nontrivial aspects of transient behavior, in contrast to the mf-RDE, and also correctly capture unreactive steady-state behavior in the pore interior. However, steady-state reactivity, which is localized near the pore ends when those regions are catalytic, is controlled by fluctuations not incorporated into the hydrodynamic treatment. The mf-RDE partly capture these fluctuation effects, but cannot describe scaling behavior of the reactivity.

Intrinsic coherence dynamics and phase localization in nanoscale Aharonov-Bohm interferometers

The nonequilibrium real-time dynamics of electron decoherence is explored in the quantum transport through the nanoscale double-dot Aharonov-Bohm interferometers. We solve the exact master equation to find the exact quantum state of the device, from which the changes of the electron coherence through the magnetic flux in the nonequilibrium transport processes is obtained explicitly. We find that the relative phase between the two charge states of the degenerate double dot localizes to π 2 or − π for all different magnetic fluxes, due to decoherence. This nontrivial decoherence process can be manifested in the measurable occupation numbers.

Time-convolutionless master equation for quantum dots: Perturbative expansion to arbitrary order

The master equation describing the non-equilibrium dynamics of a quantum dot coupled to metallic leads is considered. Employing a superoperator approach, we derive an exact time-convolutionless master equation for the probabilities of dot states, i.e., a time-convolutionless Pauli master equation. The generator of this master equation is derived order by order in the hybridization between dot and leads. Although the generator turns out to be closely related to the T-matrix expressions for the transition rates, which are plagued by divergences, in the time-convolutionless generator all divergences cancel order by order. The time-convolutionless and T-matrix master equations are contrasted to the Nakajima-Zwanzig version. The absence of divergences in the Nakajima-Zwanzig master equation due to the nonexistence of secular reducible contributions becomes rather transparent in our approach, which explicitly projects out these contributions. We also show that the time-convolutionless generator contains the generator of the Nakajima-Zwanzig master equation in the Markov approximation plus corrections, which we make explicit. Furthermore, it is shown that the stationary solutions of the time-convolutionless and the Nakajima-Zwanzig master equations are identical. However, this identity neither extends to perturbative expansions truncated at finite order nor to dynamical solutions. We discuss the conditions under which the Nakajima-Zwanzig-Markov master equation nevertheless yields good results.