Intro; Contents; List of Figures; About the Author; Preface; 1 Introduction; 2 A Primer on Quantum Statistical Mechanics and Path Integrals; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Quantum Statistical Mechanics; 2.2.1 States, Operators, Evolutions and Transformations; 2.2.2 Various Pictures; 2.2.3 Baker Campbell Hausdorff (BCH) Theorem; 2.2.4 Density Matrices; 2.2.5 Harmonic Oscillator; 2.2.6 Partition Function; 2.2.7 Entropy; 2.3 Path Integrals; 2.3.1 Introduction to the Path Integral; 2.3.2 Illustrative examples; 2.3.3 Partition Function as a Path Integral; 2.3.4 Density Matrix Evolution as a Path Integral
2.4 Guide to advanced literature3 Master Equations: A Prolegomenon to Open Quantum Systems; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Liouville Equation; 3.3 Langevin Equation; 3.4 Fokker-Planck Equation; 3.5 Boltzmann Equation; 3.6 Master Equation; 3.7 Quantum Dynamical Semigroups and Markovian Master Equation; 3.7.1 Derivation of the Lindblad-Gorini-Kosakowoski-Sudarshan Master Equation; 3.7.2 Examples; 3.7.3 Connection to the Pauli Master Equation; 3.8 Quantum Non-Demolition Master Equations; 3.9 Projection Operator Techniques; 3.9.1 Nakajima-Zwanzig Technique; 3.9.2 Time-Convolutionless Technique
3.10 Guide to advanced literature4 Influence Functional Approach to Open Quantum Systems; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 A Primer to the Influence Functional (IF) formalism; 4.3 Influence Functionals: An Explicit Evaluation; 4.3.1 Conventional Derivation of IF; 4.3.2 Basis Independent Derivation of IF; 4.3.3 Semiclassical Interpretation of the Influence Functional; 4.4 Propagator for linear Quantum Brownian Motion; 4.5 Master Equation for Quantum Brownian Motion; 4.6 Guide to advanced literature; 5 Dissipative Harmonic Oscillator; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Lindbladian Approach to the Damped Oscillator
6.5.1 Exact Solution6.5.2 Noninteracting-Blip Approximation; 6.6 Coupling to Reservoir via an Intermediate Harmonic Oscillator; 6.6.1 Effective Spectral Density; 6.6.2 Application of the Effective Spectrum Method: Asymptotic behavior of the Spin-Boson Model; 6.7 Guide to Advanced Literature; 7 Quantum Tunneling; 7.1 Introduction; 7.2 Semiclassical Approximation; 7.3 Double Well Potential; 7.4 Quantum Tunneling; 7.5 Transition to Open Systems; 7.6 Guide to further reading; 8 Open Quantum System at Interface with Quantum Information; 8.1 Introduction
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This book discusses the elementary ideas and tools needed for open quantum systems in a comprehensive manner. The emphasis is given to both the traditional master equation as well as the functional (path) integral approaches. It discusses the basic paradigm of open systems, the harmonic oscillator and the two-level system in detail. The traditional topics of dissipation and tunneling, as well as the modern field of quantum information, find a prominent place in the book. Assuming a basic background of quantum and statistical mechanics, this book will help readers familiarize with the basic tools of open quantum systems. Open quantum systems is the study of quantum dynamics of the system of interest, taking into account the effects of the ambient environment. It is ubiquitous in the sense that any system could be envisaged to be surrounded by its environment which could naturally exert its influence on it. Open quantum systems allows for a systematic understanding of irreversible processes such as decoherence and dissipation, of the essence in order to have a correct understanding of realistic quantum dynamics and also for possible implementations. This would be essential for a possible development of quantum technologies.