On quantum mechanical transport coefficients in nonequilibrium nuclear processes with application to heavy-ion collisions

The elements of the quantum mechanical diffusion matrix, leading to a Gibbs equilibrium state for a set of $N$ coupled quantum harmonic oscillators are derived within Lindblad's axiomatic approach. Consequences of the fundamental constraints on the quantum friction coefficients are discussed. We derive the equations of motion for the expectation values and variances, and we solve them analytically. We apply our results to the description of the charge and mass asymmetry coordinates in heavy-ion collisions, and we investigate the effect of dissipation on tunneling in sub-barrier processes.