Embedding quantum systems with a non-conserved probability in classical environments
Quantum Physics
2016-10-21 v4
Abstract
Quantum systems with a non-conserved probability can be described by means of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and non-unitary dynamics. In this paper, the case in which the degrees of freedom can be partitioned in two subsets with light and heavy masses is treated. A classical limit over the heavy coordinates is taken in order to embed the non-unitary dynamics of the subsystem in a classical environment. Such a classical environment, in turn, acts as an additional source of dissipation (or noise), beyond that represented by the non-unitary evolution. The non-Hermitian dynamics of a Heisenberg two-spin chain, with the spins independently coupled to harmonic oscillators, is considered in order to illustrate the formalism.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1502.06099,
title = {Embedding quantum systems with a non-conserved probability in classical environments},
author = {Alessandro Sergi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.06099},
year = {2016}
}