Quantum trajectories in random environment: the statistical model for a heat bath (Q1041087)

The authors derive the stochastic master equations corresponding to the statistical model of a heat bath. These stochastic differential equations are obtained as continuous time limits of discrete models of quantum repeated measurements. Physically, they describe the evolution of a small system in contact with a heat bath undergoing continuous measurement. The equations obtained in the present work are qualitatively different from the ones derived in a preprint by \textit{S. Attal} and \textit{C. Pellegrini} [``Stochastic master equation for a heat bath'', preprint (2007)], where the Gibbs model of heat bath has been studied. It is shown that the statistical model of a heat bath has a clear physical interpretation in terms of emissions and absorptions of photons. The presented approach describes models of random environment and unravelings of stochastic master equations. The equations are obtained as solutions of martingale problems using the convergence of Markov generators. The latter relies on another preprint of the second author.