The entropy of open finite-level systems (Q1266060)

When an open quantum system is a finite level system, then the eigenvalues of the density operator are solutions of the characteristic equation which is of finite degree. Symmetric functions of the solutions can be expressed in terms of elements of the density matrix. Starting from that idea, the authors derive an explicit analytic expression for the von Neumann entropy in terms of density matrix elements which does not involve the diagonalization of the density matrix.