Homogeneous generalized master equations (Q2487834)

One of the main assumptions in the derivation of kinetic irreversible equations from the reversible microscopic dynamics of many-particle systems is related to the initial state of the system. In particular, it is usually assumed either an uncorrelated initial state --an incorrect assumption, in principle -- or Bogoliubov's principle of weakening of initial correlations -- an assumption which may be invalid when some correlations do not damp, as those caused by conservation laws of by quantum statistics. Thus, a proper accounting for initial correlations is an important problem [\textit{H.-P. Breuer} and \textit{F. Petruccione}, The theory of open quantum systems. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2002; Zbl 1053.81001)]. In a previous paper [J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 34, 6389--6403 (2001; Zbl 0982.82018)], the author proposed a method, based on projection-operator techniques, which allows for turning the inhomogeneous time-convolution (i.e. non-Markovian) generalized master equation [\textit{I. Prigogine}, Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. New York: Interscience Publishers (1962; Zbl 0106.43301)] into an homogeneous one, but retaining initial correlations. This allows to transfer the correlations at the initial state of the whole system to the memory kernel governing the relevant part of a distribution function for the system, without losing information, and allows for treating on an equal footing the initial correlations and the correlations caused by subsequent collisions. In the present paper, it is demonstrated, by a suitable rederivation of the procedure, that the previous method is fully applicable to the quantum case. Furthermore, the author derives a time-convolutionless generalized master equation retaining initial correlations, which is formally the same for the classical and the quantum case. These equations are exact and applicable on any timescale, particularly at the initial stage of evolution, which may be important in the study of irreversibility, of ultrafast phenomena, and of non-Markovian relaxation. Application to a dilute quantum gas allows to obtain a new equation for momentum distribution function retaining initial correlations; on macroscopic timescale, it may become equivalent to the quantum Boltzmann equation if all correlations caused by interaction between particles vanish on this timescale.