Irreversibilities in quantum mechanics (Q5956193)

This book is devoted to the theoretical study of irreversible processes in quantum mechanics, with particular attention to applications in solid state physics. The first chapter recalls some basic notions in quantum mechanics, putting into major evidence the relevance of the statistical operator in the description of quantum systems, the use of the wave function being only sensible under particular conditions. In the second chapter a theoretical framework for the description of irreversible processes is presented, generally leading to generalized master equations. Particular attention is devoted to the physical approximations necessary in order to obtain the different results, rather than to mathematical details. The main body of the book is devoted to applications in the case of two-level systems interacting with a phonon bath or the electromagnetic field. Memory effects in the dynamics are treated in detail in a separate chapter dealing with the spin-boson and oscillator-boson system. The last chapter deals with the author's opinion on the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, supporting the viewpoint that this irreversible process should be studied within a quantum mechanical description of the interaction between quantum object, measuring device and environment, described in terms of statistical operators.