A quantum action principle for open systems

DOI10.1007/BF00343193MaRDI QIDQ1922500zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Michael Thoss, Berthold-Georg Englert

Publication date 8 July 1997

Published in Letters in Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00343193

zbMATH Keywords

Markovian dynamicsopen systems with time evolutionquantum action principle

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Variational principles of physics (49S05) Quantum optics (81V80) Quantum dynamics and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics (general) (82C10)

Review text

Schwinger's remarkable contributions to the various areas of theoretical physics are quite well known. Particularly, his quantum action principle (QAP) leads to a nice, compact formulation of quantum mechanics. It is of great value as a powerful tool for computational physics apart from its intrinsic interest in general. However, in its original form QAP is limited to closed systems. It is now sought to be generalized to the open systems as well, through the present rather long letter under review. Starting with the essentials of QAP of Schwinger, the principle in Hilbert space is re-formulated in the Liouville space. An extension of QAP to open systems with time evolution via Markovian dynamics is given. It is then illustrated by means of a driven, damped harmonic oscillator. The new action principle provides for a differential characterization of the Green's function for the master equation as against Schrödinger equation. A short heuristic derivation of the extended QAP, following Schwinger's original method, is also added. On the whole, the work breaks fresh and useful ground which must have far-reaching consequences.

Recommendations

• Schwinger action principle via linear quantum canonical transformations
• The Schwinger action principle for classical systems*
• Schwinger's quantum action principle. From Dirac's formulation through Feynman's path integrals, the Schwinger-Keldysh method, quantum field theory, to source theory
• The Schwinger Action Principle and Effective Action
• Quantum dissipative systems. I: Canonical quantization and quantum Liouville equation

Cited in

(5)

• Driven systems with one bound state
• Diachronic quantum action principle
• Joint quantum-classical Hamilton variational principle in the phase space
• The Schwinger action principle for classical systems*
• Schwinger action principle via linear quantum canonical transformations

This page was built for publication: A quantum action principle for open systems

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1922500)