H ^
ρ ^
∂ ρ ^ ∂ t = − i ℏ [ H ^ , ρ ^ ]
Just as the Schrödinger equation describes how pure states evolve in time, the Liouville-von Neumann equation describes how a density operator evolves in time. Note that there can be different density operators for pure or for mixed states.
Note the similarity with the classical Liouville equation where the commutator brackets [.,.] are replaced by Poisson brackets {.,.}
von Neumann equation
describes how a density operator (for pure or for mixed states) evolves in time
Quantum Liouville Equation
Liouville-von Neumann Equation