Thermal ionization

DOI10.1023/B:MPAG.0000034613.13746.8AMaRDI QIDQ702508zbMATH OpenFDO

Authors Jürg Fröhlich, M. Merkli

Publication date 17 January 2005

Published in Mathematical Physics, Analysis and Geometry (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/math-ph/0410010

zbMATH Keywords

virial theoremopen quantum systemLiouville operatorCCR algebrapositive commutatorsFermi Golden Ruleblack-body radiationstandard form of von Neumann algebrasMourré estimate

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Noncommutative dynamical systems (46L55) Applications of functional analysis in quantum physics (46N50) Quantum dynamics and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics (general) (82C10) Applications of selfadjoint operator algebras to physics (46L60)

Abstract: In the context of an idealized model describing an atom coupled to black-body radiation at a sufficiently high positive temperature, we show that the atom will end up being ionized in the limit of large times. Mathematically, this is translated into the statement that the coupled system does not have any time-translation invariant state of positive (asymptotic) temperature, and that the expectation value of an arbitrary finite-dimensional projection in an arbitrary initial state of positive (asymptotic) temperature tends to zero, as time tends to infinity. These results are formulated within the general framework of $W^{\ast }$-dynamical systems, and the proofs are based on Mourre's theory of positive commutators and a new virial theorem. Results on the so-called standard form of a von Neumann algebra play an important role in our analysis.

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Cited in

(20)

• Stability of equilibria with a condensate
• An infinite level atom coupled to a heat bath
• Random phase infinite coherent states: Construction and dynamics
• Stability of Multi-Phase Equilibria
• Another return of ``Return to equilibrium
• The thermalization process of an atom with the thermal radiation field
• The preparation of states in quantum mechanics
• Fully coupled Pauli-Fierz systems at zero and positive temperature
• Quantum electron transport in degenerate donor-acceptor systems
• Status of the fundamental laws of thermodynamics
• On the atomic photoeffect in non-relativistic QED
• Level shift operators for open quantum systems
• Instability of equilibrium states for coupled heat reservoirs at different temperatures
• Quantum Markovian master equations: resonance theory shows validity for all time scales
• Representations of canonical commutation relations describing infinite coherent states
• Ergodicity of the spin-boson model for arbitrary coupling strength
• Qualitative model of the hydrogen peroxide positive ion in a heat bath
• Thermal ionization for short-range potentials
• Correlation decay and Markovianity in open systems
• Ionization of atoms in a thermal field

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