https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2007-00358-5
Correlated projection superoperators in relaxation and transport investigations
1
Advanced Technology Institute, School of Electronics and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
2
Fachbereich Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany
3
Institut für Theoretische Physik I, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
Corresponding author: m.michel@surrey.ac.uk
The time-convolutionless (TCL) projection operator technique allows a systematic analysis of the dynamical properties of open quantum systems. Unfortunately, using the standard projector to investigate the decay to equilibrium fails to describe the dynamics of a small system coupled to a finite environment correctly. However, a recently introduced correlated projection operator leads to the appropriate dynamical behavior and shows a reasonable good agreement with the exact Schrödinger dynamics. Furthermore, a similar projector can be used to describe the transport through a quantum system. Using the technique in Fourier space allows for a detailed analysis of transport in the context of its length scale dependence as well. Finally, the method is also applicable to realistic systems, e.g., spin models.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2007
