Thermalization and Dephasing in Collisional Reservoirs

Area of Science:

• Quantum mechanics
• Statistical mechanics
• Condensed matter physics

Background:

• Quantum maps model interactions in open quantum systems.
• Collisional reservoirs introduce unique dynamics.
• Thermalization is a key concept in understanding system equilibrium.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a class of quantum maps for collisional reservoirs.
• Investigate the thermalization of quantum systems under specific conditions.
• Model collisional reservoirs at equilibrium.

Main Methods:

• Developed quantum maps describing collisional effects and dephasing.
• Incorporated unitary evolution with random Poissonian times.
• Utilized scattering theory to identify conditions for map emergence.

Main Results:

• Quantum maps induce population transitions obeying detailed balance.
• Coherences generated by maps initially prevent thermalization.
• A combination of collisions and dephasing leads to system thermalization at low collision rates.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model effectively describes thermalization in collisional reservoirs.
• The interplay between collisions and dephasing is crucial for achieving equilibrium.
• The findings provide a framework for understanding quantum systems interacting with their environment.