Quantum Dissipation and Quasi-Particles - Einzelansicht

A discussion of ”open quantum systems” applied to mostly condensed-matter systems. Within the ”system + bath” paradigm, different interactions are discussed and used to derive the relevant parameters (dissipation rate, friction coefficient, spectral density). 

General structure (yet preliminary):

typical baths: phonons, electrons, photons

System dynamics weakly coupled to a bath: damped harmonic oscillator, electronically excited states, spin relaxation. Equations of motion and master equations: Langevin, Lindblad form.

Exactly solvable models: dephasing, damped oscillator.

Landauer approach to transport problems: scattering plus relaxation in the contacts. 

Path-integral techniques and influence functional, results for the spin-boson model.

Remarkable formula and thermodynamics (mean-force Gibbs state). Application to dispersion forces.

Recent research questions.