Irreversible Quantum Dynamics

The idea of editing the present volume in the Lecture Notes in Physics series arosewhileorganizingtheConferenceonIrreversibleQuantumDynamicsthat took place at The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, from July 29 to August 2, 2002. The aim of the Conference was to bring together di?erent groups of - searcherswhoseinterestsandpursuitsinvolveirreversibilityandtimeasymmetry in quantum mechanics. The Conference promoted open and in-depth exchanges of di?erent points of view, concerning both the content and character of qu- tum irreversibility and the methodologies used to study it. The following main themes were addressed: • Theoretical Aspects of Quantum Irreversible Dynamics • Open Quantum Systems and Applications • Foundational Aspects of Irreversible Quantum Dynamics • Asymmetric Time Evolution and Resonances Eachthemewasreviewedbyanexpertinthe?eld,accompaniedbymorespeci?c, research-like shorter talks. The whole topic of quantum irreversibility in all its manifold aspects has always raised a lot of interest, starting with the description of unstable systems in quantum mechanics and the issue of quantum measurement. Further, in - cent years a boost of activity concerning noise, dissipation and open systems has been prompted by the fast developing ?eld of quantum communication and information theory. These considerations motivated the editors to put together a volume that tries to summarize the present day status of the research in the ?eld, with the aim of providing the reader with an accessible and exhaustive introduction to it.

Klappentext

This set of tutorial reviews is dedicated to all aspects of irreversibility and time asymmetry in quantum mechanics. The main themes addressed are:

• theoretical aspects of quantum irreversible dynamics

• open quantum systems and applications

• foundational aspects of irreversible quantum dynamics

• asymmetric time evolution and resonances

This volume will benefit graduate students and researchers looking for a readable account of the current status of the field. It is also suited for lecturers looking for advanced material for their courses and seminars.

Inhalt
Theoretical Aspects of Quantum Irreversible Dynamics.- Quantum Theory of Irreversibility: Open Systems and Continuum Mechanics.- Selected Aspects of Markovian and Non-Markovian Quantum Master Equations.- Aspects of Open Quantum Dynamics.- Concepts and Methods in the Theory of Open Quantum Systems.- Open Quantum Systems and Applications.- Decoherence-Free Subspaces and Subsystems.- Controlled Quantum Open Systems.- Three Different Manifestations of the Quantum Zeno Effect.- Progressive Decoherence and Total Environmental Disentanglement.- Dynamics of Dissipative Quantum Systems: From Path Integrals to Master Equations.- Quantum Entropies in a Classical Context.- Foundational Aspects of Irreversible Quantum Dynamics.- Irreversibility and the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics.- An Attempt at Relativistic Spontaneous Localization.- The Quantum Jump Approach and Quantum Trajectories.- Asymmetric Time Evolution and Resonances.- Irreversibility, Resonances and Rigged Hilbert Spaces.- Markovian Master Equations and Resonances in Quantum Open Systems.- A New Topology for an Axiom of Quantum Mechanics.- The Importance of Boundary Conditions in Quantum Mechanics.- Time Asymmetric Quantum Mechanics and Relativistic Resonances.- Irreversibility in the Framework of Hermitian and Non-Hermitian Treatments of Resonance States.