Time-independent as well as time-dependent phenomena in chemical physics, quantum optics, solid state physics, biological physics, etc. are often described using quantum master equations (QME). In particular, dynamics in open quantum systems, i.e., systems with dissipation, can be conveniently treated within this formalism. The QMEs govern the time evolution of density matrices which are used in order to represent the mixed nature of the states.  The Redfield theory is one of the QMEs that provide a systematic way of incorporating the detailed relaxation paths and identifying the dephasing mechanisms. The conventional Redfield theory only includes absorption and emission of phonons by the system as well as elastic collisions with phonons. In the present study, the theory was extended to include non-elastic system/bath collisions. As a result, newly ten terms of Redfield tensors survive. These new tensors transfer off-diagonal terms of reduced density matrix elements to diagonal ones or vice versa.

Extension of Redfield theory: Inclusion of non-elastic collisions

245th National Meeting (2013)

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