Quantum Brownian Motion in a Simple Model System

TL;DR

This paper proves that a quantum particle coupled to multiple reservoirs exhibits diffusive behavior over time and reaches a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of kinetic energy, with results valid for small coupling strengths.

Contribution

It demonstrates diffusive long-time behavior and energy equipartition for a quantum particle interacting with reservoirs, using an expansion around the kinetic scaling limit.

Findings

Particle exhibits diffusive behavior at long times.

Kinetic energy distribution approaches Maxwell-Boltzmann.

Results hold for small coupling strength .

Abstract

We consider a quantum particle coupled (with strength $\la$) to a spatial array of independent non-interacting reservoirs in thermal states (heat baths). Under the assumption that the reservoir correlations decay exponentially in time, we prove that the long-time behavior of the particle is diffusive for small, but finite $\la$. Our proof relies on an expansion around the kinetic scaling limit ($\la \searrow 0$, while time and space scale as $\la^{-2}$) in which the particle satisfies a Boltzmann equation. We also show an equipartition theorem: the distribution of the kinetic energy of the particle tends to a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, up to a correction of $O(\la^2)$.