Non-Markovian master equation for a damped driven two-state system

TL;DR

This paper derives a non-Markovian master equation for a driven two-state quantum system interacting with a structured environment, using the time-convolutionless technique, and discusses the validity of common approximations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed microscopic derivation of a non-Markovian master equation for a driven two-state system with structured reservoirs, extending previous models.

Findings

Derivation of a non-Markovian master equation using the time-convolutionless method.

Analysis of the validity of Markov and secular approximations.

Framework applicable to complex structured reservoirs.

Abstract

We present a detailed microscopic derivation for a non-Markovian master equation for a driven two-state system interacting with a general structured reservoir. The master equation is derived using the time-convolutionless projection operator technique in the limit of weak coupling between the two-state quantum system and its environment. We briefly discuss the Markov approximation, the secular approximation and their validity.