Thermofield-based chain mapping approach for open quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a thermofield-based chain mapping method that transforms a finite temperature environment into a zero-temperature equivalent, enabling efficient numerical simulation of open quantum systems using tensor networks.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel thermofield approach that maps finite temperature environments onto zero-temperature chains for improved simulation of open quantum systems.

Findings

Enables exact mapping of finite temperature environments to zero-temperature chains.

Facilitates numerical analysis using tensor network techniques.

Provides a new framework for studying open quantum system dynamics.

Abstract

We consider a thermofield approach to analyze the evolution of an open quantum system coupled to an environment at finite temperature. In this approach, the finite temperature environment is exactly mapped onto two virtual environments at zero temperature. These two environments are then unitarily transformed into two different chains of oscillators, leading to a one dimensional structure that can be numerically studied using tensor network techniques.