Many unstable particles from an open quantum systems perspective

TL;DR

This paper introduces a master equation framework for describing unstable particles in quantum mechanics, deriving exponential decay and flavor oscillations, with a focus on open quantum systems and their evolution.

Contribution

It presents a novel master equation approach using creation and annihilation operators to describe unstable particles and their flavor mixing phenomena.

Findings

Derivation of a Kraus representation for the evolution.

Demonstration of exponential decay law.

Analysis of flavor oscillation phenomena.

Abstract

We postulate a master equation, written in the language of creation and annihilation operators, as a candidate for unambiguous quantum mechanical description of unstable particles. We have found Kraus representation for the evolution driven by this master equation and study its properties. Both Schroedinger and Heisenberg picture of the system evolution are presented. We show that the resulting time evolution leads to exponential decay law. Moreover, we analyse mixing of particle flavours and we show that it can lead to flavour oscillation phenomenon.