The master equation for the reduced open-system dynamics, including a Lindbladian description of finite-duration measurement

C. A. Brasil; R. d. J. Napolitano

doi:10.1140/epjp/i2011-11091-y

EPJ

The master equation for the reduced open-system dynamics, including a Lindbladian description of finite-duration measurement

C. A. Brasil^* and R. d. J. Napolitano

Instituto de Fısica de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, P.O. Box 369, 13560-970, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

Received: 18 February 2011
Revised: 18 August 2011
Accepted: 22 September 2011
Published online: 14 October 2011

Abstract

We consider the problem of the measurement of a system occurring during a finite-time interval, while environmentally induced noise decreases the system-state coherence. We assume a Markovian measuring device and, therefore, use a Lindbladian description for the measurement dynamics. For studying the case of noise produced by a non-Markovian environment, whose definition does not include the measuring apparatus, we use the Redfield approach to the interaction between system and environment. In the present hybrid theory, to trace out the environmental degrees of freedom, we introduce an analytic method based on superoperator algebra and Nakajima-Zwanzig projectors. The resulting master equation, describing the reduced system dynamics, is illustrated in the case of a qubit under phase noise during a finite-time measurement.