Open quantum dynamics via Periodically Refreshed Baths

ended

Recent years have seen tremendous experimental progress in realization of quantum devices. Quantum devices are inherently noisy and dissipative because complete isolation from surrounding environment is impossible at such small length scales. Fundamentally, they work by driving the system out of equilibrium, for example, by applying a voltage. This makes them 'driven dissipative many-body quantum systems'. State-of-the-art theoretical and numerical techniques allow exploration of such systems only under very restrictive conditions. This severely limits our understanding of already experimentally realizable situations and their capability for device applications such as energy transfer and heat management. In this project, I propose to develop a new technique, the Periodically Refreshed Baths (PReB) scheme, for open quantum dynamics which will go much beyond the current state-of-the-art methods. It will numerically exactly describe quantum dissipative many-body systems under a constant or time dependent voltage/temperature bias over a wide range of parameters. This will be achieved by combining fundamental concepts from condensed matter physics with those from open quantum systems and incorporating them in state-of-the-art numerical methods for quantum many-body dynamics. The resulting numerical method is expected to find long-term applications in a wide range of problems in quantum physics, biology, chemistry and engineering. In this project, as an application, I propose to use the PReB scheme to extensively explore quantum thermodynamics of one class of intermediate scale quantum systems, which is impossible with current state-of-the-art techniques. This project will thus open access to completely uncharted territories for intense research activities and technological developments. The research will be carried out in the perfectly suited 'Thermodynamics and energetics of Quantum Systems' (QuSys) group of Prof. John Goold at Trinity College Dublin.