Descripción
Open Quantum Systems is a subject that studies quantum systems interacting with an external environment. Unlike closed quantum systems, which evolve unitarily and are isolated from the outside world, open quantum systems account for decoherence, dissipation, and irreversible processes due to this interaction. Open quantum systems bridge idealized quantum mechanics and real-world systems by incorporating interaction with the environment. The subject is essential for understanding realistic quantum technologies, decoherence, and thermodynamic behavior in quantum contexts. The objectives are the following: 1) Understand the Mathematical foundations and learn the physical motivations for studying open quantum systems; 2) Learn the Mathematical Formalism: density matrix formalism and partial trace, Hilbert and Banach space, system-Environment Interactions, interactions between a quantum system and its environment, entanglement and decoherence; 3) Derive Master Equations under various approximations (Born, Markov, weak coupling) and Lindblad-form master equations for simple systems; 4) learn how to solve and study to some realistic but simple applications; 5) Connect with Thermodynamics and Information Theory: explore entropy production, quantum thermodynamic laws, and fluctuation theorems.
