In the theory of open quantum systems, a quantum Markovian master equation, the Lindblad equation, reveals the most general form for the generators of a quantum dynamical semigroup. In this thesis, we present the derivation of the Lindblad equation and several examples of Lindblad equations with their analytic and numerical solutions. The graphs of the numerical solutions illuminate the dynamics and the stabilization as time increases. The corresponding von Neumann entropies are also presented as graphs. Moreover, to illustrate the difference between the dynamics of open and isolated systems, we prove two theorems about the conditions for stabilization of the solutions of the von Neumann equation which describes the dynamics of the density matrix of open quantum systems. It shows that the von Neumann equation is not satisfied for modelling dynamics in the cognitive contextin general. Instead, we use the Lindblad equation to model the mental dynamics of the players in the game of the 2-player prisoner’s dilemma to explain the irrational behaviors of the players. The stabilizing solution will lead the mental dynamics to an equilibrium state, which is regarded as the termination of the comparison process for a decision maker. The resulting pure strategy is selected probabilistically by performing a quantum measurement. We also discuss two important concepts, quantum decoherence and quantum Darwinism. Finally, we mention a classical Neural Network Master Equation introduced by Cowan and plan our further works on an analogous version for the quantum neural network by using the Lindblad equation.

In this Bachelor thesis project, the Lindblad master equation is derived, both as the most general way of modeling interaction with an environment that lacks memory, and through microscopic derivations focused on assumptions about the way the system interacts with its environment (weak-coupling, Born-Markov and rotating wave approximations). It is then applied to a two-level system (qubit).

Some physical systems exhibit topological properties in the form of topological invariants— features of the system that remain constant unless the system undergoessignificant changes i.e. changes that require closing the energy gap of the Hamiltonian.This work studies one example of a system with topological properties — a Kitaevchain. Here, this model is studied when it is coupled to an environment. We studythe effect of the coupling on the topology of the system and attempt to find signaturesof topological phases in the dynamics of the system. By using the Lindblad equationdefined in the formalism of third quantization, we study the time evolution of thesystem numerically by using the Euler method. We find that the dynamics of theentanglement spectrum of half of the chain is different in the topological and trivialphases: if the system undergoes a quench from trivial to topological phase, the entanglementspectrum exhibits crossings as the system evolves in time. We also studythe topological phases when disorder is added to the system. We test the stabilityof the topological phases of the system against disorder and find that the topologicalphases are not affected by a weak disorder. Moreover, by studying the statistics of theminimum entanglement spectrum gap, we find that, in general, a stronger disordermakes the crossings less likely to appear in the topological phase and more likely toappear in the trivial phase. / Det finns fysiska system som visar topologiska egenskaper i form av topologiska invarianter,som ändras inte så länge systemet genomgår ändringar som inte stängerHamiltonianens energigap. I det här arbetet undersöker vi ett exempel av ett systemmed topologiska egenskaper — en Kitaev kedja. Denna modell är studerat närden är kopplad till en omgivning. Vi undersöker kopplingens påverkan på systemetstopologi och vi försöker hitta tecken på topologiska faser i systemets dynamik. Vianvänder Lindblads ekvation definierat i tredje kvantiserings formalism för att studerasystemets tidsutveckling numeriskt, genom att använda Eulers metod. Vi upptäckeratt det finns skillnader i tidsutveckling av kvantsammanflätningsspektrumav häften av kedjan som beror på systems topologiska fas. Om systemet genomgåren kvantsläckning från den triviala till den topologiska fasen, kommer det finnas korsningari kvantsammanflätningensspektrum som uppstår under dess tidsutveckling.Dessutom studerar vi de topologiska faserna när det finns oordning i systemet. Viundersöker topologiska fasernas stabilitet mot oordning och upptäcker att en svagoordning påverkar inte de topologika faserna. Dessutom, genom att studera den minstakvantsammanflätningsspektrumsgap upptäcker vi att en starkare oordning ledertill kvantsammanflätningsspektrumskorsningar att vara mindre sannolika i den topologiskafasen och mer sannolika i den triviala fasen.

On etudie la contrôlabilité des systèmes quantiques dans deux contextes différents: le cadre standard fermé, dans lequel un système quantique est considéré comme isolé et le problème de contrôle est formulé sur l'équation de Schrödinger; le cadre ouvert qui décrit un système quantique en interaction avec un plus grand, dont seuls les paramètres qualitatifs sont connus, au moyen de l'équation de Lindblad sur les états.Dans le contexte des systèmes fermés on se focalise sur la classe intéressante des systèmes spin-boson, qui décrivent l'interaction entre un système quantique à deux niveaux et un nombre fini de modes distingués d'un champ bosonique. On considère deux exemples prototypiques, le modèle de Rabi et le modèle de Jaynes-Cummings qui sont encore très populaires dans plusieurs domaines de la physique quantique. Notamment, dans le contexte de la Cavity Quantum Electro Dynamics (C-QED), ils fournissent une description précise de la dynamique d'un atome à deux niveaux dans une cavité micro-onde en résonance, comme dans les expériences récentes de S. Haroche. Nous étudions les propriétés de contrôlabilité de ces modèles avec deux types différents d'opérateurs de contrôle agissant sur la partie bosonique, correspondant respectivement – dans l'application à la C-QED – à un champ électrique et magnétique externe. On passe en revue quelques résultats récents et prouvons la contrôlabilité approximative du modèle de Jaynes-Cummings avec ces contrôles. Ce résultat est basé sur une analyse spectrale exploitant les non-résonances du spectre. En ce qui concerne la relation entre l'Hamiltonien de Rabi et Jaynes-Cummings nous traitons dans un cadre rigoureux l'approximation appelée d'onde tournante. On formule le problème comme une limite adiabatique dans lequel la fréquence de detuning et le paramètre de force d'interaction tombent à zero, ce cas est connu sous le nom de régime de weak-coupling. On prouve que, sous certaines hypothèses sur le rapport entre le detuning et le couplage, la dynamique de Jaynes-Cumming et Rabi montrent le même comportement, plus précisément les opérateurs d'évolution qu'ils génèrent sont proches à la norme.Dans le cadre des systèmes quantiques ouverts nous étudions la contrôlabilité de l'équation de Lindblad. Nous considérons un contrôle agissant adiabatiquement sur la partie interne du système, que nous voyons comme un degré de liberté qui peut être utilisé pour contraster l'action de l'environnement. L'action adiabatique du contrôle est choisie pour produire une transition robuste. On prouve, dans le cas prototype d'un système à deux niveaux, que le système approche un ensemble de points d'équilibre déterminés par l'environnement, plus précisément les paramètres qui spécifient l'opérateur de Lindblad. Sur cet ensemble, le système peut être piloté adiabatiquement en choisissant un contrôle approprié. L'analyse est fondée sur l'application de méthodes de perturbation géométrique singulière. / We investigate the controllability of quantum systems in two differentsettings: the standard 'closed' setting, in which a quantum system is seen as isolated, the control problem is formulated on the Schroedinger equation; the open setting that describes a quantum system in interaction with a larger one, of which just qualitative parameters are known, by means of the Lindblad equation on states.In the context of closed systems we focus our attention to an interesting class ofmodels, namely the spin-boson models. The latter describe the interaction between a 2-level quantum system and finitely many distinguished modes of a bosonic field. We discuss two prototypical examples, the Rabi model and the Jaynes-Cummings model, which despite their age are still very popular in several fields of quantum physics. Notably, in the context of cavity Quantum Electro Dynamics (C-QED) they provide an approximate yet accurate description of the dynamics of a 2-level atom in a resonant microwave cavity, as in recent experiments of S. Haroche. We investigate the controllability properties of these models, analyzing two different types of control operators acting on the bosonic part, corresponding -in the application to cavity QED- to an external electric and magnetic field, respectively. We review some recent results and prove the approximate controllability of the Jaynes-Cummings model with these controls. This result is based on a spectral analysis exploiting the non-resonances of the spectrum. As far as the relation between the Rabi andthe Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonians concerns, we treat the so called rotating waveapproximation in a rigorous framework. We formulate the problem as an adiabaticlimit in which the detuning frequency and the interaction strength parameter goes to zero, known as the weak-coupling regime. We prove that, under certain hypothesis on the ratio between the detuning and the coupling, the Jaynes-Cumming and the Rabi dynamics exhibit the same behaviour, more precisely the evolution operators they generate are close in norm.In the framework of open quantum systems we investigate the controllability ofthe Lindblad equation. We consider a control acting adiabatically on the internal part of the system, which we see as a degree of freedom that can be used to contrast the action of the environment. The adiabatic action of the control is chosen to produce a robust transition. We prove, in the prototype case of a two-level system, that the system approach a set of equilibrium points determined by the environment, i.e. the parameters that specify the Lindblad operator. On that set the system can be adiabatically steered choosing a suitable control. The analysis is based on the application of geometrical singular perturbation methods.

The inner crust of a neutron star is explored, using nuclear models andimplementing them in an open quantum system formalism. The purposeof the investigation is to extract valuable dynamics of the predictednuclear clusters that may exist in this region. We begin by setting up thenuclear models to extract the total energy per particle per system in orderto see if the results are corroborated with the works of others. Thereafter,the single-particle energies of the nuclear clusters are extracted. Theseenergies are then used in the Lindblad formalism to work out the timedependenceof the density matrix, which will allow us to extract thetime-dependence of the average energy of the system in interaction withan environment. / Den inre skorpan hos en neutronstjärna utforskas genom att användakärnmodeller och implementera dem i en öppen kvantumsystemformalism.Syftet med undersökningen är att extrahera värdefulladynamiska egenskaper hos de förutsagda kärnkluster som kan existerai detta område. Vi börjar med att etablera kärnmodeller för att extrahera den totala energin per partikel per system för att se omresultaten överensstämmer med andras arbeten. Därefter extraherade enskilda partikelenergierna hos kärnklusterna. Dessa energieranvänds sedan i Lindblad-formalismen för att beräkna tidsberoendetav densitetsmatrisen, vilket kommer att tillåta oss att extraheratidsberoendet av systemets genomsnittliga energi i interaktion med en miljö.

O objetivo deste trabalho é explorar um modelo para medidas quânticas de duração finita baseado na equação de Lindblad, com a análise de um sistema de 2 níveis acoplado a um reservatório térmico que ocasiona decoerência. A interação entre o sistema e o dispositivo de medida é markoviana, justificando o uso da equação de Lindblad para obter a dinâmica do processo de medida. Para analisar a influência do ambiente/reservatório térmico não-markoviano, cuja definição não inclui o aparato de medida, foi utilizada a abordagem de Redfield para a interação entre o sistema e o ambiente. Na teoria híbrida aqui exposta, para efetuar o traço parcial dos graus de liberdade do ambiente foi desenvolvido um método analítico baseado na álgebra de super-operadores e no uso dos super-operadores de Nakajima-Zwanzig. Foi verificado que medidas de duração finita sobre o sistema aberto de 2 níveis podem proteger o estado inicial dos efeitos do ambiente, desde que o observável medido não comute com a interação. Quando o observável medido comuta com a interação sistema-ambiente, a medida de duração finita acelera a decoerência induzida pelo ambiente. A validade das previsões analíticas foi testada comparando os resultados com uma abordagem numérica exata. Quando o acoplamento entre o sistema e o aparato de medida excede a faixa de validade da aproximação analítica, o estado inicial ainda é protegido pela medida de duração finita, como indicam os cálculos numéricos exatos. / The aim of this work is to explore a model for finite-time measurement based on the Lindblad equation, with analysis of a system consisting of a 2-level system coupled to a thermal reservoir. 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 superoperators. We show that measurements of finite duration performed on an open two-state system can protect the initial state from a phase-noisy environment, provided the measured observable does not commute with the perturbing interaction. When the measured observable commutes with the environmental interaction, the finite-duration measurement accelerates the rate of decoherence induced by the phase noise. We have tested the validity of the analytical predictions against an exact numerical approach. When the coupling between the system and the measuring apparatus increases beyond the range of validity of the analytical approximation, the initial state is still protected by the finite-time measurement, according with the exact numerical calculations.

O objetivo deste trabalho é explorar um modelo para medidas quânticas de duração finita baseado na equação de Lindblad, com a análise de um sistema de 2 níveis acoplado a um reservatório térmico que ocasiona decoerência. A interação entre o sistema e o dispositivo de medida é markoviana, justificando o uso da equação de Lindblad para obter a dinâmica do processo de medida. Para analisar a influência do ambiente/reservatório térmico não-markoviano, cuja definição não inclui o aparato de medida, foi utilizada a abordagem de Redfield para a interação entre o sistema e o ambiente. Na teoria híbrida aqui exposta, para efetuar o traço parcial dos graus de liberdade do ambiente foi desenvolvido um método analítico baseado na álgebra de super-operadores e no uso dos super-operadores de Nakajima-Zwanzig. Foi verificado que medidas de duração finita sobre o sistema aberto de 2 níveis podem proteger o estado inicial dos efeitos do ambiente, desde que o observável medido não comute com a interação. Quando o observável medido comuta com a interação sistema-ambiente, a medida de duração finita acelera a decoerência induzida pelo ambiente. A validade das previsões analíticas foi testada comparando os resultados com uma abordagem numérica exata. Quando o acoplamento entre o sistema e o aparato de medida excede a faixa de validade da aproximação analítica, o estado inicial ainda é protegido pela medida de duração finita, como indicam os cálculos numéricos exatos. / The aim of this work is to explore a model for finite-time measurement based on the Lindblad equation, with analysis of a system consisting of a 2-level system coupled to a thermal reservoir. 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 superoperators. We show that measurements of finite duration performed on an open two-state system can protect the initial state from a phase-noisy environment, provided the measured observable does not commute with the perturbing interaction. When the measured observable commutes with the environmental interaction, the finite-duration measurement accelerates the rate of decoherence induced by the phase noise. We have tested the validity of the analytical predictions against an exact numerical approach. When the coupling between the system and the measuring apparatus increases beyond the range of validity of the analytical approximation, the initial state is still protected by the finite-time measurement, according with the exact numerical calculations.

Cette thèse analyse certains aspects de la dynamique hors équilibre de systèmes quantiques unidimensionnels lorsqu’ils sont soumis à des champs externes dépendant du temps. Nous considérons plus particulièrement le cas des forçages périodiques, et le cas d’une variation temporelle lente d’un paramètre de l’Hamiltonien qui permet de traverser une transition de phase quantique. La première partie contient une présentation des notions, des modèles et des outils nécessaires pour comprendre la suite de la thèse, avec notamment des rappels sur les modèles quantiques critiques (en particulier sur les chaines de spin et sur le modèle de Bose-Hubbard), le mécanisme de Kibble-Zurek, et la théorie de Floquet. Ensuite, nous étudions la dynamique hors équilibre des gaz de Tonks-Girardeau dans un potentiel harmonique dépendant du temps par différentes techniques : développements perturbatifs, diagonalisation numérique exacte et solutions analytiques exactes basées sur la théorie des invariants dynamiques d’Ermakov-Lewis. Enfin, nous analysons la dynamique hors équilibre des systèmes quantiques ouverts markoviens soumis à des variations périodiques des paramètres du système et de l’environnement. Nous formulons une théorie de Floquet afin d’obtenir des solutions exactes des équations de Lindblad périodiques. Ce formalisme de Lindblad-Floquet est utilisé pour obtenir une caractérisation exacte du fonctionnement en temps fini des machines thermiques quantiques. / This thesis analyzes some aspects regarding the dynamics of one-dimensional quantum systems which are driven out-of-equilibrium by the presence of time- dependent external fields. Among the possible kinds of driven systems, our focus is dedicated to the slow variation of a Hamiltonian’s parameter across a quantum phase transition and to the case of a time-periodic forcing. To begin with, we prepare the background and the tools needed in the following. This includes a brief introduction to quantum critical models (in particular to the xy spin chain and to the Bose-Hubbard model), the Kibble-Zurek mechanism and Floquet theory. Next, we consider the non-equilibrium dynamics of Tonks-Girardeau gases in time-dependent harmonic trap potentials. The analysis is made with different techniques: perturbative expansions, numerical exact diagonalization and exact methods based on the theory of Ermakov-Lewis dynamical invariants. The last part of the thesis deals instead with the non-equilibrium dynamics of markovian open quantum systems subject to time-periodic perturbations of the system parameters and of the environment. This has led to an exact formulation of Floquet theory for a Lindblad dynamics. Moreover, within the Lindblad-Floquet framework it is possible to have an exact characterization ofthe finite-time operation of quantum heat-engines.