No thermalization without correlations

Abstract

The proof of the long-standing conjecture is presented that Markovian quantum master equations are at odds with quantum thermodynamics under conventional assumptions of fluctuation-dissipation theorems (implying a translation invariant dissipation). Specifically, except for identified systems, persistent system-bath correlations of at least one kind, spatial or temporal, are obligatory for thermalization. A systematic procedure is proposed to construct translation invariant bath models producing steady states that well-approximate thermal states. A quantum optical scheme for the laboratory assessment of the developed procedure is outlined.

11 pages, 3 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1612.00573

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