Strong friction limit in quantum mechanics: the Quantum Smoluchowski equation
arXiv:cond-mat/0107261 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.086802
Abstract
For a quantum system coupled to a heat bath environment the strong friction limit is studied starting from the exact path integral formulation. Generalizing the classical Smoluchowski limit to low temperatures a time evolution equation for the position distribution is derived and the strong role of quantum fluctuations in this limit is revealed.
4 pages, PRL in press