Wigner distribution function and entropy of the damped harmonic oscillator within the theory of open quantum systems

Abstract

The harmonic oscillator with dissipation is studied within the framework of the Lindblad theory for open quantum systems. By using the Wang-Uhlenbeck method, the Fokker-Planck equation, obtained from the master equation for the density operator, is solved for the Wigner distribution function, subject to either the Gaussian type or the $\delta$-function type of initial conditions. The obtained Wigner functions are two-dimensional Gaussians with different widths. Then a closed expression for the density operator is extracted. The entropy of the system is subsequently calculated and its temporal behaviour shows that this quantity relaxes to its equilibrium value.

8 pages, Latex (Contribution to the Second Workshop on Harmonic Oscillators, Cocoyoc, Mexico, March 23-25, 1994)