Measure for the Degree of Non-Markovian Behavior of Quantum Processes in Open Systems




Breuer HP, Laine EM, Piilo J

PublisherAMER PHYSICAL SOC

2009

Physical Review Letters

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

PHYS REV LETT

ARTN 210401

103

21

4

0031-9007

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.210401



We construct a general measure for the degree of non-Markovian behavior in open quantum systems. This measure is based on the trace distance which quantifies the distinguishability of quantum states. It represents a functional of the dynamical map describing the time evolution of physical states, and can be interpreted in terms of the information flow between the open system and its environment. The measure takes on nonzero values whenever there is a flow of information from the environment back to the open system, which is the key feature of non-Markovian dynamics.



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