Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 086802 (2001) - Strong Friction Limit in Quantum Mechanics: The Quantum Smoluchowski Equation

Strong Friction Limit in Quantum Mechanics: The Quantum Smoluchowski Equation

Joachim Ankerhold, Philip Pechukas, and Hermann Grabert

Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 086802 – Published 6 August 2001; Errata Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 119903 (2008); Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 169902 (2008)

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.

Received 12 March 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.086802

©2001 American Physical Society

Errata

Erratum: Strong Friction Limit in Quantum Mechanics: The Quantum Smoluchowski Equation [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 086802 (2001)]

Joachim Ankerhold and Hermann Grabert

Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 119903 (2008)

Publisher’s Note: Erratum: Strong Friction Limit in Quantum Mechanics: The Quantum Smoluchowski Equation [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 086802 (2001)] [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 119903 (2008)]

Joachim Ankerhold and Hermann Grabert

Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 169902 (2008)

Authors & Affiliations

Joachim Ankerhold, Philip Pechukas^*, and Hermann Grabert

Fakultät für Physik, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Straße 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany

^*Permanent address: Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027.

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Issue

Vol. 87, Iss. 8 — 20 August 2001

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