lindblad-equation
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision | ||
| lindblad-equation [June 09, 2026 at 13:37] – Ivan Janevski | lindblad-equation [June 13, 2026 at 03:13] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| # Lindblad equation | # Lindblad equation | ||
| - | **Lindblad equation** (also known as the **master equation** or the **GKSL equation**) is an equation in quantum mechanics | + | **Lindblad equation** (also called |
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Coherent term | ||
| + | |||
| + | The first term $-\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Dissipator | ||
| + | |||
| + | The sum $\sum_k\!\left(L_k\rho L_k^\dagger - \frac{1}{2}\{L_k^\dagger L_k, \rho\}\right)$ is the dissipator. Each term corresponds to one incoherent channel indexed by $k$. The $L_k\rho L_k^\dagger$ part is the quantum jump: the environment has " | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Jump operators | ||
| + | |||
| + | The operators $L_k$ are called | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 1. Relaxation (T1 / amplitude damping) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Relaxation is spontaneous decay from the excited state $\lvert 1\rangle$ down to the ground state $\lvert 0\rangle$. Physically this is what happens when a two-level atom emits a photon, or when a superconducting qubit dissipates energy into its microwave environment. The jump operator is the **lowering operator** $\sigma^-$, which maps $\lvert 1\rangle \to \lvert 0\rangle$ and annihilates $\lvert 0\rangle$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L = \sqrt{\gamma}\, | ||
| + | \sigma^- = \lvert 0\rangle\langle 1\rvert = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Its Hermitian adjoint is the **raising operator** $\sigma^+ = (\sigma^-)^\dagger = \lvert 1\rangle\langle 0\rvert$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\sigma^+ = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note that $\sigma^+\sigma^- = \lvert 1\rangle\langle 1\rvert$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \gamma\!\left(\sigma^-\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | In components this drives $\dot\rho_{11} = -\gamma\rho_{11}$ (excited population decays at rate $\gamma = 1/T_1$) and $\dot\rho_{01} = -\frac{\gamma}{2}\rho_{01}$ (coherences also decay, at half the rate). The ground-state population grows accordingly: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 2. Pure dephasing (T2) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pure dephasing destroys off-diagonal coherences with no energy exchange — the populations $\rho_{00}$ and $\rho_{11}$ stay fixed while the off-diagonals $\rho_{01}$ and $\rho_{10}$ decay. Physically this comes from random fluctuations | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L = \sqrt{\frac{\gamma_\phi}{2}}\, | ||
| + | \sigma_z = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Because $\sigma_z^2 = I$, we have $L^\dagger L = (\gamma_\phi/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \frac{\gamma_\phi}{2}\!\left(\sigma_z\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | In components: $\dot\rho_{00} = 0$, $\dot\rho_{11} = 0$, $\dot\rho_{01} = -\gamma_\phi\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 3. Thermal excitation | ||
| + | |||
| + | At nonzero temperature the environment contains thermal photons, which can excite the qubit from $\lvert 0\rangle$ to $\lvert 1\rangle$. This is the reverse process from relaxation. The jump operator is the **raising operator** $\sigma^+$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L = \sqrt{\gamma_\uparrow}\, | ||
| + | \sigma^+ = \lvert 1\rangle\langle 0\rvert = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The thermal excitation rate is $\gamma_\uparrow = \gamma\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \gamma_\uparrow\!\left(\sigma^+\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | In components: $\dot\rho_{00} = -\gamma_\uparrow\rho_{00}$ (ground population depletes) and $\dot\rho_{11} = +\gamma_\uparrow\rho_{00}$. Together with the relaxation channel ($L = \sqrt{\gamma}\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 4. Depolarizing / isotropic noise | ||
| + | |||
| + | Depolarizing noise applies random Pauli errors in all three directions with equal probability, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L_x = \sqrt{\frac{p}{3}}\, | ||
| + | L_y = \sqrt{\frac{p}{3}}\, | ||
| + | L_z = \sqrt{\frac{p}{3}}\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The three Pauli matrices in full: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\sigma_x = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0\end{pmatrix}, | ||
| + | \sigma_y = \begin{pmatrix}0 & -i \\ i & 0\end{pmatrix}, | ||
| + | \sigma_z = \begin{pmatrix}1 & 0 \\ 0 & -1\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | All three satisfy $\sigma_j^2 = I$, so $\frac{1}{2}\{L_j^\dagger L_j, \rho\} = \frac{p}{3}\rho$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \frac{p}{3}\sum_{j\in\{x, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Using the Pauli identity $\sum_j \sigma_j\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \frac{p}{3}(2I - \rho - 3\rho) = \frac{4p}{3}\!\left(\frac{I}{2} - \rho\right)$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The fixed point is $\rho = I/2$: any initial state is driven toward the completely mixed state at rate $4p/3$. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 5. Bosonic loss (cavity / photon loss) | ||
| + | |||
| + | For a bosonic mode (cavity field, mechanical oscillator, LC circuit), photon loss into the environment is described by the bosonic annihilation operator $a$. In the Fock (photon-number) basis $\{\lvert 0\rangle, \lvert 1\rangle, \lvert 2\rangle, \ldots\}$, $a$ acts as $a\lvert n\rangle = \sqrt{n}\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L = \sqrt{\kappa}\, | ||
| + | a = \begin{pmatrix}0 & \sqrt{1} & 0 & 0 & \cdots \\ 0 & 0 & \sqrt{2} & 0 & \cdots \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & \sqrt{3} & \cdots \\ \vdots & & & & \ddots\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The rate $\kappa = 1/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \kappa\!\left(a\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the Fock basis, the matrix element $\rho_{mn} = \langle m\rvert\rho\lvert n\rangle$ evolves as: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{mn} = \kappa\!\left(\sqrt{(m+1)(n+1)}\; | ||
| + | |||
| + | The mean photon number decays exponentially: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ### 6. Bosonic dephasing (photon number dephasing) | ||
| + | |||
| + | Bosonic dephasing preserves photon number populations $\rho_{nn}$ but destroys coherences between Fock states with different photon numbers. The jump operator is the number operator $\hat{n} = a^\dagger a$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L = \sqrt{\kappa_\phi}\, | ||
| + | a^\dagger a = \begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & 0 & \cdots \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & \cdots \\ 0 & 0 & 2 & \cdots \\ \vdots & & & \ddots\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Physically this arises when the mode frequency fluctuates randomly (e.g. due to a dispersive coupling to a fluctuating qubit, or dielectric loss that is proportional to photon number). The special-case Lindblad equation (H = 0, single channel): | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = \kappa_\phi\!\left(\hat{n}\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the Fock basis the result is particularly clean. Since $\hat{n}\lvert n\rangle = n\lvert n\rangle$ is diagonal, every matrix element picks up a simple factor: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{mn} = -\frac{\kappa_\phi}{2}(m - n)^2\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Diagonal elements $(m = n)$ are exactly preserved. Off-diagonal elements decay at a rate proportional to the squared difference in photon number, so states separated by many quanta dephase much faster than adjacent Fock states. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Qubit | ||
| + | |||
| + | A qubit is the simplest | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\rho = \begin{pmatrix}\rho_{00} & \rho_{01} \\ \rho_{10} & \rho_{11}\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The diagonal entries $\rho_{00}$ and $\rho_{11}$ are real, non-negative **populations** summing to one ($\rho_{00} + \rho_{11} = 1$). The off-diagonal entries $\rho_{01} = \rho_{10}^*$ are complex **coherences**. A pure state $\lvert\psi\rangle = \alpha\lvert 0\rangle + \beta\lvert 1\rangle$ corresponds to $\rho_{00} = |\alpha|^2$, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The standard qubit Hamiltonian describes a two-level system with energy splitting $\hbar\omega$ between ground and excited state: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$H = \frac{\hbar\omega}{2}\sigma_z = \frac{\hbar\omega}{2}\begin{pmatrix}1& | ||
| + | |||
| + | To write the full Lindblad equation for a realistic qubit, use two jump operators — one for T1 relaxation and one for pure dephasing: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L_1 = \sqrt{\gamma}\, | ||
| + | L_2 = \sqrt{\frac{\gamma_\phi}{2}}\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Now work out each term of $\dot\rho = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Coherent term.** The commutator $[H, \rho]$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$[\sigma_z, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$-\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The coherent term drives oscillation of the coherences at frequency $\omega$ (Larmor precession). It leaves populations untouched. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **T1 dissipator.** With $L_1^\dagger L_1 = \gamma\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\sigma^-\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{1}{2}\{L_1^\dagger L_1,\rho\} = \frac{\gamma}{2}\left\{\begin{pmatrix}0& | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L_1\rho L_1^\dagger - \frac{1}{2}\{L_1^\dagger L_1,\rho\} = \gamma\begin{pmatrix}\rho_{11}& | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Dephasing dissipator.** With $L_2^\dagger L_2 = (\gamma_\phi/ | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\sigma_z\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$L_2\rho L_2^\dagger - \frac{1}{2}\{L_2^\dagger L_2,\rho\} = \frac{\gamma_\phi}{2}(\sigma_z\rho\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Full equation.** Sum all three contributions: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho = \begin{pmatrix}0& | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho = \begin{pmatrix}\gamma\rho_{11} & \left(-i\omega - \tfrac{\gamma}{2} - \gamma_\phi\right)\rho_{01} \\ \left(i\omega - \tfrac{\gamma}{2} - \gamma_\phi\right)\rho_{10} & -\gamma\rho_{11}\end{pmatrix}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Reading off the four equations for the matrix entries: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{00} = +\gamma\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{11} = -\gamma\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{01} = \left(-i\omega - \frac{1}{T_2}\right)\rho_{01}, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\dot\rho_{10} = \left(+i\omega - \frac{1}{T_2}\right)\rho_{10}$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | These are the **optical Bloch equations**. The solutions are direct: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\rho_{11}(t) = \rho_{11}(0)\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\rho_{01}(t) = \rho_{01}(0)\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The excited population decays exponentially at rate $\gamma = 1/T_1$. The coherences oscillate at the qubit frequency $\omega$ while their magnitude decays at rate $1/T_2 = \gamma/2 + \gamma_\phi$. Since $T_2 \leq 2T_1$, dephasing is always at least as fast as the T1-limited floor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Markov approximation | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Lindblad equation is valid under the **Markov approximation**: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## Derivation | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Lindblad equation can be derived from the quantum channel picture. Over a short time step $dt$, a quantum channel is described by a set of **Kraus operators** $\{K_k\}$ satisfying the completeness relation $\sum_k K_k^\dagger K_k = I$. The density matrix evolves as: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\rho(t + dt) = \sum_k K_k\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is the most general evolution that is linear, completely positive, and trace-preserving. For a single dissipation channel described by a jump operator $L$, use two Kraus operators: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0 = I - \frac{i}{\hbar}H\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $K_1$ is the **jump** Kraus operator: it fires with probability proportional to $dt$, representing one quantum jump. $K_0$ is the **no-jump** Kraus operator: it captures the coherent Hamiltonian evolution plus the accumulated " | ||
| + | |||
| + | First, verify that these satisfy the completeness relation to first order in $dt$ (anything proportional to $dt^2$ is dropped). Take the dagger of $K_0$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0^\dagger = I + \frac{i}{\hbar}H\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Then: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0^\dagger K_0 = \left(I + \frac{i}{\hbar}H\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Expand and drop $dt^2$ terms (e.g. $H^2 dt^2$ and $H L^\dagger L\,dt^2$ all vanish). The surviving terms are: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0^\dagger K_0 = I - L^\dagger L\,dt$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The jump term gives: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_1^\dagger K_1 = \left(\sqrt{dt}\; | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sum them: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0^\dagger K_0 + K_1^\dagger K_1 = I - L^\dagger L\,dt + L^\dagger L\,dt = I \quad\checkmark$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The completeness relation holds to first order. Now expand the full evolution $\rho(t+dt) = K_0\rho K_0^\dagger + K_1\rho K_1^\dagger$. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Start with the no-jump term $K_0\rho K_0^\dagger$. Multiply out, keeping only first-order terms in $dt$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0\rho K_0^\dagger | ||
| + | = \left(I - \frac{i}{\hbar}H\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$= \rho + \frac{i}{\hbar}\rho H\,dt - \frac{1}{2}\rho L^\dagger L\,dt | ||
| + | - \frac{i}{\hbar}H\rho\, | ||
| + | - \frac{1}{2}L^\dagger L\rho\,dt + \mathcal{O}(dt^2)$$ | ||
| + | |||
| + | Recognise the commutator $[H, \rho] = H\rho - \rho H$ and the anticommutator $\{L^\dagger L, \rho\} = L^\dagger L\rho + \rho L^\dagger L$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0\rho K_0^\dagger = \rho - \frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Now the jump term $K_1\rho K_1^\dagger$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_1\rho K_1^\dagger = \sqrt{dt}\; | ||
| + | |||
| + | Add both terms together: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\rho(t+dt) = \rho - \frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Subtract $\rho(t)$ from both sides and divide by $dt$: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | That is the Lindblad equation for a single jump channel. For multiple independent channels, each with its own Kraus pair $(K_0^{(k)}, | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$K_0 = I - \frac{i}{\hbar}H\, | ||
| + | |||
| + | Repeating the same expansion yields the general form: | ||
| + | |||
| + | $$\frac{\mathrm{d}\rho}{\mathrm{d}t} = -\frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ## List of code implementations | ||
| + | |||
| + | - [[lindblad-equation-qutip|Lindblad equation (QuTiP)]] | ||
| - | $$\frac{\mathrm d \rho}{\mathrm dt} = - \frac{i}{\hbar}[H, | ||
lindblad-equation.1781012235.txt.gz · Last modified: by Ivan Janevski
