Berlin 2012 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 4: Quantum Dynamics, Decoherence, and Quantum Information

DY 4.11: Invited Talk

Monday, March 26, 2012, 17:45–18:15, MA 001

Environment-induced heating in composite quantum systems — •Almut Beige — The School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

It is emphasized that repeated energy-absorbing measurements on a single component of a composite quantum system can result in a significant amount of heating. In quantum optical systems, this heating might manifest itself for example as a non-zero stationary state photon emission rate -- even in the absence of external driving. The underlying energy concentrating mechanism might not be present, when a two-level atom interacts with a free radiation field and a photon-absorbing environment [1]. Nevertheless, it might play a crucial role in sonoluminescence experiments [2].

[1] Extending the validity range of quantum optical master equations, A. Stokes, A. Kurcz, T. P. Spiller, and A. Beige, arXiv:1111.7206 (2012).

[2] Sonoluminescence and quantum optical heating, A. Kurcz, A. Capolupo, and A. Beige, New J. Phys. 11, 053001 (2009).