Erlangen 2018 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 66: Quantum Effects (Entanglement and Decoherence)

Q 66.3: Vortrag

Freitag, 9. März 2018, 11:00–11:15, K 1.013

Rotational friction and thermalization of quantum rigid rotors — •Björn Schrinski, Benjamin A. Stickler, and Klaus Hornberger — Fakultät für Physik, Universität Duisburg-Essen

We present the general Markovian quantum master equation describing rotational decoherence, friction, diffusion, and thermalization of a rigid rotor in contact with a thermal environment. The master equation describes thermalization toward a Gibbs-like rotation state and gives rise to the rotational Fokker-Planck equation in its semiclassical limit. Its adequacy and applicability is demonstrated by studying the thermalization dynamics of the linear and the planar top. Possible applications include experimental tests of the quantum superposition principle involving the rotational degree of freedom [1], molecular quantum experiments in the field of ultracold chemistry [2], as well as the assessment of the thermodynamic efficiency of quantum rotor heat engines [3].

[1] B. Schrinski et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 34, C1 (2017)

[2] S. A. Moses et al., Nat. Phys. 13, 13 (2017)

[3] A. Roulet et al., Phys. Rev. E 95, 062131 (2017)