title: Quantum Brownian motion with large friction.
abstract: Quantum Brownian motion in the strong friction limit is studied based on the exact path integral formulation of dissipative systems. In this limit the time-nonlocal reduced dynamics can be cast into an effective equation of motion, the quantum Smoluchowski equation. For strongly condensed phase environments it plays a similar role as master equations in the weak coupling range. Applications for chemical, mesoscopic, and soft matter systems are discussed and reveal the substantial role of quantum fluctuations.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. ankerhold@physik.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ankerhold
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grabert
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pechukas
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D004583:Electrons; D017276:Friction; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009038:Motion; D010825:Physics / Q000379:methods*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors