title: Coarse grained open system quantum dynamics.
abstract: We show that the quantum dynamics of a system comprised of a subspace Q coupled to a larger subspace P can be recast as a reduced set of "coarse grained" ordinary differential equations with constant coefficients. These equations can be solved by a single diagonalization of a general complex matrix. The method makes no assumptions about the strength of the couplings between the Q and the P subspaces, nor is there any limitation on the initial population in P. The utility of the method is demonstrated via computations in three following areas: molecular compounds, photonic materials, and condensed phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z3, Canada. ithano@eie.gr
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thanopulos
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brumer
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shapiro