title: Wigner-Lindblad Equations for Quantum Friction.
abstract: Dissipative forces are ubiquitous and thus constitute an essential part of realistic physical theories. However, quantization of dissipation has remained an open challenge for nearly a century. We construct a quantum counterpart of classical friction, a velocity-dependent force acting against the direction of motion. In particular, a translationary invariant Lindblad equation is derived satisfying the appropriate dynamical relations for the coordinate and momentum (i.e., the Ehrenfest equations). Numerical simulations establish that the model approximately equilibrates. These findings significantly advance a long search for a universally valid Lindblad model of quantum friction and open opportunities for exploring novel dissipation phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
authors.forename: Denys I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bondar
authors.affiliation: Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
authors.forename: Renan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.affiliation: Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: University of California , Irvine, California 92697, United States.
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukamel
authors.affiliation: Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
authors.forename: Herschel A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Rabitz