Dynamics of Multi-Level Open Quantum Systems with Initial System-Environment Correlations

Exact and approximate master equations were derived by the projection operator method for the reduced statistical operator of a multi-level open quantum system with finite number of quantum eigenstates interacting with arbitrary external deterministic fields and dissipative environment simultaneously. Unlike conventional master equations derived by the projection operator method for the quantum systems of this kind so far, these equations are homogeneous in the reduced statistical operator while, at the same time, taking into account initial correlations between the multi-level system and the environment. Consistent representation of the multi-level system evolution in terms of the operator algebra facilitates efficient numerical analysis of these equations derived for various physically realistic quantum models.