Abstract
Quantum dissipation in a thermal environment is investigated, using the path-integral approach. The reduced density matrix of the harmonic oscillator system coupled to a thermal bath of oscillators is derived for an arbitrary spectrum of bath oscillators. Time evolution and the end point of the two-body decay of unstable particles are then elucidated: After early transient times unstable particles undergo the exponential decay, followed by the power-law decay and finally ending in a mixed state of residual particles containing contributions from both on and off the mass shell, whose abundance does not suffer from the Boltzmann suppression.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 798-805 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics