Thermal Equilibrium from the Hu-Paz-Zhang Master Equation

1992/10/07 by J. R. Anglin, Anglin, J. R.
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #FOS: Physical sciences #General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies #gr-qc #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/9210034

10 pages, McGill/92--46

arxiv created 1992/10/07 · openalex publication_date 1992/10/07 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The exact master equation for a harmonic oscillator coupled to a heat bath, derived recently by Hu, Paz and Zhang, is simplified by taking the weak-coupling, late-time limit. The unique time-independent solution to this simplified master equation is the canonical ensemble at the temperature of the bath. The frequency of the oscillator is effectively lowered by the interaction with the bath.

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