{
  "id": "2012.01062",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2020-12-02T10:04:30.000Z",
  "updated": "2020-12-02T10:04:30.000Z",
  "title": "Thermalization induced by quantum scattering",
  "authors": [
    "Samuel L. Jacob",
    "Massimiliano Esposito",
    "Juan M. R. Parrondo",
    "Felipe Barra"
  ],
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph",
    "cond-mat.stat-mech"
  ],
  "abstract": "We use quantum scattering theory to study a fixed quantum system Y subject to collisions with massive particles X described by wave-packets. We derive the scattering map for system Y and show that the induced evolution crucially depends on the width of the incident wave-packets compared to the level spacing in Y . If Y is non-degenerate, sequential collisions with narrow wave-packets cause Y to decohere. Moreover, an ensemble of narrow packets produced by thermal effusion causes Y to thermalize. On the other hand, broad wave-packets can act as a source of coherences for Y , even in the case of an ensemble of incident wave-packets given by the effusion distribution, preventing thermalization. We illustrate our findings on several simple examples and discuss the consequences of our results in realistic experimental situations.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2020-12-02T10:04:30.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "thermalization",
      "incident wave-packets",
      "realistic experimental situations",
      "simple examples",
      "fixed quantum system"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}