Irreversible quantum dynamics : [Conference on Irreversible Quantum Dynamics that took place at the Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, from July 29 to August 2, 2002

This set of tutorial reviews is dedicated to all aspects of irreversibility and time asymmetry in quantum mechanics. The main themes addressed are: - theoretical aspects of quantum irreversible dynamics - open quantum systems and applications - foundational aspects of irreversible quantum dynamics - asymmetric time evolution and resonances This volume will benefit graduate students and researchers looking for a readable account of the current status of the field. It is also suited for lecturers looking for advanced material for their courses and seminars. The idea of editing the present volume in the Lecture Notes in Physics series arosewhileorganizingthe“ConferenceonIrreversibleQuantumDynamics”that took place at The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, from July 29 to August 2, 2002. The aim of the Conference was to bring together di?erent groups of - searcherswhoseinterestsandpursuitsinvolveirreversibilityandtimeasymmetry in quantum mechanics. The Conference promoted open and in-depth exchanges of di?erent points of view, concerning both the content and character of qu- tum irreversibility and the methodologies used to study it. The following main themes were addressed: • Theoretical Aspects of Quantum Irreversible Dynamics • Open Quantum Systems and Applications • Foundational Aspects of Irreversible Quantum Dynamics • Asymmetric Time Evolution and Resonances Eachthemewasreviewedbyanexpertinthe?eld,accompaniedbymorespeci?c, research-like shorter talks. The whole topic of quantum irreversibility in all its manifold aspects has always raised a lot of interest, starting with the description of unstable systems in quantum mechanics and the issue of quantum measurement. Further, in - cent years a boost of activity concerning noise, dissipation and open systems has been prompted by the fast developing ?eld of quantum communication and information theory. These considerations motivated the editors to put together a volume that tries to summarize the present day status of the research in the ?eld, with the aim of providing the reader with an accessible and exhaustive introduction to it. Quantum Theory of Irreversibility: Open Systems and Continuum Mechanics....Pages 7-30 Selected Aspects of Markovian and Non-Markovian Quantum Master Equations....Pages 31-46 Aspects of Open Quantum Dynamics....Pages 47-63 Concepts and Methods in the Theory of Open Quantum Systems....Pages 65-79 Decoherence-Free Subspaces and Subsystems....Pages 83-120 Controlled Quantum Open Systems....Pages 121-139 Three Different Manifestations of the Quantum Zeno Effect....Pages 141-156 Progressive Decoherence and Total Environmental Disentanglement....Pages 157-163 Dynamics of Dissipative Quantum Systems: From Path Integrals to Master Equations....Pages 165-178 Quantum Entropies in a Classical Context....Pages 179-193 Irreversibility and the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics....Pages 197-219 An Attempt at Relativistic Spontaneous Localization....Pages 221-231 The Quantum Jump Approach and Quantum Trajectories....Pages 233-242 Irreversibility, Resonances and Rigged Hilbert Spaces....Pages 245-302 Markovian Master Equations and Resonances in Quantum Open Systems....Pages 303-314 A New Topology for an Axiom of Quantum Mechanics....Pages 315-326 The Importance of Boundary Conditions in Quantum Mechanics....Pages 327-339 Time Asymmetric Quantum Mechanics and Relativistic Resonances....Pages 341-356 Irreversibility in the Framework of Hermitian and Non-Hermitian Treatments of Resonance States....Pages 357-369

This set of tutorial reviews is dedicated to all aspects of irreversibility and time asymmetry in quantum mechanics. The main themes addressed are:

- theoretical aspects of quantum irreversible dynamics

- open quantum systems and applications

- foundational aspects of irreversible quantum dynamics

- asymmetric time evolution and resonances

This volume will benefit graduate students and researchers looking for a readable account of the current status of the field. It is also suited for lecturers looking for advanced material for their courses and seminars.

The second law of thermodynamics reveals an essential irreversibility in the macroscopic behaviour of large conservative systems, notwithstanding the fact that their underlying microscopic dynamics is both reversible and quasi-periodic.