The dynamics of open quantum systems, i.e., of systems interacting with an environment, forms the basis of numerous active areas of research. One approach to modeling open quantum system is via a Collision Model in which the environment is itself assumed to be composed of many small quantum systems (ancillas) which interact with the target system sequentially. In this seminar I will discuss how to construct a master equation from a collision models discrete-time dynamics. The approach taken generalizes prior methods which take the continuum limit (i.e. interaction duration δt \to 0) and avoids the need for diverging interaction strengths, g, such that g^2 δt = constant. I will also discuss under what conditions a generic collision model can describe purification and thermalization.
Daniel Grimmer is presenting this talk as a degree milestone in PhD Quantum Information.