Mean first-passage time of quantum transition processes

Rong-Tao Qiu, Wu-Sheng Dai and Mi Xie

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2012, vol. 391, issue 20, 4748-4755

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the problem of mean first-passage time (MFPT) in quantum mechanics; the MFPT is the average time of the transition from a given initial state, passing through some intermediate states, to a given final state for the first time. We apply the method developed in statistical mechanics for calculating the MFPT of random walks to calculate the MFPT of a transition process. As applications, we (1) calculate the MFPT for multiple-state systems, (2) discuss transition processes occurring in an environmental background, (3) consider a roundabout transition in a hydrogen atom, and (4) apply the approach to laser theory.

Keywords: Mean first-passage time; Master equation; Lifetime (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:391:y:2012:i:20:p:4748-4755

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2012.05.050

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