Renormalization group for open quantum systems using environment temperature as flow parameter

SciPost Physics, vol. 12

Abstract

We present the T-flow renormalization group method, which computes the memory kernel for the density-operator evolution of an open quantum system by lowering the physical temperature T of its environment. This has the key advantage that it can be formulated directly in real time, making it particularly suitable for transient dynamics, while automatically accumulating the full temperature dependence of transport quantities. We solve the T-flow equations numerically for the example of the single impurity Anderson model. We benchmark in the stationary limit, readily accessible in real-time for voltages on the order of the coupling or larger using results obtained by the functional renormalization group, density-matrix renormalization group and the quantum Monte Carlo method. Here we find quantitative agreement even in the worst case of strong interactions and low temperatures, indicating the reliability of the method. For transient charge currents we find good agreement with results obtained by the 2PI Green's function approach. Furthermore, we analytically show that the short-time dynamics of both local and non-local observables follow a "universal" temperature-independent behaviour when the metallic reservoirs have a flat wide band.

Authors 2

1. Konstantin Nestmann Aachen Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics

   RWTH Aachen University · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, RWTH Aachen, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   JARA-FIT, 52056 Aachen, Germany

2. M. R. Wegewijs Aachen Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Jülich Aachen Research Alliance

   RWTH Aachen University

   Institute for Theory of Statistical Physics, RWTH Aachen, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   JARA-FIT, 52056 Aachen, Germany