Quantum friction: environment engineering perspectives

Abstract

We prove a generalization of the Lindblad's fundamental no-go result: A quantum system cannot be completely frozen and, in some cases, even thermalized via translationally invariant dissipation -- the quantum friction. Nevertheless, a practical methodology is proposed for engineering nearly perfect quantum analogs of classical friction within the Doppler cooling framework. These findings pave the way for hallmark dissipative engineering (e.g. nonreciprocal couplings) with atoms and molecules.