Generalized Floquet theory for open quantum systems

Abstract

For a periodically driven open quantum system, the Floquet theorem states that the time evolution operator $\Lambda(t,0)$ of the system can be factorized as $\Lambda(t,0)=\mathcal{D}(t)e^{\mathcal{L}_{eff}t}$ with micro-motion operator $\mathcal{D}(t)$ possessing the same period as the external driving, and time-independent operator $\mathcal{L}_{eff}$. In this work, we extend this theorem to open systems that follow a modulated periodic evolution, in which the fast part is periodic while the slow part breaks the periodicity. We derive a factorization for the time evolution operator that separates the long time dynamics and the micro-motion for the open quantum system. High-frequency expansions for the effective evolution operator control the long time dynamics, and the micro-motion operator is also given and discussed. It may find applications in quantum engineering with open systems following modulated periodic evolution.