Non-Markovian effects in the spin-boson model at zero temperature

Abstract

We investigate memory effects in the spin-boson model using a recently proposed measure for non-Markovian behavior based on the information exchange between an open system and its environment. Employing the numerical exact multilayer multiconfguration time-dependent Hartree approach, we simulate the dynamics of the spin-boson model at zero temperature for a broad range of parameters. For a fast bath, i.e. in the scaling limit, we find non-Markovian dynamics for a coherently decaying spin at weak system-bath coupling, whereas memory effects are absent for stronger coupling in the regimes of incoherent decay and localization. If the time scales of system and bath are comparable, a complex, non-monotonic dependence of non-Markovianity on the system-bath coupling strength is observed.