Quantum Diffusion via an Approximate Semigroup Property

Abstract

In this paper we introduce a new approach to the diffusive limit of the weakly random Schrodinger equation, first studied by L. Erdos, M. Salmhofer, and H.T. Yau. Our approach is based on a wavepacket decomposition of the evolution operator, which allows us to interpret the Duhamel series as an integral over piecewise linear paths. We relate the geometry of these paths to combinatorial features of a diagrammatic expansion which allows us to express the error terms in the expansion as an integral over paths that are exceptional in some way. These error terms are bounded using geometric arguments. The main term is then shown to have a semigroup property, which allows us to iteratively increase the timescale of validity of an effective diffusion. This is the first derivation of an effective diffusion equation from the random Schrodinger equation that is valid in dimensions $d\geq 2$.