Open Quantum Dynamics: Memory Effects and Superactivation of Backflow of Information

Abstract

We investigate the divisibility properties of the tensor products $\Lambda^{(1)}_t\otimes\Lambda^{(2)}_t$ of open quantum dynamics $\Lambda^{(1,2)}_t$ with time-dependent generators. These dynamical maps emerge from a compound open system $S_1+S_2$ that interacts with its own environment in such a way that memory effects remain when the environment is traced away. This study is motivated by the following intriguing effect: one can have Backflow of Information (BFI) from the environment to $S_1+S_2$ without the same phenomenon occurring for either $S_1$ and $S_2$. We shall refer to this effect as the Superactivation of BFI (SBFI).