Dynamical detailed balance and local KMS condition for non-equilibrium states

Abstract

The principle of detailed balance is at the basis of equilibrium physics and is equivalent to the Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) condition (under quite general assumptions). In the present paper we prove that a large class of open quantum systems satisfies a dynamical generalization of the detailed balance condition ({\it dynamical detailed balance}) expressing the fact that all the micro-currents, associated to the Bohr frequencies are constant. The usual (equilibrium) detailed balance condition is characterized by the property that this constant is identically zero. From this we deduce a simple and experimentally measurable relation expressing the microcurrent associated to a transition between two levels $\epsilon_m\to\epsilon_n$ as a linear combination of the occupation probabilities of the two levels, with coefficients given by the generalized susceptivities (transport coefficients). Finally, using a master equation characterization of the dynamical detailed balance condition, we show that this condition is equivalent to a "local" generalization of the usual KMS condition.