Marek Seliger and Joachim Burgdoerfer (Institute for Theoretical Physics,
Vienna University of Technology)
Carlos O. Reinhold and Tatsuya Minami (Physics Division, Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Oak Ridge)
We have developed a generalized non-unitary Lindblad equation and its quantum
trajectory Monte Carlo implementation for the evolution of open quantum systems
whose coupling to the environment not only features energy exchange but also
probability flux to the environment. This generalization allows the treatment
of a class of problems where the state space of the system includes bound and
continuum states. We apply the theory to time development of the internal state
of fast highly charged Kr 35+ ions traversing carbon foils with varying
thickness subject to collisions and to spontaneous radiative decay. We find
improved agreement of the non-unitary transport theory with experimental data.