Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling in a Non-equilibrium Environment

Abstract: In this study, we examine the generic dynamics of a macroscopic quantum system in interaction with a non-equilibrium environment. The system is conveniently described as a particle confined in a symmetric double-well potential and the environment is minimally modeled as two different harmonic reservoirs. We employ the time-dependent second-order perturbation theory to describe the dynamics without any explicit Born and Markov assumptions. We demonstrate that in the case of identical reservoirs the short-time dynamics is affected by the interference between two reservoirs through the system. In the non-equilibrium environment, the quantum coherence of the system essentially has an oscillatory dependence on the difference between two reservoirs. Nonetheless, for a wide range of differences, the non-equilibrium environment enhances the quantum coherence of the system. This effect is weakened by the macroscopic force the system exerts on reservoirs.