Nonperturbative Open Quantum Dynamics Bypass Influence Functional

An ordered moment approach to exact open quantum dynamics is presented, which bypasses the Feynman-Vernon influence functional formalism. The hierarchical equations of motion are constructed using Wick’s contraction, which follows specific orderings of the bath’s creation and annihilation operators. Our approach moves beyond the traditional influence functional formalism, offering a more intuitive and direct framework, and extends the applicability of theory to nonlinear system–bath coupling scenarios.