Quantum mechanics of open systems: Dissipaton theories

This Perspective presents a comprehensive account of the dissipaton theories developed in our group since 2014, including the physical picture of dissipatons and the phase-space dissipaton algebra. The dissipaton-equation-of-motion-space (DEOM-space) formulations cover the Schrödinger picture, the Heisenberg picture, and further the imaginary-time DEOM. Recently developed are also the dissipaton theories for studying equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamic mixing processes. The Jarzynski equality and Crooks relation are accurately reproduced numerically. It is anticipated that dissipaton theories would remain essential towards a maturation of quantum mechanics of open systems.