Open quantum systems and quantum information dynamics [Elektronische Ressource] / Ángel Rivas Vargas

˜Universitat UlmInstitut fur˜ Theoretische PhysikOpen Quantum Systems andQuantum Information Dynamics¶Angel Rivas VargasDissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. rer. nat. der Fakult˜at fur˜Naturwissenschaften der Universit˜at UlmJanuary 2011Amtierender Dekan Prof. Dr. Axel Gro…Erstgutachter Prof. Dr. Martin B. PlenioZweitgutachter Prof. Dr. Joachim AnkerholdTag der Promotion 16. M˜arz 2011DedicationA mis abuelos, F¶elix, Gertrudis, Carlos y Luisa.Et si habuero prophetiam,et noverim mysteria omnia, et omnem scientiam,[:::] caritatem autem non habuero, nihil sum.1 Cor 13, 2.AbstractJust like other theories of physics, quantum theory was developed to explain someexperimental facts that were incomprehensible within the previously existing theo-ries (e.g. the black-body radiation or the photoelectric efiect). After the Planck’sintroduction of the concept of quanta at the beginning of the XX century [1], manyphysical situations have been explained by means of quantum mechanics, rangingfrom the behavior of elementary particles to the operational mechanism of stars.Nowadays, about 100 years from its foundation, a lot of efiort is being made in try-ing to exploit the genuine features of quantum systems as a resource to solve a widevariety of problems, such as the secure transmission of information, its processingin a more e–cient way or to make extremely accurate measurements of physicalquantities.