Quantum mechanical masterequation and Fokker-Planck equation for the damped harmonic oscillator

Abstract

For the statistical operator of the damped harmonic oscillator a Masterequation is given in operator form describing both inelastic and elastic, purely phase destroying processes. By expressing the statistical operator in the diagonal representation with respect toGlauber's coherent states the Masterequation is transformed into a Fokker-Planck equation forGlauber's quasiprobability distribution function. The general solution of this Fokker-Planck equation is calculated. It is shown how the solution of a Masterequation can be used for calculating correlation functions and expressions are given for the amplitude and intensity correlation functions which are in complete formal agreement with the corresponding classical formulae.