Correlation and response functions with non-Markovian dissipation: A reduced Liouville-space theory

Based on a recently developed quantum dissipation formulation [R. X. Xu and Y. J. Yan, J. Chem. Phys. 116, 9196 (2002)], we present a reduced Liouville-space approach to evaluate the response and correlation functions of dissipative systems. The weak system-bath interaction is treated properly for its effects on the initial state, the evolution, and the correlation between coherent driving and non-Markovian dissipation. Numerical demonstration shows this correlated effect cannot be neglected even in the calculation of linear response quantities that do not explicitly depend on external fields. Highlighted in this paper is also the proper choice of theory among various formulations in the weak system-bath interaction regime. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics