We derive the exact reduced dynamics of a central two-qubit system in a spin star configuration. The exact evolution of the reduced system density matrix is obtained and we compute the limit of an infinite number of environment spins. Initially pure states of the central system evolve into mixed ones and we determine the decoherence-free states of the model. The long-time behavior is studied, partial decoherence is shown to be a result of the coupling of the qubits to the environment, and entanglement evolution of the central system is investigated.

The time evolution of a spin-1 2 particle under the influence of a locally applied external magnetic field, and interacting with anisotropic spin environment in thermal equilibrium at temperature T is studied. The exact analytical form of the reduced density matrix of the central spin is calculated explicitly for finite number of bath spins. The case of an infinite number of environmental spins is investigated using the convergence of the rescaled bath operators to normal Gaussian random variables. In this limit, we derive the analytical form of the components of the Bloch vector for antiferromagnetic interactions within the bath, and we investigate the short-time and long-time behavior of reduced dynamics. The effect of the external magnetic field, the anisotropy and the temperature of the bath on the decoherence of the central spin is discussed.

The decoherence and entanglement dynamics of two interacting qubits coupled through Heisenberg XY interactions to a spin bath in thermal equilibrium are studied. The exact form of the reduced density matrix is derived for finite and infinite numbers of environmental spins. It is shown that decoherence can be minimized at low bath temperatures and strong coupling between the qubits. Some initial product states evolve into entangled ones, initially entangled states lose completely or partially their entanglement. The relation between the fidelity and the concurrence is also investigated.

The elements of the quantum mechanical diffusion matrix, leading to a Gibbs equilibrium state for a set of N coupled quantum harmonic oscillators are derived within Lindblad's axiomatic approach. Consequences of the fundamental constraints on the quantum friction coefficients are discussed. We derive the equations of motion for the expectation values and variances, and we solve them analytically. We apply our results to the description of the charge and mass asymmetry coordinates in heavy-ion collisions, and we investigate the effect of dissipation on tunneling in sub-barrier processes.

Exact analytical results for the dynamics of two interacting qubits each of which is embedded in its own spin star bath are presented. The time evolution of the concurrence and the purity of the two-qubit system is investigated for finite and infinite numbers of environmental spins. The effect of qubit-qubit interactions on the steady state of the central system is investigated. * Suggestions and corrections welcome †