We investigate the emergent open dynamics of a quantum system that undergoes rapid repeated unitary interactions with a sequence of ancillary systems. We study in detail how decoherence appears as a subleading effect when a quantum system is bombarded by a quick succession of ancillas. In the most general case, these ancillas are (a) taken from an ensemble of quantum systems of different dimensions, (b) prepared in different states, and (c) interacting with the system through different Hamiltonians. We derive an upper bound on decoherence rates in this regime, and show how a rich variety of phenomena in open dynamics (such as projection, thermalization, purification, and dephasing) can emerge out of our general model of repeated interaction. Furthermore, we show a fundamental link between the strength of the leading-order dissipation and the intrinsic “unpredictability” in the system-ancilla interaction. We also discuss how these results encompass and extend results obtained with other earlier models of repeated interaction.

• Received 13 May 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.032126