From the Bloch equation to the thermodynamically consistent master equation

Abstract The Bloch equation which first inspired the field of open quantum systems, was conceived by pure physical reasoning. Since then, the Lindblad (GKLS) form of a quantum master equation, its most general mathematical representation, became an established staple in the open quantum systems toolbox. It allows the description of a multitude of quantum phenomena, however its universality comes at a cost—without additional constraints, the resultant dynamics are not necessarily thermodynamically consistent, and the equation itself lacks an intuitive interpretation. We present a mathematically equivalent form of the Lindblad master equation under a single constraint of strict energy conservation, which reinstates physical intuition, separating the system dynamics into its elemental parts: thermal mixing, dephasing, and energy relaxation. The analytical capabilities of the formalism are illustrated by calculating the fixed point of the dynamics and exploring the conditions for canonical invariance in quantum systems.