Physico-mathematical model of open quantum systems with varying particle number

We derive the effective Hamiltonian $H - μN$ for open quantum systems with varying particle number from first principles. Our derivation relies on the general postulates of quantum statistical mechanics and on some specific assumptions regarding the size of the open system and the range of the interaction with the reservoir. Within this model, we also show that the effective Hamiltonian is unique up to a constant. In the course of our argument, we establish a rigorous version of the surface-to-volume ratio approximation, which is routinely used in an empirical form in statistical physics, and we show that the Hilbert space for systems with varying particle number must be isomorphic to Fock space. Together, these findings establish a solid physico-mathematical model for open quantum systems with varying particle number.