Number-conserving master equation theory for a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate

We describe the transition of N weakly interacting atoms into a Bose-Einstein condensate within a number-conserving quantum master equation theory. Based on the separation of time scales for condensate formation and noncondensate thermalization, we derive a master equation for the condensate subsystem in the presence of the noncondensate environment under the inclusion of all two-body interaction processes. We numerically monitor the condensate particle number distribution during condensate formation, and derive a condition under which the unique equilibrium steady state of a dilute, weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate is given by a Gibbs-Boltzmann thermal state of N noninteracting atoms.