On the relaxation of a two-level system: Beyond the weak-coupling approximation

The model of two nondegenerate quantum levels coupled linearly and off-diagonally to a bath of quantum mechanical harmonic oscillators studied previously by Laird, Budimir, and Skinner is re-examined. Interpretations are made for both the fourth order population relaxation and dephasing processes. Some of the methods used are applied to the standard spin-boson problem. The question of experimental detection of predicted phenomena is discussed. An approximate method, based on a canonical transformation of the original Hamiltonian is proposed to study the problem.