A Langevin canonical approach to the dynamics of chiral systems: Thermal averages and heat capacity

Abstract

A Langevin canonical framework for a chiral two-level system coupled to a bath of harmonic oscillators was developed within a coupling scheme different from the well-known spin-boson model. Thermal equilibrium values were reached at asymptotic times by solving the corresponding set of nonlinear coupled equations in a Markovian regime. In particular, phase difference thermal values (or, equivalently, the so-called coherence factor) and heat capacity through energy fluctuations were obtained and are discussed in terms of tunneling rates and asymmetries. Chirality 26:319-325, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.