Wigner distribution function approach to dissipative problems in quantum mechanics with emphasis on decoherence and measurement theory

We first review the usefulness of the Wigner distribution functions (WDFs), associated with Lindblad and pre-master equations, for analysing a host of problems in quantum optics where dissipation plays a major role, an arena where weak coupling and long-time approximations are valid. However, we also show their limitations for the discussion of decoherence, which is generally a short-time phenomenon with decay rates typically much smaller than typical dissipative decay rates. We discuss two approaches to the problem both of which use a quantum Langevin equation as a starting-point: (a) use of a reduced WDF but in the context of an exact master equation (b) use of a WDF for the complete system corresponding to entanglement at all times