A general theory of quantum-limited feedback for continuously monitored systems is presented. Two approaches are used, one based on quantum measurement theory and one on Hamiltonian system-bath interactions. The former gives rise to a stochastic non-Markovian evolution equation for the density operator, and the latter a non-Markovian quantum Langevin equation. In the limit that the time delay in the feedback loop is negligible, a simple deterministic Markovian master equation can be derived from either approach. Two special cases of interest are treated: feedback mediated by optical homodyne detection and self-excited quantum point processes.

• Received 22 October 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.49.2133