We describe the effect of pure dephasing upon the time-dependent dynamics of two-state quantum systems in the framework of a Lindblad equation for the time evolution of the density matrix. A uniform approximate formula is derived, which modifies the corresponding lossless transition probability by an exponential factor containing the dephasing rate and the interaction parameters. This formula is asymptotically exact in both the diabatic and adiabatic limits; comparison with numerical results shows that it is highly accurate also in the intermediate range. Several two-state models are considered in more detail, including the Landau-Zener, Rosen-Zener, Allen-Eberly, and Demkov-Kunike models, along with several other models, such as a Gaussian model and a Landau-Zener model with a pulsed coupling.

• Received 22 December 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.75.033417