Refined weak-coupling limit: Coherence, entanglement, and non-Markovianity

We study the properties of a refined weak-coupling limit that preserves complete positivity in order to describe non-Markovian dynamics in the spin-boson model. With this tool, we show the system presents a rich non-Markovian phenomenology. This implies a dynamical difference between entanglement and coherence: the latter undergoes revivals, whereas the former not, despite the induced dynamics being fully incoherent. In addition, the evolution presents “quasieternal” non-Markovianity, becoming nondivisible at any time period where the system evolves qualitatively. Furthermore, the method allows for an exact derivation of a master equation that accounts for a reversible energy exchange between system and environment. Specifically, this is obtained in the form of a time-dependent Lamb shift term.