Entanglement in two-mode continuous variable open quantum systems

In the framework of the theory of open systems based on completely positive quantum dynamical semigroups, we present a description of continuous-variable entanglement for a system consisting of two non-interacting modes embedded in a thermal environment. By using the Peres-Simon necessary and sufficient criterion for the separability of two-mode Gaussian states, we describe the evolution of entanglement in terms of the covariance matrix for Gaussian input states. For all values of the temperature of the thermal reservoir, an initial separable Gaussian state remains separable for all times. In the case of an entangled initial Gaussian state, entanglement suppression (entanglement sudden death) takes place for non-zero temperatures of the environment. Only for zero temperature of the thermal bath, the initial entangled state remains entangled for finite times. We also show that, independent of its type, namely separable or entangled, the initial state evolves asymptotically to an equilibrium state that is always separable.