Modified quantum regression theorem and consistency with Kubo-Martin-Schwinger condition

Abstract We show that the long-time limit of the two-point correlation function obtained via the standard quantum regression theorem (QRT), a standard tool to compute correlation functions in open quantum systems, does not respect the Kubo–Martin–Schwinger equilibrium condition to the non-zero order of the system-bath coupling. We then follow the recently developed Heisenberg operator method for open quantum systems and by applying a ‘ weak ’ Markov approximation, derive a new modified version of the QRT that not only respects the KMS condition but further predicts exact answers for certain paradigmatic models in specific limits. We also show that in cases where the modified QRT does not match with exact answers, it always performs better than the standard QRT.