Stochastic Time-Dependent Current-Density-Functional Theory

A time-dependent current-density-functional theory for many-particle systems in interaction with arbitrary external baths is developed. We prove that, given the initial quantum state |Ψ₀⟩ and the particle-bath interaction operator, two external vector potentials A(r,t) and A^′(r,t) that produce the same ensemble-averaged current density, j(r,t)̅ , must necessarily coincide up to a gauge transformation. This result greatly expands the applicability of time-dependent density-functional theory to open quantum systems, and allows for first-principles calculations of many-particle time evolution beyond Hamiltonian dynamics.