# Markov Approximation and Master Equation Derivation

In deriving the master equation, I am coming across the Markov Approximation which says:

Suppose environment $$E$$ and system $$S$$ interact and exchange some energy with each other. Then $$E$$ would recover back to thermal equilibrium faster than $$S$$ because $$E$$ is much larger than $$S$$. Due to this, from the point of view of the $$S$$, the state of the environment seems to be constant in time i.e. $$\rho_{SE}(t) = \rho_{S}(t) \otimes\rho_E(0)$$ where $$\rho_{SE}(t)$$ is the combined system-environment state as a function of time and $$\rho_E(0)$$ is the initial state of the environment. Moreover, since environment is quick to recover from any energy exchange than the system, the interaction or the coupling between the system and the environment is deemed "weak".

1. Why does $$E$$ being large mean that its correlation time is very short? It makes sense that if environment loses or gains energy, then the effect of that on the total energy of environment will be little. But its not clear why that entails that the relaxation time of environment is smaller than that of the system.