  We study a two-level model coupled to the electromagnetic vacuum and to an
external classic electric field with fixed frequency. The amplitude of the
external electric field is supposed to vary very slow in time. Garrison and
Wright [{\it Phys. Lett.} {\bf A128} (1988) 177] used the non-hermitian
Hamiltonian approach to study the adiabatic limit of this model and obtained
that the probability of this two-level system to be in its upper level has an
imaginary geometric phase. Using the master equation for describing the time
evolution of the two-level system we obtain that the imaginary phase due to
dissipative effects is time dependent, in opposition to Garrison and Wright
result. The present results show that the non-hermitian hamiltonian method
should not be used to discuss the nature of the imaginary phases in open
systems.
