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Fluctuation theorems for quantum master equations

Statistical Mechanics 2010-03-01 v1

Abstract

A quantum fluctuation theorem for a driven quantum subsystem interacting with its environment is derived based solely on the assumption that its reduced density matrix obeys a closed evolution equation i.e. a quantum master equation (QME). Quantum trajectories and their associated entropy, heat and work appear naturally by transforming the QME to a time dependent Liouville space basis that diagonalizes the instantaneous reduced density matrix of the subsystem. A quantum integral fluctuation theorem, a steady state fluctuation theorem and the Jarzynski relation are derived in a similar way as for classical stochastic dynamics.

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Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0602679,
  title  = {Fluctuation theorems for quantum master equations},
  author = {Massimiliano Esposito and Shaul Mukamel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0602679},
  year   = {2010}
}

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Submitted to Phys. Rev. E