English

Quantum fluctuation theorems and work-energy relationships with due regard for convergence, dissipation and irreversibility

Statistical Mechanics 2016-10-31 v1

Abstract

Firstly the fluctuation theorems (FT) for expended work in a driven nonequilibrium system, isolated or thermostatted, together with the ensuing Jarzynski work-energy (W-E) relationships, will be discussed and reobtained. Secondly, the fluctuation theorems for entropy flow will be reconsidered. Our treatment will be fully quantum-statistical, being an ex-tension of our previous research reported in Phys. Rev. E (2012), and will avoid the deficiencies that afflicted previous works such as: arguments based on classical trajectories in phase space, a reliance on the 'pure' von Neumann equation or 'non-reduced' Heisenberg operators, or other departures from the general tenets spelled out by Lindblad and others (e.g. Breuer and Petruccione) such as stochastic 'jump-induced' random trajectories. While a number of relationships from such previous works will still be employed, our Markov probability P(σf,tfσ0,t0)P(\sigma_f,t_f|\sigma_0,t_0) shall only denote the two state-points, with no reference whatsoever to stochastic trajectories, these being meaningless in a quantum description.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1610.09068,
  title  = {Quantum fluctuation theorems and work-energy relationships with due regard for convergence, dissipation and irreversibility},
  author = {Carolyne M. Van Vliet},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.09068},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

This article was submitted posthumously with edits by the author's grandson Dr. David S. Sukhdeo