Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 30008 |
| Journal | Europhysics Letters (EPL) |
| Volume | 83 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Aug 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
By computing the local energy expectation values with respect to some local measurement basis we show that for any quantum system there are two fundamentally different contributions: changes in energy that do not alter the local von Neumann entropy and changes that do. We identify the former as work and the latter as heat. Since our derivation makes no assumptions on the system Hamiltonian or its state, the result is valid even for states arbitrarily far from equilibrium. Examples are discussed ranging from the classical limit to purely quantum-mechanical scenarios, i.e. where the Hamiltonian and the density operator do not commute.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: Europhysics Letters (EPL), Vol. 83, No. 3, 30008, 18.08.2008.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Local effective dynamics of quantum systems
T2 - A generalized approach to work and heat
AU - Weimer, H.
AU - Henrich, M. J.
AU - Rempp, F.
AU - Schröder, H.
AU - Mahler, G.
PY - 2008/8/18
Y1 - 2008/8/18
N2 - By computing the local energy expectation values with respect to some local measurement basis we show that for any quantum system there are two fundamentally different contributions: changes in energy that do not alter the local von Neumann entropy and changes that do. We identify the former as work and the latter as heat. Since our derivation makes no assumptions on the system Hamiltonian or its state, the result is valid even for states arbitrarily far from equilibrium. Examples are discussed ranging from the classical limit to purely quantum-mechanical scenarios, i.e. where the Hamiltonian and the density operator do not commute.
AB - By computing the local energy expectation values with respect to some local measurement basis we show that for any quantum system there are two fundamentally different contributions: changes in energy that do not alter the local von Neumann entropy and changes that do. We identify the former as work and the latter as heat. Since our derivation makes no assumptions on the system Hamiltonian or its state, the result is valid even for states arbitrarily far from equilibrium. Examples are discussed ranging from the classical limit to purely quantum-mechanical scenarios, i.e. where the Hamiltonian and the density operator do not commute.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79051469846&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1209/0295-5075/83/30008
DO - 10.1209/0295-5075/83/30008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79051469846
VL - 83
JO - Europhysics Letters (EPL)
JF - Europhysics Letters (EPL)
SN - 0295-5075
IS - 3
M1 - 30008
ER -