Illusory cracks in the second law of thermodynamics in quantum nanoelectronics

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03106v1
• Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2023 14:35:23 GMT
• Title: Illusory cracks in the second law of thermodynamics in quantum nanoelectronics
• Authors: Robert S. Whitney
• Abstract summary: This is a review of the theory of quantum thermodynamic demons. These are quantum systems that look like they violate the laws of thermodynamics. It concentrates on autonomous demons that can be made using nanoelectronics.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Abstract: This is a review of the theory of quantum thermodynamic demons; these are quantum systems that look like they violate the laws of thermodynamics, in analogy with Maxwell's demon. It concentrates on autonomous demons that can be made using nanoelectronics. Here ``autonomous'' means that the demon operates without any external measurement or driving, making it possible to model their entire thermodynamic behaviour using Schr\"odinger's equation. My main aim is to review why cracks in the laws of thermodynamics, sometimes glimpsed in such systems, have turned out to be illusory. For this, I work by example, introducing the methods of quantum thermodynamics via an old thought experiment that appears to break the second law. This thought experiment is usually known as Smoluchowski's trapdoor, although it was first proposed by Maxwell. Smoluchowski showed that the trapdoor's thermal motion complicates its dynamics, but I argue that he did not show that it must obey the second law. This question is now of practical relevance, because a nanoelectronic version of the trapdoor can be made with quantum dots. The methods presented here show that such a quantum trapdoor obeys the laws of thermodynamics. This reviews then addresses other types of autonomous demon that superficially appear to break the laws of thermodynamics, but which do not. These include an experimental demonstration of a Maxwell demon, and a kind of demon that exploit non-equilibrium resources (the N-demon). It discusses a way of classifying different kinds of autonomous demon. It concludes by briefly reviewing how fluctuations affect nanoelectronics, and how their role in stochastic thermodynamics changes our view of entropy.

Related papers

• Maxwell's demon across the quantum-to-classical transition [0.0]
  In scenarios coined Maxwell's demon, information on microscopic degrees of freedom is used to seemingly violate the second law of thermodynamics. We study an implementation of Maxwell's demon that can operate in both domains.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-05-15T14:26:57Z)
• Quantum coherence can be transformed into heat [11.45160925944536]
  The first law of thermodynamics partitions the change in energy of a system into two pieces, heat and work. Recent studies have shown if contribution of quantum coherence is considered to the change of internal energy of the system, the first law of thermodynamics can be extended to the quantum domain.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-12-31T13:34:58Z)
• Demonstrating Quantum Microscopic Reversibility Using Coherent States of Light [58.8645797643406]
  We propose and experimentally test a quantum generalization of the microscopic reversibility when a quantum system interacts with a heat bath. We verify that the quantum modification for the principle of microscopic reversibility is critical in the low-temperature limit.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-05-26T00:25:29Z)
• Gauge Quantum Thermodynamics of Time-local non-Markovian Evolutions [77.34726150561087]
  We deal with a generic time-local non-Markovian master equation. We define current and power to be process-dependent as in classical thermodynamics. Applying the theory to quantum thermal engines, we show that gauge transformations can change the machine efficiency.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-04-06T17:59:15Z)
• Open-system approach to nonequilibrium quantum thermodynamics at arbitrary coupling [77.34726150561087]
  We develop a general theory describing the thermodynamical behavior of open quantum systems coupled to thermal baths. Our approach is based on the exact time-local quantum master equation for the reduced open system states.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-09-24T11:19:22Z)
• Probabilistically Violating the First Law of Thermodynamics in a Quantum Heat Engine [0.0]
  We show that in the presence of quantum fluctuations, the first law of thermodynamics may break down. This happens because quantum mechanics imposes constraints on the knowledge of heat and work. Our results imply that in the presence of quantum fluctuations, the first law of thermodynamics may not be applicable to individual experimental runs.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-02-02T09:23:21Z)
• Evolution of a Non-Hermitian Quantum Single-Molecule Junction at Constant Temperature [62.997667081978825]
  We present a theory for describing non-Hermitian quantum systems embedded in constant-temperature environments. We find that the combined action of probability losses and thermal fluctuations assists quantum transport through the molecular junction.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-01-21T14:33:34Z)
• The Time-Evolution of States in Quantum Mechanics [77.34726150561087]
  It is argued that the Schr"odinger equation does not yield a correct description of the quantum-mechanical time evolution of states of isolated (open) systems featuring events. A precise general law for the time evolution of states replacing the Schr"odinger equation is formulated within the so-called ETH-Approach to Quantum Mechanics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-01-04T16:09:10Z)
• Entropy production in the quantum walk [62.997667081978825]
  We focus on the study of the discrete-time quantum walk on the line, from the entropy production perspective. We argue that the evolution of the coin can be modeled as an open two-level system that exchanges energy with the lattice at some effective temperature.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-04-09T23:18:29Z)
• No Entropy Production in Quantum Thermodynamics [0.0]
  We will show that there exists a fundamental difference between microscopic quantum thermodynamics and macroscopic classical thermodynamics. It will be proved that the entropy production in quantum thermodynamics always vanishes for both closed and open quantum thermodynamic systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-02-25T09:04:04Z)
• Autonomous Maxwell's demon in a cavity QED system [0.0]
  autonomous Maxwell's demon scheme. atom simulates both a qubit interacting with the cavity, and a demon carrying information on the qubit state.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-01-21T11:14:02Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.