Local energy assignment for two interacting quantum thermal reservoirs
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2510.06929v1
- Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:12:21 GMT
- Title: Local energy assignment for two interacting quantum thermal reservoirs
- Authors: Alessandra Colla, Bassano Vacchini, Andrea Smirne,
- Abstract summary: Two common sets of definitions are used to describe the thermodynamics of quantum systems coupled to thermal environments.<n>We compare them with a third set of definitions based on a local, conceptually symmetric open-system approach.<n>In particular, we observe that all three sets of definitions differ substantially even when the two subsystems are weakly coupled.
- Score: 41.99844472131922
- License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
- Abstract: Understanding how to assign internal energy, heat, and work in quantum systems beyond weak coupling remains a central problem in quantum thermodynamics, particularly as the difference between competing definitions becomes increasingly relevant. We identify two common sets of definitions for first-law quantities that are used to describe the thermodynamics of quantum systems coupled to thermal environments. Both are conceptually non-symmetric, treating one part of the bipartition (the "system") differently from the other (the "bath"). We analyze these in a setting where such roles are not easily assigned - two large (but finite) sets of thermal harmonic oscillators interacting with each other. We further compare them with a third set of definitions based on a local, conceptually symmetric open-system approach ("minimal dissipation") and discuss their quantitative and structural differences. In particular, we observe that all three sets of definitions differ substantially even when the two subsystems are weakly coupled and far detuned, and that the minimal dissipation approach features distinct work peaks that increase with the coupling strength.
Related papers
- Local and global approaches to the thermodynamics of pure decoherence processes in open quantum systems [44.99833362998488]
We study the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of pure decoherence processes in open quantum systems coupled to a thermal reservoir.<n>Within local approaches thermodynamic quantities only refer to the open system's degrees of freedom, while in the global approaches certain quantities are defined by referring explicitly to the reservoir degrees of freedom.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-06-13T10:03:21Z) - Work and heat exchanged during sudden quenches of strongly coupled quantum systems [0.0]
We examine three definitions of a quantum system's internal energy under strong-coupling conditions.<n>Our study focuses on quenches, common processes in which the Hamiltonian changes abruptly.<n>Our results guide studies of thermodynamic quantities in strongly coupled quantum systems.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-02-26T18:59:59Z) - Steady-state coherence in multipartite quantum systems: its connection with thermodynamic quantities and impact on quantum thermal machines [4.793664087699155]
We study the unique contributions of quantum coherence among different subsystems of a multipartite system to work and heat currents.<n>Our scheme is versatile, capable of functioning as a refrigerator, an engine, and an accelerator, with its performance being highly sensitive to the configuration settings.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-02-06T02:26:01Z) - Quantum thermodynamics for general bipartite interacting autonomous systems [0.0]
Internal energy of subsystem is not well defined in interacting quantum systems.
We show that the master equation describing subsystem evolution adheres to the principle of minimal dissipation.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2024-09-25T23:20:19Z) - On the First Law of Thermodynamics in Time-Dependent Open Quantum
Systems [0.0]
How to rigorously define thermodynamic quantities such as heat, work, and internal energy in open quantum systems driven far from equilibrium remains a significant open question in quantum thermodynamics.
Heat is a quantity whose fundamental definition applies only to processes in systems infinitesimally perturbed from equilibrium.
Heat is accounted for carefully in strongly-driven systems.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-08-13T02:26:31Z) - Quantum state inference from coarse-grained descriptions: analysis and
an application to quantum thermodynamics [101.18253437732933]
We compare the Maximum Entropy Principle method, with the recently proposed Average Assignment Map method.
Despite the fact that the assigned descriptions respect the measured constraints, the descriptions differ in scenarios that go beyond the traditional system-environment structure.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-05-16T19:42:24Z) - 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) - Qubit thermodynamics far from equilibrium: two perspectives about the
nature of heat and work in the quantum regime [68.8204255655161]
We develop an alternative theoretical framework for the thermodynamic analysis of two-level systems.
We observe the appearance of a new term of work, which represents the energy cost of rotating the Bloch vector in presence of the external field that defines the local Hamiltonian.
In order to illustrate our findings we study, from both perspectives, matter-radiation interaction processes for two different systems.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-03-16T09:31:20Z) - Out-of-equilibrium quantum thermodynamics in the Bloch sphere:
temperature and internal entropy production [68.8204255655161]
An explicit expression for the temperature of an open two-level quantum system is obtained.
This temperature coincides with the environment temperature if the system reaches thermal equilibrium with a heat reservoir.
We show that within this theoretical framework the total entropy production can be partitioned into two contributions.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-04-09T23:06:43Z)
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.