Thermodynamic state variables from a minimal set of quantum constituents

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2602.03276v1
• Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:58:51 GMT
• Title: Thermodynamic state variables from a minimal set of quantum constituents
• Authors: Uwe Holm, Hans-Peter Weber, Morgan Berkane, Camilla Wulf, Anton Kantz, Anja Kuhnhold, Andreas Buchleitner,
• Abstract summary: We show how the macroscopic state variables pressure, entropy and temperature of equilibrium thermodynamics can be consistently derived from the chaotic spectral structure of one or two particles in two-dimensional domains.<n>This provides a definition of work and heat from first principles, a microscopic underpinning of the first and second law of thermodynamics, and a transparent illustration of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis''
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: We show how the macroscopic state variables pressure, entropy and temperature of equilibrium thermodynamics can be consistently derived from the (quantum) chaotic spectral structure of one or two particles in two-dimensional domains. This provides a definition of work and heat from first principles, a microscopic underpinning of the first and second law of thermodynamics, and a transparent illustration of the ``eigenstate thermalization hypothesis''.

Related papers

• Formulations of Quantum Thermodynamics and Applications in Open Systems [0.0]
  We explore different ways to describe quantum thermodynamics, using two main approaches: one based on entropy and the other on ergotropy.<n>In this thesis, we introduce a generalized approach to quantify non-Markovianity through the breakdown of monotonicity in thermodynamic functions.<n>We identify phenomena such as freezing and sudden death of ergotropy, and we establish an analytical relation between the change in ergotropy and the environment-induced work.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-11-30T15:00:38Z)
• Unification of observational entropy with maximum entropy principles [2.9127054707887967]
  We introduce a definition of coarse-grained entropy that unifies measurement-based (observational entropy) and max-entropy-based (Jaynes) approaches to coarse-graining.<n>We study the dynamics of this entropy in a quantum random matrix model and a classical hard sphere gas.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-03-19T18:00:30Z)
• Quantum Entanglement and the Thermal Hadron [0.0]
  This paper tests how effectively the bound states of strongly interacting gauge theories are amenable to an emergent description as a thermal ensemble. This description can be derived from a conjectured minimum free energy principle, with the entanglement entropy of two-parton subsystems playing the role of thermodynamic entropy.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-11-25T19:00:03Z)
• Unification of the first law of quantum thermodynamics [0.0]
  Underlying the classical thermodynamic principles are analogous microscopic laws, arising from the fundamental axioms of quantum mechanics. The foremost quantum thermodynamic law is a simple statement concerning the conservation of energy. There exist ambiguity and disagreement regarding the precise partition of a quantum system's energy change to work and heat.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-08-22T19:36:41Z)
• 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)
• Maximum entropy quantum state distributions [58.720142291102135]
  We go beyond traditional thermodynamics and condition on the full distribution of the conserved quantities. The result are quantum state distributions whose deviations from thermal states' get more pronounced in the limit of wide input distributions.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-03-23T17:42:34Z)
• 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)
• Temperature of a finite-dimensional quantum system [68.8204255655161]
  A general expression for the temperature of a finite-dimensional quantum system is deduced from thermodynamic arguments. Explicit formulas for the temperature of two and three-dimensional quantum systems are presented.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-05-01T07:47:50Z)
• 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)
• First and Second Law of Quantum Thermodynamics: A Consistent Derivation Based on a Microscopic Definition of Entropy [0.0]
  This tutorial focuses on the derivation of the first and second law for closed and open quantum systems far from equilibrium. The derivation is based on a microscopic definition of five essential quantities: internal energy, thermodynamic entropy, work, heat and temperature.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-02-20T15:54:00Z)

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.