Abstract
In classical thermodynamic processes the unavoidable presence of irreversibility, quantified by the entropy production, carries two energetic footprints: the reduction of extractable work from the optimal, reversible case, and the generation of a surplus of heat that is irreversibly dissipated to the environment. Recently it has been shown that in the quantum regime an additional quantum irreversibility occurs that is linked to decoherence into the energy basis. Here we employ quantum trajectories to construct distributions for classical heat and quantum heat exchanges, and show that the heat footprint of quantum irreversibility differs markedly from the classical case. We also quantify how quantum irreversibility reduces the amount of work that can be extracted from a state with coherences. Our results show that decoherence leads to both entropic and energetic footprints which both play an important role in the optimization of controlled quantum operations at low temperature.
Highlights
In classical thermodynamic processes the unavoidable presence of irreversibility, quantified by the entropy production, carries two energetic footprints: the reduction of extractable work from the optimal, reversible case, and the generation of a surplus of heat that is irreversibly dissipated to the environment
By employing the eigenstate trajectory unraveling of the open system dynamics, where at the start and end of each dynamical process the system is assumed to be in one of the eigenstates of its time-local density matrix, we identify the distributions of classical and quantum heat, and evidence that purely quantum contributions to the entropy production are not related to the average quantum heat, in stark contrast to the classical regime, cf
This paper brings together several strands of recent research in quantum thermodynamics, including stochastic thermodynamics and quantum work extraction protocols, to provide a comprehensive picture of when irreversibility arises in the quantum regime and details the ensuing energetic footprints of irreversibility
Summary
In classical thermodynamic processes the unavoidable presence of irreversibility, quantified by the entropy production, carries two energetic footprints: the reduction of extractable work from the optimal, reversible case, and the generation of a surplus of heat that is irreversibly dissipated to the environment. (1) and (2) link entropy production, Sirr to a surplus in heat dissipation, Qsduisrs ≥ 0, and a reduction in work extraction, Wext ≤ −ΔF These relationships are the well-known energetic footprints of irreversibility in classical thermodynamics. Far the link between quantum entropy production and its energetic footprints has remained opaque
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
