Abstract
The role of quantum coherence and correlations in heat flow and equilibration is investigated by exploring the Rayleigh's dynamical problem to equilibration in the quantum regime and following Onsager's approach to thermoelectricity. Specifically, we consider a qubit bombarded by two-qubit projectiles from a side. For arbitrary collision times and initial states, we develop the master equation for sequential and collective collisions. By deriving the Fokker-Planck equation out of the master equation, we identify the quantum version of the Rayleigh's heat conduction equation. We find that quantum discord and entanglement shared between the projectiles can contribute to genuine heat flow only when they are associated with so-called heat-exchange coherences. Analogous to Onsager's use of Rayleigh's principle of least dissipation of energy, we use the entropy production rate to identify the coherence current. Both coherence and heat flows can be written in the form of quantum Onsager relations, from which we predict coherent Peltier and coherent Seebeck effects. The effects can be optimized by the collision times and collectivity. Finally, we discuss some of the possible experimental realizations and technological applications of the thermocoherent phenomena in different platforms.
Highlights
In his 1891 paper [1], Rayleigh focused, for the first time, on the whole dynamical process by which a thermodynamic steady state is attained in a gas of particles
The systematic investigation of thermocoherent coefficients and quantum coherence conductivity that we present here can be significant for the growing body of research on the thermodynamic means of generating and protecting quantum coherence and correlations (QCCs) [11,12,13,14,15,16,17], as well as for the studies of QCCs to manipulate thermodynamic energy transfer [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35]
We allow for arbitrary collision times and consider a set of quantum states of the projectiles with classical and quantum correlations
Summary
In his 1891 paper [1], Rayleigh focused, for the first time, on the whole dynamical process by which a thermodynamic steady state is attained in a gas of particles. The systematic investigation of thermocoherent coefficients and quantum coherence conductivity that we present here can be significant for the growing body of research on the thermodynamic means of generating and protecting quantum coherence and correlations (QCCs) [11,12,13,14,15,16,17], as well as for the studies of QCCs to manipulate thermodynamic energy transfer [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35] Another fundamental question that we ask here is which QCCs take a role in thermocoherent effects and heat conduction in a quantum gas of particles.
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