Fluctuation theorem for currents in open quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a quantum framework for analyzing particle flow in open systems, deriving a fluctuation theorem for currents that extends classical reciprocity relations to nonlinear quantum regimes.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum fluctuation theorem for currents in open systems with time-dependent driving, extending Onsager-Casimir relations to nonlinear responses.

Findings

Derived a symmetry relation from microreversibility.

Established a steady-state quantum fluctuation theorem.

Extended Onsager-Casimir reciprocity to nonlinear response coefficients.

Abstract

A quantum-mechanical framework is set up to describe the full counting statistics of particles flowing between reservoirs in an open system under time-dependent driving. A symmetry relation is obtained which is the consequence of microreversibility for the probability of the nonequilibrium work and the transfer of particles and energy between the reservoirs. In some appropriate long-time limit, the symmetry relation leads to a steady-state quantum fluctuation theorem for the currents between the reservoirs. On this basis, relationships are deduced which extend the Onsager-Casimir reciprocity relations to the nonlinear response coefficients.