Statistics of a Free Single Quantum Particle at a Finite Temperature

TL;DR

This paper models a free quantum particle at finite temperature, showing how it exchanges energy with its environment through wave diffraction, affecting its energy and entropy during irreversible processes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model describing how a single quantum particle interacts thermally with its environment via wave diffraction effects.

Findings

Quantum particle exchanges heat with environment

Energy and entropy expressions derived for irreversible process

Diffraction at wave front edges mediates thermal interaction

Abstract

We present a model to study the statistics of a single structureless quantum particle freely moving in a space at a finite temperature. It is shown that the quantum particle feels the temperature and can exchange energy with its environment in the form of heat transfer. The underlying mechanism is diffraction at the edge of the wave front of its matter wave. Expressions of energy and entropy of the particle are obtained for the irreversible process.