Quantum work statistics of linear and nonlinear parametric oscillators

TL;DR

This paper investigates the quantum work distribution of oscillators with modulated frequencies, exploring the effects of nonadiabaticity, anharmonicities, and external fields on their nonequilibrium behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a perturbative method to analyze how weak anharmonicities and random fields influence quantum work statistics in oscillators.

Findings

Nonadiabaticity increases with perturbations.

Transition from discrete to continuous work distribution is characterized.

Perturbations enhance nonadiabatic effects.

Abstract

We consider the nonequilibrium work distribution of a quantum oscillator with modulated angular frequency. We examine the discrete-to-continuous transition of the distribution as the temperature and the degree of nonadiabaticity of the frequency transformation are increased. We further develop a perturbative approach to analyze the effect of weak quartic anharmonicities, as well as of a random electric field on a charged oscillator. We find in both cases that the degree of nonadiabaticity is enhanced by the perturbation.