Generalized Clausius inequality for nonequilibrium quantum processes

TL;DR

This paper establishes a universal lower bound on entropy production in driven quantum systems, extending the Clausius inequality beyond linear response and connecting it to fundamental quantum bounds.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized Clausius inequality for nonequilibrium quantum processes and derives bounds on entropy production and rate.

Findings

Entropy production exceeds the Bures length between states.

Universal lower bound generalizes classical thermodynamics.

Connection to Bremermann-Bekenstein bound on information limits.

Abstract

We show that the nonequilibrium entropy production for a driven quantum system is larger than the Bures length, the geometric distance between its actual state and the corresponding equilibrium state. This universal lower bound generalizes the Clausius inequality to arbitrary nonequilibrium processes beyond linear response. We further derive a fundamental upper bound for the quantum entropy production rate and discuss its connection to the Bremermann-Bekenstein bound.