Microscopic reversibility of quantum open systems

TL;DR

This paper extends the concept of microscopic reversibility to large quantum open systems with external perturbations, showing a thermodynamic symmetry between forward and reversed transition probabilities during system evolution.

Contribution

It generalizes the expression of microscopic reversibility to externally perturbed quantum open systems, linking time-reversal symmetry with thermodynamic behavior.

Findings

Reversal of protocols preserves transition probability invariance.

Time-reversed probability involves protocol reversal and initial ensemble.

Microscopic reversibility acts as a thermodynamic symmetry in open quantum systems.

Abstract

The transition probability for time-dependent unitary evolution is invariant under the reversal of protocols just as in the classical Liouvillian dynamics. In this article, we generalize the expression of microscopic reversibility to externally perturbed large quantum open systems. The time-dependent external perturbation acts on the subsystem during a transient duration, and subsequently the perturbation is switched off so that the total system would thermalize. We concern with the transition probability for the subsystem between the initial and final eigenstates of the subsystem. In the course of time evolution, the energy is irreversibly exchanged between the subsystem and reservoir. The time reversed probability is given by the reversal of the protocol and the initial ensemble. Microscopic reversibility equates the time forward and reversed probabilities, and therefore appears as a thermodynamic symmetry for open quantum systems.