Quantum jump approach for work and dissipation in a two-level system

TL;DR

This paper uses the quantum jump approach to analyze work and dissipation in a driven two-level quantum system, confirming fluctuation relations and highlighting differences from classical behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a method to quantify work and dissipation in quantum systems via photon counting, demonstrating the validity of fluctuation relations in this context.

Findings

Fluctuation relations hold in the quantum jump framework.

Fluctuation-dissipation theorem applies under weak dissipation or drive.

Quantum and classical regimes exhibit qualitative differences.

Abstract

We apply the quantum jump approach to address the statistics of work in a driven two-level system coupled to a heat bath. We demonstrate how this question can be analyzed by counting photons absorbed and emitted by the environment in repeated experiments. We find that the common non-equilibrium fluctuation relations are satisfied identically. The usual fluctuation-dissipation theorem for linear response applies for weak dissipation and/or weak drive. We point out qualitative differences between the classical and quantum regimes.