Nonequilibrium potential and fluctuation theorems for quantum maps

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive fluctuation theorem for quantum maps, unifying various quantum dynamics and extending classical nonequilibrium results to quantum open systems.

Contribution

It introduces a general fluctuation theorem applicable to diverse quantum processes, simplifying and unifying existing theorems and extending the Hatano-Sasa theorem to quantum regimes.

Findings

Reproduces classical fluctuation theorems within a quantum framework

Extends the Hatano-Sasa theorem to quantum nonequilibrium processes

Provides insights into the environment's role in quantum dynamics

Abstract

We derive a general fluctuation theorem for quantum maps. The theorem applies to a broad class of quantum dynamics, such as unitary evolution, decoherence, thermalization, and other types of evolution for quantum open systems. The theorem reproduces well-known fluctuation theorems in a single and simplified framework and extends the Hatano-Sasa theorem to quantum nonequilibrium processes. Moreover, it helps to elucidate the physical nature of the environment inducing a given dynamics in an open quantum system.