Concepts of Phenomenological Irreversible Quantum Thermodynamics I: Closed Undecomposed Schottky Systems in Semi-classical Description

TL;DR

This paper introduces a semi-classical framework for irreversible quantum thermodynamics of Schottky systems, modifying the von Neumann equation with time-dependent weights to analyze entropy dynamics without explicit environmental interaction.

Contribution

It develops a novel semi-classical approach to quantum thermodynamics by modifying the von Neumann equation to include time-dependent statistical weights for closed systems.

Findings

Derived expressions for entropy rate, exchange, and production in Schottky systems.

Established a semi-classical description of system-environment interactions via power and entropy exchange.

Provided a theoretical basis for analyzing irreversible processes in quantum thermodynamics.

Abstract

If the von Neumann equation is modified by time dependent statistical weights, the time rate of entropy, the entropy exchange and production of a Schottky system are derived whose Hamiltonian does not contain the interaction with the system's environment. This interaction is semi-classically described by the quantum theoretical expressions of power- and entropy exchange.