Initial quantum coherence in the thermodynamic work

TL;DR

This paper investigates how initial quantum coherence influences thermodynamic work, revealing its relation to quantum relative entropy and extending the analysis to out-of-equilibrium processes.

Contribution

It introduces a framework linking initial quantum coherence to work statistics and derives inequalities involving the quantum relative entropy of coherence.

Findings

Quantum coherence contributes to ergotropy.

Relation between coherence and quantum relative entropy established.

Framework for including initial coherence in work statistics.

Abstract

We study the role of the initial quantum coherence in coherent processes generated by an external control of some parameters by looking on the thermodynamic work done. We start by taking in exam an active state and we isolate the contribution to the ergotropy coming from the quantum coherence among the energy eigenstates. It is shown to be related to the quantum relative entropy of coherence through an inequality which involves the completely passive state connected to the initial state. Finally, we extend the analysis to a general out-of-equilibrium process and we show how to take in account in the statistics of work the effects of the initial quantum coherence.