Quantum work statistics with initial coherence

TL;DR

This paper compares two quantum work measurement schemes, the Two Point Measurement and Margenau-Hill, focusing on how initial quantum coherence affects work statistics and entropy production.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of how initial coherence influences work moments and entropy production differences between the schemes.

Findings

Difference in work moments linked to initial coherence

Average entropy production can be negative in Margenau-Hill scheme

Initial coherence quantified by $l_1$-coherence measure affects work statistics

Abstract

The Two Point Measurement scheme for computing the thermodynamic work performed on a system requires it to be initially in equilibrium. The Margenau-Hill scheme, among others, extends the previous approach to allow for a non-equilibrium initial state. We establish a quantitative comparison between both schemes in terms of the amount of coherence present in the initial state of the system, as quantified by the $l_1$-coherence measure. We show that the difference between the two first moments of work, the variances of work and the average entropy production obtained in both schemes can be cast in terms of such initial coherence. Moreover, we prove that the average entropy production can take negative values in the Margenau-Hill framework.