Jarzynski Relations for Quantum Systems and Some Applications

TL;DR

This paper derives quantum versions of Jarzynski's relations, demonstrating their use in deriving the entropy increase law and analyzing heat transfer between quantum systems at different temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces quantum analogues of Jarzynski's relations and applies them to fundamental thermodynamic processes in quantum systems.

Findings

Derivation of the law of entropy increase for quantum systems

Preliminary analysis of heat transfer between quantum systems at different temperatures

Quantum Jarzynski relations are applicable to thermodynamic processes

Abstract

We derive quantum analogues of Jarzynski's relations, and discuss two applications, namely, a derivation of the law of entropy increase for general compound systems, and a preliminary analysis of heat transfer between two quantum systems at different temperatures. We believe that the derivation of the law of entropy increase is new and of importance.