Entropy production in quantum spin systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates entropy production in quantum spin systems connected to reservoirs at different temperatures, establishing that the entropy production rate in nonequilibrium steady states is always nonnegative.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for defining nonequilibrium steady states in quantum spin systems and proves the nonnegativity of entropy production rate.

Findings

Entropy production rate is nonnegative in nonequilibrium steady states.

Framework for analyzing quantum spin systems connected to thermal reservoirs.

Establishes fundamental thermodynamic property in quantum nonequilibrium systems.

Abstract

We consider a quantum spin system consisting of a finite subsystem connected to infinite reservoirs at different temperatures. In this setup we define nonequilibrium steady states and prove that the rate of entropy production in such states is nonnegative.