Thermodynamics and small quantum systems

Author: Nieuwenhuizen, Th. M.¹

Source: Journal of Modern Optics, Volume 50, Numbers 15-17, October, 2003 , pp. 2433-2441(9)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

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Abstract:

Small quantum systems non-weakly coupled to a bath become in the quantum regime surrounded by a cloud of photons or phonons, which modifies their thermodynamic behaviour. Exactly solvable examples are the Brownian motion of a quantum particle in a harmonic confining potential and coupled to a harmonic quantum thermal bath, e.g. an ion in a Penning trap, and a spin immersed in a bosonic bath, as occurs in NMR physics. It appears that the Clausius inequality Q≤TdS can be violated. For non-adiabatic changes of system parameters the rate of energy dissipation can be negative, and, out of equilibrium, cyclic processes are possible which extract work from the bath. Experimental set-ups for testing some of the effects are discussed.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/0950034032000120722

Affiliations: 1: Institute for Theoretical Physics University of Amsterdam Valckenierstraat 65 1018 XE Amsterdam The Netherlands

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