Extending Covariant Fluctuation Theorems into Quantum Regime through Quasiprobability Approach

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

The covariant formulation of stochastic thermodynamics requires treating the stochastic work as a 4-vector, posing significant challenges for quantum systems due to the non-commutativity. We introduce a new quasiprobability distribution for the work 4-vector, which combines the Wigner and Margenau-Hill quasiprobabilities. This extends the covariant fluctuation theorems from classical to quantum regime. We illustrate our findings with a scalar field driven by classical particles with a generalized version of trace formula. Our work establishes a quasiprobability approach to studying relativistic quantum thermodynamics in a covariant way.

Authors 4

1. Ji-Hui Pei

   Peking University · KU Leuven

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics and Astronomy , KU Leuven , 3000 , Belgium

   School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China

2. Tingzhang Shi

   Peking University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Physics , Peking University , Beijing , 100871 , China

3. Jin-Fu Chen Aachen Instituut-Lorentz

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituut-Lorentz , Universiteit Leiden , P.O. Box 9506 , 2300 RA Leiden , The Netherlands

   ⟨aQa L

4. H. T. Quan