Projects per year
Abstract
The study of open quantum systems often relies on approximate master equations derived under the assumptions of weak coupling to the environment. However when the system is made of several interacting subsystems such a derivation is in many cases very hard. An alternative method, employed especially in the modelling of transport in mesoscopic systems, consists in using {\it local} master equations containing Lindblad operators acting locally only on the corresponding subsystem. It has been shown that this approach however generates inconsistencies with the laws of thermodynamics. In this paper we demonstrate that using a microscopic model of local master equations based on repeated collisions all thermodynamic inconsistencies can be resolved by correctly taking into account the breaking of global detailed balance related to the work cost of maintaining the collisions. We provide examples based on a chain of quantum harmonic oscillators whose ends are connected to thermal reservoirs at different temperatures. We prove that this system behaves precisely as a quantum heat engine or refrigerator, with properties that are fully consistent with basic thermodynamics.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1-17 |
Journal | New J. Phys. |
Volume | 20 |
Early online date | 16 Nov 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Early online date - 16 Nov 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Published versionKeywords
- quant-ph
- cond-mat.stat-mech
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Reconciliation of quantum local master equations with thermodynamics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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R1664TCP: Non-Linearity as a Universal Resource for Quantum Computation over Continuous Variables
Ferraro, A. (PI)
19/09/2016 → 31/03/2018
Project: Research
Datasets
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Reconciliation of quantum local master equations with thermodynamics
De Chiara, G. (Creator) & Ferraro, A. (Creator), Queen's University Belfast, 2018
DOI: 10.17034/6aac1b26-6a59-47c6-9199-6efba0a4e938
Dataset
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Activities
- 1 Visiting an external academic institution
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Universidad de Buenos Aires
De Chiara, G. (Visiting researcher)
Jul 2017 → Dec 2017Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Visiting an external academic institution
Student theses
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Quantum correlations and thermal machines
Hewgill, A. (Author), De Chiara, G. (Supervisor) & Ferraro, A. (Supervisor), Jul 2020Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
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Profiles
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Gabriele De Chiara
- School of Mathematics and Physics - Visiting Scholar
- Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies (CQMT)
Person: Academic