title: Thermalizing quantum machines: dissipation and entanglement.
abstract: We study the relaxation of a quantum system towards the thermal equilibrium using tools developed within the context of quantum information theory. We consider a model in which the system is a qubit, and reaches equilibrium after several successive two-qubit interactions (thermalizing machines) with qubits of a reservoir. We characterize completely the family of thermalizing machines. The model shows a tight link between dissipation, fluctuations, and the maximal entanglement that can be generated by the machines. The interplay of quantum and classical information processes that give rise to practical irreversibility is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 20, rue de l'Ecole-de-Médecine, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scarani
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stelmachovic
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gisin
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buzek