title: Macroscopically deterministic Markovian thermalization in finite quantum spin systems.
abstract: A key feature of nonequilibrium thermodynamics is the Markovian, deterministic relaxation of coarse observables such as, for example, the temperature difference between two macroscopic objects which evolves independently of almost all details of the initial state. We demonstrate that the unitary dynamics for moderately sized spin-1/2 systems may yield the same type of relaxation dynamics for a given magnetization difference. This observation might contribute to the understanding of the emergence of thermodynamics within closed quantum systems.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, D-49069 Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Advanced Simulation, Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany and RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Raedt
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 7, D-49069 Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gemmer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008390:Markov Chains; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013113:Spin Labels; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels