H-theorem in quantum physics.
Remarkable progress of quantum information theory (QIT) allowed to formulate mathematical theorems for conditions that data-transmitting or data-processing occurs with a non-negative entropy gain. However, relation of these results formulated in terms of entropy gain in quantum channels to temporal evolution of real physical systems is not thoroughly understood. Here we build on the mathematical formalism provided by QIT to formulate the quantum H-theorem in terms of physical observables. We discuss the manifestation of the second law of thermodynamics in quantum physics and uncover special situations where the second law can be violated. We further demonstrate that the typical evolution of energy-isolated quantum systems occurs with non-diminishing entropy.
L.D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics RAS, Akad. Semenova av., 1-A, Chernogolovka, 142432, Moscow Region, Russia.|Theoretische Physik, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
G B
GB
Lesovik
Theoretische Physik, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
A V
AV
Lebedev
Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60637, USA.
I A
IA
Sadovskyy
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskii per. 9, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Moscow District, Russia.
M V
MV
Suslov
Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60637, USA.
V M
VM
Vinokur