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arXiv · 1011.1020

Thermodynamics of quantum measurements

Noam Erez
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Abstract

Quantum measurement of a system can change its mean energy, as well as entropy. A selective measurement (classical or quantum) can be used as a "Maxwell's demon" to power a single-temperature heat engine, by decreasing the entropy. Quantum mechanically, so can a non-selective measurement, despite increasing the entropy of a thermal state. The maximal amount of work extractable following the measurement is given by the change in free energy: $W_{max}^{(non-)sel.}=ΔE_{meas}-T_{Bath}ΔS_{meas}^{(non-)sel.}$. This follows from the "generalized 2nd law for nonequilibrium initial state" [Hasegawa et. al, PLA (2010)], of which an elementary reduction to the standard law is given here. It is shown that $W_{max}^{sel.}-W_{max}^{non-sel.}$ equals the work required to reset the memory of the measuring device, and that no such resetting is needed in the non-selective case. Consequently, a single-bath engine powered by either kind of measurement works at a net loss of $T_{Bath}ΔS_{meas}^{non-sel}$ per cycle. By replacing the measurement by a reversible "premeasurement" and allowing a work source to couple to the system and memory, the cycle can be made completely reversible.

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Noam Erez. 2010-11-03. Thermodynamics of quantum measurements. https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.1020

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