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arXiv · 1607.01331

Probability current and thermodynamics of open quantum systems

Benjamin Schumacher·Michael D. Westmoreland·Alexander New·Haifeng Qiao
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Abstract

This paper explores the generalization of the concept of a "probability current", familiar from wave-function quantum mechanics, to quantum systems with finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. The generalized definition applies both to isolated systems evolving via the Schr\"odinger equation and to more general open systems obeying the Lindblad master equation. We establish several properties of the probability current and explore its relation to thermodynamic heat and work.

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Benjamin Schumacher, Michael D. Westmoreland, Alexander New, Haifeng Qiao. 2016-07-05. Probability current and thermodynamics of open quantum systems. https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.01331

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