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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Published on: May 30, 2014

Microcanonical quantum fluctuation theorems.

Peter Talkner¹, Peter Hänggi, Manuel Morillo

¹Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|July 23, 2008

Summary

This study generalizes work characteristic functions for quantum systems, enabling entropy measurement from work statistics. It introduces a new entropy-from-work theorem for experimental applications.

Area of Science:

Quantum thermodynamics
Statistical mechanics
Quantum information theory

Background:

Existing expressions for quantum work characteristic functions are limited to specific initial states and non-degenerate Hamiltonians.
Understanding work fluctuations is crucial for quantum thermodynamics and exploring the quantum-classical boundary.

Purpose of the Study:

To generalize quantum work characteristic functions to arbitrary initial states and degenerate spectra.
To derive a fluctuation theorem for quantum work applicable to microcanonical initial states.
To establish an experimentally accessible entropy-from-work theorem.

Main Methods:

Generalization of characteristic function expressions for quantum work.
Formulation of explicit expressions for microcanonical initial states.

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Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

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Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators

Published on: May 30, 2014

Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

Measurement of Quantum Interference in a Silicon Ring Resonator Photon Source

Published on: April 4, 2017

Derivation of a generalized fluctuation theorem and an entropy-from-work theorem.

Main Results:

Generalized expressions for the characteristic function of quantum work.
Explicit formulas for work characteristic function and probability density for microcanonical states.
A novel fluctuation theorem relating work probabilities to equilibrium state densities.
An entropy-from-work theorem for experimentally measuring system entropies.

Conclusions:

The generalized framework expands the applicability of quantum work characteristic functions.
The derived fluctuation and entropy-from-work theorems offer new experimental avenues for thermodynamic measurements.
This work bridges theoretical quantum thermodynamics with practical experimental possibilities.