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Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs

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Work Fluctuations in Slow Processes: Quantum Signatures and Optimal Control.

Harry J D Miller¹, Matteo Scandi^2,3, Janet Anders¹

¹Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom.

Physical Review Letters

|December 24, 2019

Summary

Quantum systems violate the classical work fluctuation-dissipation relation (FDR) when coherence is generated. This research derives a quantum FDR, revealing quantum fluctuations prevent simultaneous minimization of dissipation and fluctuations.

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Area of Science:

Quantum Thermodynamics
Statistical Mechanics
Quantum Information Theory

Background:

The classical work fluctuation-dissipation relation (FDR) links dissipated work to work fluctuations in slow processes.
This relation is a cornerstone of classical stochastic thermodynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the validity of the classical work FDR in slowly driven quantum systems.
To derive a quantum generalization of the work FDR.
To explore the implications of quantum effects on dissipation and fluctuations.

Main Methods:

Analysis of slowly driven quantum systems.
Derivation of a quantum generalized work fluctuation-dissipation relation.
Development of a quantum geometric framework.

Main Results:

Slowly driven quantum systems violate the classical work FDR when quantum coherence is generated.
A quantum generalization of the work FDR is derived, including new quantum terms.
These quantum terms lead to non-Gaussian work distributions.
Quantum fluctuations prevent simultaneous minimization of dissipation and fluctuations in contrast to classical systems.

Conclusions:

Quantum coherence fundamentally alters the relationship between dissipation and fluctuations.
A quantum geometric approach provides a method for optimizing trade-offs between dissipation and fluctuations in quantum processes.