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An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

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Quantum Coherences and Classical Inhomogeneities as Equivalent Thermodynamics Resources.

Andrew Smith¹, Kanupriya Sinha^2,3, Christopher Jarzynski^1,4,5

¹Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)

|April 23, 2022

Summary

Quantum energy coherences are a thermodynamic resource. However, classical systems possess analogous energy-shell inhomogeneities that yield equal work in the semiclassical limit, negating a unique quantum advantage.

Keywords:

quantum coherence quantum thermodynamics work extraction

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Area of Science:

Thermodynamics
Quantum Mechanics
Statistical Mechanics

Background:

Quantum energy coherences are recognized as a thermodynamic resource.
Exploiting these coherences allows for energy extraction from thermal reservoirs to perform work.
Classical systems may possess analogous resources for work extraction.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the existence and properties of classical thermodynamic resources analogous to quantum coherences.
To compare the work-extracting potential of quantum coherences with classical energy-shell inhomogeneities.
To determine if quantum coherences offer a unique thermodynamic advantage over classical systems.

Main Methods:

Theoretical comparison of work extraction from quantum coherences and classical phase space inhomogeneities.
Analysis in the semiclassical limit to establish a correspondence between quantum and classical systems.
Utilizing concepts from statistical mechanics and quantum thermodynamics.

Main Results:

Identified energy-shell inhomogeneities in classical phase space distributions as a thermodynamic resource analogous to quantum coherences.
Quantitatively compared the work obtainable from both quantum coherences and classical inhomogeneities.
Found the amount of work extractable to be equal in the semiclassical limit.

Conclusions:

Quantum coherences do not offer a unique thermodynamic advantage over classical energy-shell inhomogeneities in the semiclassical limit.
The work-extracting potential is equivalent when a clear semiclassical correspondence exists.
This suggests that classical systems can harness thermodynamic resources comparable to quantum systems.