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QI: Fachverband Quanteninformation

QI 11: Quantum Thermodynamics

QI 11.3: Talk

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 10:00–10:15, HFT-TA 441

Coherent effects in the path integral formulation of quantum work. — Nicolás Torres-Domínguez and •Carlos Viviescas — Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

A proper definition of work and heat remains a relevant issue in the framework of quantum thermodynamics. The usual approach to this problem is through the two-point measurement (TPM) scheme, which, despite its relevant role in the development of the actual understanding of work statistics in the quantum regime, has a fundamental limitation: Due to energy projective measurements it involves, the effects that the initial coherences may have on the energetics of the system are lost. The Margenau-Hill (MH) is an alternative scheme that offers a bypass to this problem and retains the coherences in the initial state. In this work we introduce a path integral formulation for work in the MH scheme, which provides further insight on the role of initial coherences in quantum thermodynamic setups, and paves the way for a semiclassical study of the quantum work distribution.

Keywords: coherent effects; quantum work statistics; path integral formulation