The tight Second Law inequality for coherent quantum systems and finite-size heat baths.

ABSTRACT: In classical thermodynamics, the optimal work is given by the free energy difference, what according to the result of Skrzypczyk et al. can be generalized for individual quantum systems. The saturation of this bound, however, requires an infinite bath and ideal energy storage that is able to extract work from coherences. Here we present the tight Second Law inequality, defined in terms of the ergotropy (rather than free energy), that incorporates both of those important microscopic effects - the locked energy in coherences and the locked energy due to the finite-size bath. The former is solely quantified by the so-called control-marginal state, whereas the latter is given by the free energy difference between the global passive state and the equilibrium state. Furthermore, we discuss the t

SUBMITTER: Lobejko M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7876128 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature