Gradient flow and entropy inequalities for quantum Markov semigroups with detailed balance (Q2361336)

The authors focus on ergodic quantum Markov semigroups with a (unique) faithful state \(\sigma\) on a finite-dimensional unital \(C^\ast\)-algebra which satisfy a detailed balance condition with respect to \(\sigma\), i.e., selfadjointness with respect to the GNS-inner product. Further properties of this class are demonstrated, in particular, commutation with the modular automorphism group and related themes. From the generator of such a semigroup, noncommutative versions of gradient, divergence and Laplacian are defined and developed. This paves the way to a noncommutative generalization of an idea from \textit{F. Otto} [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 26, No. 1--2, 101--174 (2001; Zbl 0984.35089)] to think of such an evolution as a gradient flow for the relative entropy (with respect to \(\sigma\)). This involves the introduction of a Riemannian metric on the state space which is an analog of the \(2\)-Wasserstein metric. This is the main theorem. As examples, Fermi and Bose Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes are discussed (though the latter is infinite-dimensional), including a clarification of the relations with previous work [the authors, Commun. Math. Phys. 331, No. 3, 887--926 (2014; Zbl 1297.35241)]. As an application, ideas about geodesic convexity from \textit{F. Otto} and \textit{M. Westdickenberg} [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 37, No. 4, 1227--1255 (2006; Zbl 1094.58016)] are generalized to this setting which leads to exponential convergence estimates for the approach to equilibrium, a logarithmic Sobolev inequality, and a Talagrand type inequality. Some questions about the infinite-dimensional case are the topic of ongoing research. Concentrating on the finite-dimensional case in this paper allows the authors to give an almost self-contained presentation of this new approach.