Quantum majorization and a complete set of entropic conditions for quantum thermodynamics

DOI10.1038/S41467-018-06261-7arXiv1708.04302WikidataQ60044505 ScholiaQ60044505MaRDI QIDQ6290102FDOQ6290102

Authors: Gilad Gour, David Jennings, Francesco Buscemi, Runyao Duan, Iman Marvian 

Publication date: 14 August 2017

Abstract: What does it mean for one quantum process to be more disordered than another? Here we provide a precise answer to this question in terms of a quantum-mechanical generalization of majorization. The framework admits a complete description in terms of single-shot entropies, and provides a range of significant applications. These include applications to the comparison of quantum statistical models and quantum channels, to the resource theory of asymmetry, and to quantum thermodynamics. In particular, within quantum thermodynamics, we apply our results to provide the first complete set of of necessary and sufficient conditions for arbitrary quantum state transformation under thermodynamic processes, and which rigorously accounts for quantum-mechanical properties, such as coherence. Our framework of generalized thermal processes extends thermal operations, and is based on natural physical principles, namely, energy conservation, the existence of equilibrium states, and the requirement that quantum coherence be accounted for thermodynamically. In the zero coherence case we recover thermo-majorization while in the asymptotic coherence regime we obtain a constraint that takes the form of a Page-Wootters clock condition.

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