Nonequilibrium representative ensembles for isolated quantum systems

DOI10.1016/J.PHYSLETA.2011.06.026zbMATH Open1250.82035arXiv1201.5213OpenAlexW2003443899MaRDI QIDQ715420FDOQ715420

V. I. Yukalov

Publication date: 29 October 2012

Published in: Physics Letters. A (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: An isolated quantum system is considered, prepared in a nonequilibrium initial state. In order to uniquely define the system dynamics, one has to construct a representative statistical ensemble. From the principle of least action it follows that the role of the evolution generator is played by a grand Hamiltonian, but not merely by its energy part. A theorem is proved expressing the commutators of field operators with operator products through variational derivatives of these products. A consequence of this theorem is the equivalence of the variational equations for field operators with the Heisenberg equations for the latter. A finite quantum system cannot equilibrate in the strict sense. But it can tend to a quasi-stationary state characterized by ergodic averages and the appropriate representative ensemble depending on initial conditions. Microcanonical ensemble, arising in the eigenstate thermalization, is just a particular case of representative ensembles. Quasi-stationary representative ensembles are defined by the principle of minimal information. The latter also implies the minimization of an effective thermodynamic potential.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1201.5213

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zbMATH Keywords

decoherencefinite quantum systemsnonequilibrium statesquasi-equilibrationrepresentative quantum ensembles

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Variational principles of physics (49S05) Many-body theory; quantum Hall effect (81V70) Operator algebra methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R15) Open systems, reduced dynamics, master equations, decoherence (81S22) Irreversible thermodynamics, including Onsager-Machlup theory (82C35)

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Cited In (3)

• Description of isolated macroscopic systems inside quantum mechanics
• From Coherent Modes to Turbulence and Granulation of Trapped Gases
• REPRESENTATIVE ENSEMBLES IN STATISTICAL MECHANICS

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