Quantum Brownian motion and the second law of thermodynamics |
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Authors: | ILki Kim Günter Mahler |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Physics, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA;(2) Institute of Theoretical Physics I, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57/IV, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany |
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Abstract: | We consider a single harmonic oscillator coupled to a bath
at zero temperature. As is well-known, the oscillator then has a
higher average energy than that given by its ground state. Here we
show analytically that for a damping model with arbitrarily discrete
distribution of bath modes and damping models with continuous
distributions of bath modes with cut-off frequencies, this excess
energy is less than the work needed to couple the system to the
bath, therefore, the quantum second law is not violated. On the
other hand, the second law may be violated for bath modes without
cut-off frequencies, which are, however, physically unrealistic
models.
An erratum to this article is available at . |
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Keywords: | 03 65 Ud Entanglement and quantum nonlocality 05 40 -a Fluctuation phenomena random processes noise and Brownian motion 05 70 -a Thermodynamics |
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