Statistical Entropy of Open Quantum Systems

Lisan M. M. Durão, Amir O. Caldeira

Published 2016-07-20Version 1

Dissipative quantum systems are frequently described within the framework of the so-called "system-plus-reservoir" approach. In this letter we assign their description to the Maximum Entropy Formalism and compare the resulting thermodynamic properties with those of the well - established approaches. Due to the non-negligible coupling to the heat reservoir, these systems are non-extensive by nature, and the former task may require the use of non-extensive parameter dependent informational entropies. In doing so , we address the problem of choosing appropriate forms of those entropies in order to describe a consistent thermodynamics for dissipative quantum systems.