Quantum fluctuation theorem for initial near-equilibrium system

Bao-Ming Xu

Published 2022-02-15Version 1

Quantum work fluctuation theorem (FT) commonly requires the system initially prepared in an equilibrium state. Whether there exists universal exact quantum work FT for initial state beyond equilibrium is still unknown. Here I initialize the system in a near-equilibrium state, and derive the corresponding modified Jarzynski equality. The correction is nontrivial because it directly leads to the principle of maximum work or the second law of thermodynamics for near-equilibrium system and also gives a more tighter bound beyond the principle of maximum work or the second law of thermodynamics for a given process. I also verify my theoretical results by considering a concrete many-body system, and reveal a fundamental connection between quantum critical phenomenon and near-equilibrium state at really high temperature.