Unified Treatment of Quantum Fluctuation Theorem and Jarzynski Equality in Terms of microscopic reversibility

T. Monnai

Published 2004-10-25, updated 2005-04-29Version 3

There are two related theorems which hold even in far from equilibrium, namely fluctuation theorem and Jarzynski equality. Fluctuation theorem states the existence of symmetry of fluctuation of entropy production, while Jarzynski equality enables us to estimate the free energy change between two states by using irreversible processes. On the other hand, relationship between these theorems was investigated by Crooks for the classical stochastic systems. In this letter, we derive quantum analogues of fluctuation theorem and Jarzynski equality microscopic reversibility condition. In other words, the quantum analogue of the work by Crooks is presented.