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Title: Quantum work statistics of charged Dirac particles in time-dependent fields

Journal Article · · Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
 [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The quantum Jarzynski equality is an important theorem of modern quantum thermodynamics. We show that the Jarzynski equality readily generalizes to relativistic quantum mechanics described by the Dirac equation. After establishing the conceptual framework we solve a pedagogical, yet experimentally relevant, system analytically. As a main result we obtain the exact quantum work distributions for charged particles traveling through a time-dependent vector potential evolving under Schrödinger as well as under Dirac dynamics, and for which the Jarzynski equality is verified. Thus, special emphasis is put on the conceptual and technical subtleties arising from relativistic quantum mechanics.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1233562
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1222047
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-15-24887; PLEEE8; TRN: US1600416
Journal Information:
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, Vol. 92, Issue 3; ISSN 1539-3755
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 11 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (6)

Quantum speed limits: from Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle to optimal quantum control journal October 2017
Quantum work in the Bohmian framework journal January 2018
Jarzynski Equality for Driven Quantum Field Theories journal February 2018
Quantum work and the thermodynamic cost of quantum measurements text January 2016
Quantum speed limits: from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle to optimal quantum control text January 2017
Jarzynski Equality for Driven Quantum Field Theories text January 2017

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