Which entropy increases in isolated quantum systems?

Authors

  • Dominik Šafránek ⋅ KR Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems, Institute for Basic Science, Republic of Korea

Abstract

The second thermodynamic law says that entropy increases in an isolated system. Which entropy though? The von Neumann entropy stays constant, entanglement entropy can increase, but it measures primarily quantum correlations, and Boltzmann and Gibbs entropies are defined only in equilibrium, and do not change when the system thermalizes. I will present a definition of entropy that is defined out-of-equilibrium, it generalizes equilibrium entropy to non-equilibrium situations, increases in an isolated system, and is internally connected to a quantum measurement. Thus, proposing a definition through which the second thermodynamic law is expressed, in non-equilibrium quantum systems.

About the Speaker

Dominik Šafránek, Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems, Institute for Basic Science, Republic of Korea

Dominik Šafránek did his PhD in the UK and Austria, working in quantum metrology ‒ science about quantum measurements. He derived several, now well-known formulas, for the optimal estimation of quantum states. Then he moved to the USA for a PostDoctoral position, going into a more fundamental field: realizing that there is no good definition of entropy that would express the second thermodynamic law in quantum physics, together with Anthony Aguirre and Josh Deutsch he developed the framework of observational entropy. He continues to develop this framework to this day, now as an independent researcher at the Institute of Basic Science in South Korea.

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Issue

Article ID

SPP-2021-INV-3G-02

Section

Invited Presentations

Published

2021-09-19

How to Cite

[1]
D Šafránek, Which entropy increases in isolated quantum systems?, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 39, SPP-2021-INV-3G-02 (2021). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2021-INV-3G-02.