Operational Framework for Quantum Work and Heat

Operational Framework for Quantum Work and Heat

Seminar author:Adam Teixidó Bonfill

Event date and time:12/13/2024 02:30:pm

Event location:Seminar Room, GIQ

Event contact:

Abstract: 

This talk introduces a framework for defining work and heat in quantum systems based on an algebra of accessible operations. Using the properties of von Neumann algebras, we outline a method to separate energy into components corresponding to work and heat. The framework recovers the expected definitions of work and heat in setups where the environment is divided into heat baths and work reservoirs. Additionally, it connects to existing definitions of coarse-grained states, whose entropy generalizes observational entropy to multiple non-commuting observables.