Quantum Thermodynamics Emergence of Thermodynamic Behavior Within Composite Quantum Systems

This tutorial essay views thermodynamics as an incomplete description of quantum systems with many degrees of freedom.The main goal is to show that the approach to equilibrium with equilibrium characterized by maximum ignorance about the open system of interest - does neither require that many parti...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gemmer, Jochen, Michel, Mathias (Author), Mahler, Günter (Author)
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Berlin, Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2004, 2004
Edition:1st ed. 2004
Series:Lecture Notes in Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:
Collection: Springer Book Archives -2004 - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:This tutorial essay views thermodynamics as an incomplete description of quantum systems with many degrees of freedom.The main goal is to show that the approach to equilibrium with equilibrium characterized by maximum ignorance about the open system of interest - does neither require that many particles nor is the precise way of partitioning relevant for the solient features of equilibrium and equilibration. Moreover it is indeed quantum effects that are at work in bringing about universal thermodynamic behaviour of modest size open systems. Von Neumann`s concept of entropy thus appears as much more widely useful than sometimes feared, way beyond truely macrosopic systems in equilibrium
Physical Description:XX, 287 p online resource
ISBN:9783540445135