Quantum Brownian motion and the Third Law of thermodynamics
| dc.creator | Hänggi, Peter | |
| dc.creator | Ingold, Gert-Ludwig | |
| dc.date | 2006-01-10 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T07:00:19Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T07:00:19Z | |
| dc.description | The quantum thermodynamic behavior of small systems is investigated in presence of finite quantum dissipation. We consider the archetype cases of a damped harmonic oscillator and a free quantum Brownian particle. A main finding is that quantum dissipation helps to ensure the validity of the Third Law. For the quantum oscillator, finite damping replaces the zero-coupling result of an exponential suppression of the specific heat at low temperatures by a power-law behavior. Rather intriguing is the behavior of the free quantum Brownian particle. In this case, quantum dissipation is able to restore the Third Law: Instead of being constant down to zero temperature, the specific heat now vanishes proportional to temperature with an amplitude that is inversely proportional to the ohmic dissipation strength. A distinct subtlety of finite quantum dissipation is the result that the various thermodynamic functions of the sub-system do not only depend on the dissipation strength but depend as well on the prescription employed in their definition. | |
| dc.description | 15 pages, 1 figure, requires appolb.cls (included) | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0601056 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0601056 | |
| dc.identifier | Acta Phys. Pol. B 37, 1537-1550 (2006) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/108003 | |
| dc.subject | Quantum Physics | |
| dc.title | Quantum Brownian motion and the Third Law of thermodynamics | |
| dc.type | text |