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Session V15: Non-Equilibrium Quantum Thermodynamics

2:30 PM–5:06 PM, Thursday, March 8, 2018
LACC Room: 304C

Sponsoring Units: DQI GSNP
Chair: Jens Eisert, Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Freie Universität Berlin

Abstract: V15.00012 : Topological effects in thermodynamics*

4:42 PM–4:54 PM

    Abstract  

Presenter:

Yiheng Xu
(Physics, University of Arizona)

Authors:

Yiheng Xu
(Physics, University of Arizona)

Ferdinand Evers
(Physics, University of Regensburg)

Charles Stafford
(Physics, University of Arizona)

We consider entropy and persistent currents induced by topological phases in multiply-connected open quantum systems. We prove a strong form of the Nernst theorem (third law of thermodynamics) for "fully open" quantum systems: the entropy goes strictly to zero as temperature approaches absolute zero. The conventional formula for the heat current is shown to be problematic for persistent currents, implying a divergent entropy current as temperature goes to zero, in contradiction to the third law. The apparent paradox is resolved through the inclusion of a topological work term in the first law corresponding to the "persistent work" done in establishing the topological fields.

*This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award No. DE-SC0006699. F. Evers acknowledges support by the German Science Foundation.