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arXiv:1202.0983 · Kinki Universtiy series on quantum computing

SECOND LAW-LIKE INEQUALITIES WITH QUANTUM RELATIVE ENTROPY: AN INTRODUCTION

Takahiro Sagawa

Published Oct 4, 2012• 75 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We review the fundamental properties of the quantum relative entropy for finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. In particular, we focus on several inequalities that are related to the second law of thermodynamics, where the positivity and the monotonicity of the quantum relative entropy play key roles; these properties are directly applicable to derivations of the second law (e.g., the Clausius inequality). Moreover, the positivity is closely related to the quantum fluctuation theorem, while the monotonicity leads to a quantum version of the Hatano-Sasa inequality for nonequilibrium steady states. Based on the monotonicity, we also discuss the data processing inequality for the quantum mutual information, which has a similar mathematical structure to that of the second law. Moreover, we derive a generalized second law with quantum feedback control. In addition, we review a proof of the monotonicity in line with Petz.

DOI
10.1142/9789814425193_0003

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We review the fundamental properties of the quantum relative entropy for finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. In particular, we focus on several inequalities that are related to the second law of thermodynamics, where the positivity and the monotonicity of the quantum relative entropy play key roles; these properties are directly applicable to derivations of the second law (e.g., the Clausius inequality). Moreover, the positivity is closely related to the quantum fluctuation theorem, while the monotonicity leads to a quantum version of the Hatano-Sasa inequality for nonequilibrium steady states. Based on the monotonicity, we also discuss the data processing inequality for the quantum mutual information, which has a similar mathematical structure to that of the second law. Moreover, we derive a generalized second law with quantum feedback control. In addition, we review a proof of the monotonicity in line with Petz.
We revisit the monotonicity of relative entropy under the action of quantum channels, a foundational result in quantum information theory. Among the several available proofs, we focus on those by Petz and Uhlmann, which we reformulate within a unified, finite-dimensional operator-theoretic framework. In the first part, we examine Petz's strategy, identify a subtle flaw in his original use of Jensen's contractive operator inequality, and point out how it was corrected to restore the validity of his line of reasoning. In the second part, we develop Uhlmann's approach, which is based on interpolations of positive sesquilinear forms and applies automatically to non-invertible density operators. By comparing these two approaches, we highlight their complementary strengths: Petz's method is more direct and clear; Uhlmann's method is more abstract and general. Our treatment aims to clarify the mathematical structure underlying the monotonicity of relative entropy and to make these proofs more accessible to a broader audience interested in both the foundations and applications of quantum information theory.
The second law of thermodynamics is discussed and reformulated from a quantum information theoretic perspective for open quantum systems using relative entropy. Specifically, the relative entropy of a quantum state with respect to equilibrium states is considered and its monotonicity property with respect to an open quantum system evolution is used to obtain second lawlike inequalities. We discuss this first for generic quantum systems in contact with a thermal bath and subsequently turn to a formulation suitable for the description of local dynamics in a relativistic quantum field theory. A local version of the second law similar to the one used in relativistic fluid dynamics can be formulated with relative entropy or even relative entanglement entropy in a space-time region bounded by two light cones. We also give an outlook toward isolated quantum field theories and discuss the role of entanglement for relativistic fluid dynamics.
We review a general theory of thermodynamics of information processing. The background of this topic is the recently-developed nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and quantum (and classical) information theory. These theories are closely related to the modern technologies to manipulate and observe small systems; for example, macromolecules and colloidal particles in the classical regime, and quantum-optical systems and quantum dots in the quantum regime. First, we review a generalization of the second law of thermodynamics to the situations in which small thermodynamic systems are subject to quantum feedback control. The generalized second law is expressed in terms of an inequality that includes the term of information obtained by the measurement, as well as the thermodynamic quantities such as the free energy. This inequality leads to the fundamental upper bound of the work that can be extracted by a “Maxwell's demon”, which can be regarded as a feedback controller with a memory that stores measurement outcomes. Second, we review generalizations of the second law of thermodynamics to the measurement and information erasure processes of the memory of the demon that is a quantum system. The generalized second laws consist of inequalities that identify the lower bounds of the energy costs that are needed for the measurement and the information erasure. The inequality for the erasure leads to the celebrated Landauer's principle for a special case. Moreover, these inequalities enable us to reconcile Maxwell's demon with the second law of thermodynamics. In these inequalities, thermodynamic quantities and information contents are treated on an equal footing. In fact, the inequalities are model-independent, so that they can be applied to a broad class of information processing. Therefore, these inequalities can be called the second law of “information thermodynamics”.
Abstract Chapter 20 provides a discussion of entropies and entropic quantities in quantum information theory, briefly considering the generalizations of the Rényi entropy to the quantum regime, but mainly focusing on the von Neumann entropy and its properties such as concavity, the Araki-Lieb inequality, and subadditivity. We introduce the quantum relative entropy, quantum joint entropy, quantum conditional entropy, and quantum mutual information, and prove key properties and results for these quantities, including Klein’s inequality, joint convexity, additivity, and monotonicity under completely positive and trace-preserving maps of the relative entropy, as well as weak monotonicity and strong subadditivity of the von Neumann entropy. We then analyse the relation of (negative) conditional entropy and entanglement. In this context we discuss the conditional amplitude operator and the mutual amplitude operator, as well as conditional Rényi entropies and their role for entanglement detection.
The Gibbs-Boltzmann entropy effectively characterizes systems with a significant reliance on initial conditions. Nonetheless, the majority of materials generally exhibit behavior that is independent of their initial conditions. Conversely, Tsallis entropy—a nonextensive entropy that underpins nonextensive statistical mechanics—provides a comprehensive framework for modeling systems that engage with their environment. In this study, we derive the Tsallis formulation of the Clausius inequality in a quantum context and establish an upper limit for the work that can be extracted from a small system within the framework of nonextensive quantum statistical mechanics. Furthermore, by utilizing a principle from quantum information theory—which posits that the erasure of a single bit of information corresponds to the dissipation of a specific quantity of energy into the environment—we formulate an inequality for the erasure process in nonextensive systems. This principle corresponds with the physical law that entropy can be transformed into heat. Additionally, we derive mutual information and integrate quantum feedback control to enhance Maxwell’s demon. Ultimately, we extend the second law of thermodynamics to information processes through the application of Tsallis entropy.