In these notes we will give an overview and road map for a definition and characterization of (relative) entropy for both classical and quantum systems. In other words, we will provide a consistent treatment of entropy which can be applied within the recently developed Orlicz space based approach to large systems. This means that the proposed approach successfully provides a refined framework for the treatment of entropy in each of classical statistical physics, Dirac's formalism of Quantum Mechanics, large systems of quantum statistical physics, and finally also for Quantum Field Theory.
In these notes we will give an overview and road map for a definition and characterization of (relative) entropy for both classical and quantum systems. In other words, we will provide a consistent treatment of entropy which can be applied within the recently developed Orlicz space based approach to large systems. This means that the proposed approach successfully provides a refined framework for the treatment of entropy in each of classical statistical physics, Dirac's formalism of Quantum Mechanics, large systems of quantum statistical physics, and finally also for Quantum Field Theory.
We present a new rigorous approach based on Orlicz spaces for the description of the statistics of large regular statistical systems, both classical and quantum. The pair of Orlicz spaces we explicitly use are, respectively, built on the exponential function (for the description of regular observables) and on an entropic type function (for the corresponding states). They form a dual pair (both for classical and quantum systems). This pair has the advantage of being general enough to encompass regular observables, and specific enough for the latter Orlicz space to select states with a well-defined entropy function. Moreover for small quantum systems, this pair is shown to agree with the classical pairing of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space, and the trace-class operators.
This paper introduces a generalized definition of quantum information entropy, aiming to provide a more comprehensive framework for quantifying information in complex quantum systems. The core of this work lies in extending the conventional concept of entropy, traditionally applied to classical information, to the realm of quantum mechanics. We explore various types of quantum entropy, including von Neumann entropy, relative entropy, and a newly proposed generalized entropy, denoted as *Eg*. The definition of *Eg* is based on a novel approach that considers the entanglement structure and correlations within quantum states. We establish relationships between these different entropy measures, demonstrating their interconnectedness within the broader context of quantum information theory. The paper further outlines a mathematical formalism for calculating *Eg*, providing a tool for analyzing and characterizing quantum information. Our generalized entropy provides a more flexible and potentially more accurate measure of quantum information, particularly in scenarios involving complex quantum correlations and multi-partite quantum systems. ---
We present a new rigorous approach based on Orlicz spaces for the description of the statistics of large regular statistical systems, both classical and quantum. The pair of Orlicz spaces we explicitly use are, respectively, built on the exponential function (for the description of regular observables) and on an entropic type function (for the corresponding states). They form a dual pair (both for classical and quantum systems). This pair has the advantage of being general enough to encompass regular observables, and specific enough for the latter Orlicz space to select states with a well-defined entropy function. Moreover for small quantum systems, this pair is shown to agree with the classical pairing of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space, and the trace-class operators.
ABSTRACT. What is the physical significance of entropy? What is the physical origin of irreversibility? Do entropy and irreversibility exist only for complex and macroscopic systems? Most physicists still accept and teach that the rationalization of these fundamental ques-tions is given by Statistical Mechanics. Indeed, for everyday laboratory physics, the math-ematical formalism of Statistical Mechanics (canonical and grand-canonical, Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions) allows a successful description of the ther-modynamic equilibrium properties of matter, including entropy values. However, as al-ready recognized by Schrödinger in 1936, Statistical Mechanics is impaired by conceptual ambiguities and logical inconsistencies, both in its explanation of the meaning of entropy and in its implications on the concept of state of a system. An alternative theory has been developed by Gyftopoulos, Hatsopoulos and the present author to eliminate these stumbling conceptual blocks while maintaining the mathematical formalism so successful in applications. To resolve both the problem of the meaning of entropy and that of the origin of irreversibility we have built entropy and irreversibility
This paper introduces a novel definition of non-classical information entropy, rooted in the principles of statistical physics, particularly quantum mechanics. The core premise is that traditional information entropy, derived from classical probability theory, is insufficient to capture the essence of information within non-classical systems exhibiting phenomena such as superposition and entanglement. We propose a definition based on the concept of accessible states and their associated probabilities, extending the notion of entropy beyond the realm of purely deterministic systems. The paper details the mathematical formulation of this non-classical information entropy, denoted as *Hnc*, and presents a method for its calculation. The method relies on identifying the set of accessible states for a given system and then applying a generalized form of Shannon's entropy formula, modified to account for the inherent uncertainties associated with quantum mechanics. The resulting *Hnc* provides a quantitative measure of the information content within non-classical systems, offering a potential framework for studying information processing and dynamics in quantum environments. The key contribution lies in bridging the gap between information theory and non-classical statistical physics, offering a new lens through which to understand information in quantum systems.
Entropy is a fundamental concept which emerged along with other ideas during the development of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics Landau and Lifshitz (1978); Lieb and Yngvason (1999). Entropy has developed foremost out of phenomenological thermodynamical considerations such as the second law of thermodynamics in which it plays a prominent role Wehrl (1978). With the intense interest in the investigation of the physics of matter at the atomic and subatomic quantum levels, it maywell be askedwhether this concept can emerge out of the study of systems at a more fundamental level. In fact, it may be argued that a correct definition is only possible in the framework of quantum mechanics, whereas in classical mechanics, entropy can only be introduced in a rather limited and artificial way. Entropy relates macroscopic and microscopic aspects of nature, and ultimately determines the behavior of macroscopic systems. It is the intention here to present an introduction to this subject in a readable manner from the quantum point of view. There are many reasons for undertaking this. The intense interest in irreversible thermodynamics Grossing (2008), the statistical mechanics of astrophysical objects Padmanabhan (1990); Pathria (1977), quantum gravity and entropy of black holes Peres & al. (2004), testing quantum mechanics Ballentine (1970) and applications to condensed matter and quantum optics Haroche & al. (2006); Raimond & al. (2001) are just a few areas which are directly or indirectly touched on here. Let us begin by introducing the concept of entropy from the quantummechanical perspective, realizing that the purpose is to focus on quantum mechanics in particular. Quantum mechanics makes a clear distinction between observables and states. Observables such as position and momentum are mathematically described by self-adjoint operators in a Hilbert space. States, which are generally mixed, can be described by a density matrix, which is designated by ρ throughout. This operator ρ is Hermitean, has trace one and yields the expectation value of an observable A in the state ρ through the definition