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arXiv:2205.12364 · Entropy

Correspondence between the Energy Equipartition Theorem in Classical Mechanics and Its Phase-Space Formulation in Quantum Mechanics

Esteban Marulanda, Alejandro Restrepo, J. Restrepo

Published Jun 15, 2023• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

In classical physics, there is a well-known theorem in which it is established that the energy per degree of freedom is the same. However, in quantum mechanics, due to the non-commutativity of some pairs of observables and the possibility of having non-Markovian dynamics, the energy is not equally distributed. We propose a correspondence between what is known as the classical energy equipartition theorem and its counterpart in the phase-space formulation in quantum mechanics based on the Wigner representation. Further, we show that in the high-temperature regime, the classical result is recovered.

DOI
10.3390/e25060939

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In classical physics, there is a well-known theorem in which it is established that the energy per degree of freedom is the same. However, in quantum mechanics, due to the non-commutativity of some pairs of observables and the possibility of having non-Markovian dynamics, the energy is not equally distributed. We propose a correspondence between what is known as the classical energy equipartition theorem and its counterpart in the phase-space formulation in quantum mechanics based on the Wigner representation. Further, we show that in the high-temperature regime, the classical result is recovered.
One of the fundamental laws of classical statistical physics is the energy equipartition theorem which states that for each degree of freedom the average kinetic energy equals Ek=kBT/2E_k=k_B T/2Ek​=kB​T/2, where kBk_BkB​ is the Boltzmann constant and TTT is temperature of the system. Despite the fact that quantum mechanics has already been developed for more than 100 years still there is no quantum counterpart of this theorem. We attempt to fill this far-reaching gap and formulate the quantum law for equipartition of energy in the appealing form Ek=⟨Ek⟩E_k = \langle \mathcal E_k \rangleEk​=⟨Ek​⟩, where Ek\mathcal E_kEk​ is thermal kinetic energy per one degree of freedom of the thermostat consisting of harmonic oscillators and ⟨...⟩\langle ...\rangle⟨...⟩ denotes averaging over frequencies ω\omegaω of those thermostat oscillators which contribute to EkE_kEk​ according to the probability distribution P(ω)\mathbb P(\omega)P(ω). We derive it for two paradigmatic and exactly solvable models of quantum open systems: a free Brownian particle and a harmonic oscillator. We formulate conditions for validity of the relation Ek=⟨Ek⟩E_k = \langle \mathcal E_k \rangleEk​=⟨Ek​⟩ for other quantum systems.
Abstract One of the fundamental laws of classical statistical physics is the energy equipartition theorem which states that for each degree of freedom the mean kinetic energy E k equals , where is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature of the system. Despite the fact that quantum mechanics has already been developed for more than 100 years, still there is no quantum counterpart of this theorem. We attempt to fill this far-reaching gap and consider the simplest system, i.e. the Caldeira–Leggett model for a free quantum Brownian particle in contact with a thermostat consisting of an infinite number of harmonic oscillators. We prove that the mean kinetic energy E k of the Brownian particle equals the mean kinetic energy per one degree of freedom of the thermostat oscillators, i.e. . We show that this relation can be obtained from the fluctuation–dissipation theorem derived within the linear response theory and is universal in the sense that it holds true for any linear and non-linear systems in contact with a bosonic thermostat.
The equipartition theorem is a fundamental law of classical statistical physics, which states that every degree of freedom contributes kBT/2 to the energy, where T is the temperature and kB is the Boltzmann constant. Recent studies have revealed the existence of a quantum version of the equipartition theorem. In the present work, we focus on how to obtain the quantum counterpart of the generalized equipartition theorem for arbitrary quadratic systems in which the multimode Brownian oscillators interact with multiple reservoirs at the same temperature. An alternative method of deriving the energy of the system is also discussed and compared with the result of the quantum version of the equipartition theorem, after which we conclude that the latter is more reasonable. Our results can be viewed as an indispensable generalization of recent works on a quantum version of the equipartition theorem. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
The physical content of a theory is not intrinsically tied to any single mathematical formalism. Both classical and quantum mechanics admit equivalent representations, notably in phase space and in Hilbert space, related by the Wigner-Weyl correspondence. While this correspondence has long been studied in mathematical physics, its foundational and operational implications are often left implicit. Here we give a systematic account of what changes, and what does not, when classical and quantum theories are expressed in each other's native language. This representational viewpoint separates artifacts (such as the appearance of non-positivity or negativity under certain maps) from robust structural distinctions that persist across representations, in particular noncommutativity and its ℏ\hbarℏ-dependent ⋆\star⋆-deformation of the classical algebra. We develop the comparison at the level of states, kinematics, and dynamics, and extend it to measurement by formulating both outcome statistics and state-update rules within the same framework.
Abstract In this brief report, following the recent developments on formulating a quantum analogue of the classical energy equipartition theorem for open systems where the heat bath comprises of independent oscillators, i.e. bosonic degrees of freedom, we present an analogous result for fermionic systems. The most general case where the system is connected to multiple reservoirs is considered and the mean energy in the steady state is expressed as an integral over the reservoir frequencies. Physically this would correspond to summing over the contributions of the bath degrees of freedom to the mean energy of the system over a suitable distribution function ρ ( ω ) dependent on the system parameters. This result holds for nonequilibrium steady states, even in the nonlinear regime far from equilibrium. We also analyze the zero temperature behaviour and low temperature corrections to the mean energy of the system.
The objective of this thesis is to describe the fundamental concepts relating to the reformulation of quantum mechanics in phase space. It is assumed that the interested reader is familiar with the principles and techniques of ordinary quantum mechanics. In classical statistical mechanics the expectation values of physical quantities are calculated as averages over phase space distribution functions. It is possible to obtain a similar procedure in quantum mechanics. However, phase space is a classical concept and thus has no quantum mechanical equivalent, owing to the non-commutability of the operators p and q. A sensible basic requirement for the formulation of quantum mechanics in phase space is a linear one-one mapping between quantum operators and classical functions. This was achieved by the pioneering work of Weyl, Wigner and Moyal. The phase space that they devised we shall call "pseudo phase space". It is completely quantum. The pseudo phase space variables are represented by commuting c-numbers of momentum, p, and position, q; they are the result of applying the Weyl correspondence rule to the operators p and q, respectively. In some ways the pseudo phase space formulation of quantum mechanics appears to return us to an "almost" classical arena, since we dispense with the calculus of non-commuting operators for purely algebraic methods. The pseudo phase space formulation of quantum mechanics is self-contained. That is, there is no need, in principle, to switch to the Schroedinger or Heisenberg pictures when solving physical problems, although it may often be convenient to do so. The classical appearance of the pseudo phase space scheme is especially useful when considering the semi-classical limit of quantum mechanics. In fact, for potentials up to and including the harmonic oscillator the equations represent classical motion. The structure of the thesis is such that it takes the reader steadily through the major concepts of pseudo phase space theory. The mathematical techniques that shall be needed are developed early in Chapter 1. These are used throughout the thesis. This presents the advantage that the reader is not faced with learning new mathematical methods as the thesis proceeds. The pseudo phase space formulation of quantum mechanics as found applications in all areas of mathematical physics. Hence, there is a considerable amount of specialist literature available on the subject. Itis hoped that this thesis serves has an introduction.