Journal of Mathematical Physics
Physical applications of multiplicative stochastic processes. III. Nonequilibrium entropy
Ronald F. Fox
Abstract
It is argued that the expression − KB Trace [〈ρ (t) 〉 ln〈ρ (t) 〉], which appears in a stochastic treatment of the dynamics of the density matrix is indeed the nonequilibrium entropy. The reasoning involves consideration of the time evolution of the free energy for a relaxing magnetic moment in a fluctuating magnetic environment. It is shown that the H theorem, and the monotonic decrease of the free energy, as described by Pauli’s master equation can be generalized to the full density matrix, at least for the case of magnetic relaxation, which requires the presence of off-diagonal density matrix elements.