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Dissipative Quantum System and Energy Balance

Jishad Kumar

Published Oct 6, 2022• 1 citation

Abstract

We discuss how various parts of a quantum many-body system exchange energies at thermal equilibrium. To show this, we assume a quantum system is coupled to a many-body environment (at thermal equilibrium with a bigger environment) consisting of a large number of independent and non-interacting quantum harmonic oscillators above a stable ground state. Once the coupling to a large environment is switched on, the system dissipates its energy continuously to the environment until it reaches equilibrium with the latter. We use the Quantum Langevin equation to show such energy exchange at equilibrium. We conclude that different parts of a physical system can exchange energies even at absolute zero temperature.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.106474

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