Clock–Work Trade-Off Relation for Coherence in Quantum Thermodynamics

Hyukjoon Kwon, Hyunseok Jeong, David Jennings, Benjamin Yadin, and M. S. Kim
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 150602 – Published 12 April 2018
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Abstract

In thermodynamics, quantum coherences—superpositions between energy eigenstates—behave in distinctly nonclassical ways. Here we describe how thermodynamic coherence splits into two kinds—“internal” coherence that admits an energetic value in terms of thermodynamic work, and “external” coherence that does not have energetic value, but instead corresponds to the functioning of the system as a quantum clock. For the latter form of coherence, we provide dynamical constraints that relate to quantum metrology and macroscopicity, while for the former, we show that quantum states exist that have finite internal coherence yet with zero deterministic work value. Finally, under minimal thermodynamic assumptions, we establish a clock–work trade-off relation between these two types of coherences. This can be viewed as a form of time-energy conjugate relation within quantum thermodynamics that bounds the total maximum of clock and work resources for a given system.

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  • Received 15 November 2017
  • Revised 7 February 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.150602

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & ThermodynamicsQuantum Information, Science & TechnologyGeneral Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Hyukjoon Kwon1, Hyunseok Jeong1, David Jennings2,3, Benjamin Yadin3, and M. S. Kim3

  • 1Center for Macroscopic Quantum Control, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
  • 3QOLS, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom

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Issue

Vol. 120, Iss. 15 — 13 April 2018

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