Open access
Date
2020Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Fluctuation theorems impose constraints on possible work extraction probabilities in thermodynamical processes. These constraints are stronger than the usual second law, which is concerned only with average values. Here, we show that such constraints, expressed in the form of the Jarzysnki equality, can be by-passed if one allows for the use of catalysts---additional degrees of freedom that may become correlated with the system from which work is extracted, but whose reduced state remains unchanged so that they can be re-used. This violation can be achieved both for small systems but also for macroscopic many-body systems, and leads to positive work extraction per particle with finite probability from macroscopic states in equilibrium. In addition to studying such violations for a single system, we also discuss the scenario in which many parties use the same catalyst to induce local transitions. We show that there exist catalytic processes that lead to highly correlated work distributions, expected to have implications for stochastic and quantum thermodynamics. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000406404Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
QuantumVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Verein zur Förderung des Open Access Publizierens in den QuantenwissenschaftenOrganisational unit
03781 - Renner, Renato / Renner, Renato
Related publications and datasets
Is variant form of: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/391626
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