Interference of Identical Particles and the Quantum Work Distribution

Abstract

Quantum mechanical particles in a confining potential interfere with each other while undergoing thermodynamic processes far from thermal equilibrium. By evaluating the corresponding transition probabilities between many-particle eigenstates we obtain the quantum work distribution function, for identical Bosons and Fermions, which we compare with the case of distinguishable particles. We find that the quantum work distributions for Bosons and Fermions significantly differ at low temperatures, while, as expected, at high temperatures the work distributions converge to the classical expression. These findings are illustrated with two analytically solvable examples, namely the time-dependent infinite square well and the parametric harmonic oscillator.

17 pages, 9 figures; published version

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Jarzynski equality in $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric quantum mechanics
• Bosons Outperform Fermions -- The Thermodynamic Advantage of Symmetry
• Group-theoretical approach to the calculation of quantum work distribution
• Quantum work distributions associated with the dynamical Casimir effect
• Understanding quantum work in a quantum many-body system