Entropy Production in Continuously Measured Gaussian Quantum Systems

Abstract

The entropy production rate is a key quantity in non-equilibrium thermodynamics of both classical and quantum processes. No universal theory of entropy production is available to date, which hinders progress towards its full grasping. By using a phase space-based approach, here we take the current framework for the assessment of thermodynamic irreversibility all the way to quantum regimes by characterizing entropy production -- and its rate -- resulting from the continuous monitoring of a Gaussian system. This allows us to formulate a sharpened second law of thermodynamics that accounts for the measurement back-action and information gain from a continuously monitored system. We illustrate our framework in a series of physically relevant examples.

15+6 pages, 2 figures. This version matches the one accepted for publication in npj Quantum Inf