Entropy Production from Maximum Entropy Principle: a Unifying Approach

Abstract

Entropy production is the crucial quantity characterizing irreversible phenomena and the second law of thermodynamics. Yet, a ubiquitous definition eludes consensus. Given that entropy production arises from incomplete access to information, in this Letter we use Jaynes' maximum entropy principle to establish a framework that brings together prominent and apparently conflicting definitions. More generally our definition of entropy production addresses any tomographically incomplete quantum measurement and/or the action of a quantum channel on a system.