05-376 Laurent Bruneau, Alain Joye, Marco Merkli

Asymptotics of repeated interaction quantum systems (428K, pdf) Nov 4, 05

Abstract , Paper (src), View paper (auto. generated pdf), Index of related papers

Abstract. A quantum system $\s$ interacts in a successive way with elements $\ee$ of a chain of identical independent quantum subsystems. Each interaction lasts for a duration $\tau$ and is governed by a fixed coupling between $\s$ and $\ee$. We show that the system, initially in any state close to a reference state, approaches a {\it repeated interaction asymptotic state} in the limit of large times. This state is $\tau$--periodic in time and does not depend on the initial state. If the reference state is chosen so that $\s$ and $\ee$ are individually in equilibrium at positive temperatures, then the repeated interaction asymptotic state satisfies an average second law of thermodynamics.

Files: 05-376.src( 05-376.keywords , bjm.pdf.mm )