Quantum Detailed Fluctuation Theorem in Curved Spacetimes: The Observer Dependent Nature of Entropy Production
The interplay between thermodynamics, general relativity, and quantum mechanics has long intrigued researchers. Recently, important advances have been obtained in thermodynamics, mainly regarding its application to the quantum domain through fluctuation theorems. In this Letter, we apply Fermi normal coordinates to report a fully general relativistic detailed quantum fluctuation theorem based on the two point measurement scheme. We demonstrate how the spacetime curvature can produce entropy in a localized quantum system moving in a general spacetime. The example of a quantum harmonic oscillator living in an expanding universe is presented. This result implies that entropy production is strongly observer dependent and deeply connects the arrow of time with the causal structure of the spacetime.
Authors
- Jonas Maziero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2872-986X)
- Marcos L. W. Basso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5456-7772)
- Lucas C. Céleri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5120-8176)
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (BR)
- Universidade Federal de Goiás (BR)
- Universidade Federal do ABC (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-02-06
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.134.050406
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.97
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Informação Quântica