The First Law of Quantum Field Thermodynamics

Phys. Rev. A 102, 052219 (2020) (Editor’s suggestion)

Adam Teixidó-Bonfill, Alvaro Ortega, Eduardo Martín-Martínez

University of Waterloo, Canada
(Presently at University of Barcelona, MSc in Theoretical Physics)
July 2021
0 Outline |1

1 Introduction

2 Internal Energy Increase Distribution

3 Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 Conclusion

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Outline |2

1 Introduction

2 Internal Energy Increase Distribution

3 Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 Conclusion

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Motivation |3

The importance of quantum fields:

I The Standard Model is build entirely from quantum fields.
I Example: Electromagnetic field (quantized)
I New relativistic quantum information.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Motivation |4

Thermodynamics is ubiquitous:

(a) Beam (steam) engine (b) Black hole M87, Event Horizon Telescope

Do you want to do thermodynamics in quantum field theory (QFT)? Yes:

I Black hole information paradox
I Thermalization in Unruh effect
But it is not possible to do thermodynamics in QFT.
In this presentation we bring the first law of thermodynamics to QFT.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Motivation |5

Thermodynamics is ubiquitous:

(a) Beam (steam) engine (b) Black hole M87, Event Horizon Telescope

Do you want to do thermodynamics in quantum field theory (QFT)? Yes:

I Black hole information paradox
I Thermalization in Unruh effect
But it is not possible to do thermodynamics in QFT.
In this presentation we bring the first law of thermodynamics to QFT.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Fluctuations and Probability Distributions |6

Thermodynamics for QFT (and Thermodynamics in the

quantum theory) macroscopic limit

For a process For a process

Fluctuations in measured quantities Fluctuations get averaged out.
due to:
I Statistical uncertainty
I Quantum measurements

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Fluctuations and Probability Distributions |7

Thermodynamics for QFT (and Thermodynamics in the

quantum theory) macroscopic limit

For a process For a process

Fluctuations in measured quantities Fluctuations get averaged out.
due to:
I Statistical uncertainty
I Quantum measurements

Probabilities: Measured quantities always give the

I Pw (Work distribution) same result:
I P∆U (Internal energy increase I W (Work)
distribution) I ∆U (Internal energy increase)

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 Fluctuations and Probability Distributions |8

Thermodynamics for QFT (and Thermodynamics in the

quantum theory) macroscopic limit

For a process For a process

Fluctuations in measured quantities Fluctuations get averaged out.
due to:
I Statistical uncertainty
I Quantum measurements

Probabilities: Measured quantities always give the

I Pw (Work distribution) same result:
I P∆U (Internal energy increase I W (Work)
distribution) I ∆U (Internal energy increase)

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 The First Law of Thermodynamics |9

∆U = W + Q (1)

Process and notation:

unitary process Û
ρ̂i , Ĥi −−−−−−−−−−−−−→ ρ̂f , Ĥf
ρ̂, Ĥ: state and Hamiltonian of the field. i: initial, f : final.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 The First Law of Thermodynamics | 10

∆U = W + Q
 (2)

Process and notation:

unitary process Û
ρ̂i , Ĥi −−−−−−−−−−−−−→ ρ̂f , Ĥf
ρ̂, Ĥ: state and Hamiltonian of the field. i: initial, f : final.

I No heat exchange: Q = 0, because the process is unitary.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
1 The First Law of Thermodynamics | 11

∆U = W + Q
 (3)

Process and notation:

unitary process Û
ρ̂i , Ĥi −−−−−−−−−−−−−→ ρ̂f , Ĥf
ρ̂, Ĥ: state and Hamiltonian of the field. i: initial, f : final.

I No heat exchange: Q = 0, because the process is unitary.

I There is no unique or established definition for neither sides of
Eq. (3) in QFT (nor in quantum theory). Previous first step: work
distribution for QFT1 .
I We will now give and justify definitions for both sides.

1 A. Ortega, E. McKay, A. M. Alhambra, E. Martín-Martínez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 122,

240604 (2019)
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
2 Outline | 12

1 Introduction

2 Internal Energy Increase Distribution

3 Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 Conclusion

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
2 Internal Energy Increase | 13

Classical ∆U
1 ∆U = Uf − Ui
2 The internal energy U is a function of state. Then, ∆U does not
depend on the path taken between states

Quantum ∆U
Requirements that we ask:
1 h∆Ui = hĤf iρ̂f − hĤi iρ̂i
2 P∆U does not depend on the path taken from ρ̂i to ρ̂f

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
2 Proposed Definition of Internal Energy Increase | 14

Quantum ∆U
Requirements that we ask:
1 h∆Ui = hĤf iρ̂f − hĤi iρ̂i
2 P∆U does not depend on the path taken from ρ̂i to ρ̂f

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
2 Proposed Definition of Internal Energy Increase | 15

Quantum ∆U
Requirements that we ask:
1 h∆Ui = hĤf iρ̂f − hĤi iρ̂i
2 P∆U does not depend on the path taken from ρ̂i to ρ̂f

Our proposed P∆U follows both requirements. It is defined by the

procedure:
I Measure Ĥi on ρ̂i , with result i and probability pi
I Measure Ĥf on ρ̂f , with result f and probability pf
I Then ∆U = f − i with probability pi pf

However, the variance of P∆U diverges in QFT. We renormalized it for free

scalar fields.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Outline | 16

1 Introduction

2 Internal Energy Increase Distribution

3 Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 Conclusion

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Two-Point Measurement (TPM) scheme work distribution | 17

The more widespread work distribution in quantum thermodynamics is the

TPM work distribution, PTPM (W ).

It can be defined by the procedure2

I Measure Ĥi on ρ̂i , with result i and probability pi
I Apply the process Û to the measured state |i i
I Measure Ĥf on Û |i i, with result f and probability pf
I Then W = f − i with probability pi pf

2 P. Talkner, E. Lutz, and P. Hänggi, Phys. Rev. E 75, 050102 (2007)

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 TPM work distribution advantages and disadvantages | 18

Advantages:
Has the properties of the classical work, for ρ̂i diagonal on Ĥi :
I First law of thermodynamics
I Fluctuation theorems:
> Crooks theorem3
> Jarzynski equality4 : related to 2nd law of thermodynamics

Disadvantages:
I No first law of thermodynamics h∆Ui 6= hW i for general ρ̂i

There are multiple work distributions and none reproduce all the
properties we expect from work.5
3 TPM scheme version: H. Tasaki, arXiv:cond-mat/0009244 (2000)
4 C.
Jarzynski, Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 2690 (1997)
5 M. Perarnau-Llobet, E. Bäumer, K. V. Hovhannisyan, M. Huber, A. Acin, Phys.

Rev. Lett. 118, 070601 (2017)

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 TPM work distribution is incompatible with QFT | 19

Projective measurements are ill-defined in QFT

TPM relies on projective measurements.
In QFT, they introduce causality violations and UV divergences.

Solution: use probes to obtain information of the field.6

No Gibbs thermality for QFT

Fluctuation theorems use Gibbs states.
In QFT, the partition function is divergent.

Solution: use Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (KMS) thermal states7 .

6 A.
Ortega et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 240604 (2019)
7 R.
Kubo, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn 12, 570 (1957) – P. C. Martin, J. Schwinger; Phys.
Rev. 115, 1342 (1959)
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Requirements for work distributions (Summary) | 20

Quantum thermodynamics Quantum fields

I Fluctuation theorems I No projective measurements on
I h∆Ui = hW i fields
I Measurement protocol I Compatible with KMS
thermality

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Requirements for work distributions | 21

Quantum thermodynamics Quantum fields

I Fluctuation theorems I No projective measurements on
I h∆Ui = hW i fields
I Measurement protocol I Compatible with KMS
thermality

Our main result: the following work distributions fulfill these requirements,
I Ramsey scheme 8
I Allahverdyan-Terletsky-Margenau-Hill (ATMH) 9

I Full-counting-statistics (FCS) 10

8 R. Dorner, S. R. Clark, L. Heaney, R. Fazio, J. Goold, V. Vedral, Phys. Rev. Lett.

110, 230601 (2013) – L. Mazzola, G. De Chiara, and M. Paternostro, Phys.Rev. Lett.

110, 230602 (2013)
9 A. E. Allahverdyan; Phys. Rev. E 90, 032137 (2014)
10 P. Solinas and S. Gasparinetti; Phys. Rev. E 92, 042150 (2015)
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Requirements for work distributions | 22

Quantum thermodynamics Quantum fields

I Fluctuation theorems I No projective measurements on
I h∆Ui = hW i fields
I Measurement protocol I Compatible with KMS
thermality

Our main result: the following work distributions fulfill these requirements,
I Ramsey scheme 8
I Allahverdyan-Terletsky-Margenau-Hill (ATMH) 9

I Full-counting-statistics (FCS) 10
They are all meaningful in QFT and fulfill the first law of
thermodynamics! Price to pay: quasiprobabilities.
8 R. Dorner, S. R. Clark, L. Heaney, R. Fazio, J. Goold, V. Vedral, Phys. Rev. Lett.

110, 230601 (2013) – L. Mazzola, G. De Chiara, and M. Paternostro, Phys.Rev. Lett.

110, 230602 (2013)
9 A. E. Allahverdyan; Phys. Rev. E 90, 032137 (2014)
10 P. Solinas and S. Gasparinetti; Phys. Rev. E 92, 042150 (2015)
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Example: Free scalar quantum field (Process) | 23

 Z Z 
Û = T exp −i dt n
d x Ô(t, x) , (4)
R Rn

with Ô(t, x) = a(t, x)φ̂(t, x) + b(t, x)π̂(t, x) (which for a free theory
represents any element of the algebra of field observables).

For simplicity
Ô(t, x) = λχ(t)F (x)φ̂(t, x) (5)

We start in a KMS thermal state of the field, ρ̂β , with β the inverse
temperature.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Example: Free scalar quantum field (Results) | 24

The three work distributions that are meaningful in QFT, Ramsey scheme,
ATMH and FCS coincide and are exactly
(
dn k
 Z
2 2
Pw = F exp λ2 nω
|e
χ(ωk )| |Fe(k)|
Rn 2(2π) k
 βωk
 )
e +1
i sin ωk µ + βω (cos ωk µ − 1) , (6)
e k −1

where F indicates the Fourier transform. A

B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
3 Example: Free scalar quantum field (Results) | 25

The three work distributions that are meaningful in QFT, Ramsey scheme,
ATMH and FCS coincide and are exactly
(
dn k
 Z
2 2
Pw = F exp λ2 n
|e
χ(ωk )| |Fe(k)|
Rn 2(2π) ωk
 )
eβωk + 1

i sin ωk µ + βω (cos ωk µ − 1) , (7)
e k −1

where F indicates the Fourier transform. For the average,

dn k
Z
2
(8)
2 2
h∆Ui = hW i = λ n
|e
χ(ωk )| |Fe(k)| .
Rn 2(2π)
Moreover, we have the first law for the variance,
dn k eβωk + 1
Z
2
(9)
2 2 2 2 e
(σ∆U )ren. = σw = λ n
|e
χ(ωk )| |F (k)| ω k .
Rn 2(2π) eβωk − 1
Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
4 Outline | 26

1 Introduction

2 Internal Energy Increase Distribution

3 Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics

4 Conclusion

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
4 Conclusion | 27

I We want to do thermodynamics in QFT, but it is not possible right

now.
I We provided the first law of quantum field thermodynamics, with
meaningful:
> Internal energy increase, with the expected average and path
independent.
> Work, that fulfills fluctuation theorems. It is compatible with QFT:
Probe-based and thermal states are KMS.
I We gave exact, non-perturbative work distributions for a
space-time localized unitary process in QFT. The size of fluctuations
of work and internal energy increase coincide.

Introduction Internal Energy Increase Distribution Work Distributions and the First Law of Thermodynamics Conclusion
Thank you for your attention!