2025/07/31 by Simone Artini, Artini, Simone, Gabriele Lo Monaco +7
Physics and Astronomy · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis #stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2507.23322
We rigorously analyze the non-equilibrium thermodynamic behavior of various formulations of quantum Brownian motion (QBM) using the framework of stochastic thermodynamics. While the widely used Caldeira-Leggett master equation exhibits desirable thermodynamic features, such as the fulfilment of a detailed balance, it fails to ensure complete positivity. In contrast, several completely positive and trace-preserving (CPTP) extensions turn out to be thermodynamically controversial. We show that such extensions introduce anomalous phase-space structures that violate detailed balance at the steady state, leading to non-vanishing entropy production and effective non-equilibrium current of unclear physical origins. Our results highlight a fundamental tension between quantum consistency and thermodynamic equilibration in open quantum systems.