Microscopic diagonal entropy and its connection to basic thermodynamic relations
Abstract
We define a diagonal entropy (d-entropy) for an arbitrary Hamiltonian system as Sd=-∑nρnnlnρnn with the sum taken over the basis of instantaneous energy states. In equilibrium this entropy coincides with the conventional von Neumann entropy Sn = -Tr ρ ln ρ. However, in contrast to Sn, the d-entropy is not conserved in time in closed Hamiltonian systems. If the system is initially in stationary state then in accord with the second law of thermodynamics the d-entropy can only increase or stay the same. We also show that the d-entropy can be expressed through the energy distribution function and thus it is measurable, at least in principle. Under very generic assumptions of the locality of the Hamiltonian and non-integrability the d-entropy becomes a unique function of the average energy in large systems and automatically satisfies the fundamental thermodynamic relation. This relation reduces to the first law of thermodynamics for quasi-static processes. The d-entropy is also automatically conserved for adiabatic processes. We illustrate our results with explicit examples and show that Sd behaves consistently with expectations from thermodynamics.
- Publication:
-
Annals of Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.aop.2010.08.004
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0806.2862
- Bibcode:
- 2011AnPhy.326..486P
- Keywords:
-
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics;
- High Energy Physics - Theory;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- revised and expanded as published, clarified common misconceptions about additivity of the entropy