Experimental reconstruction of work distribution and study of fluctuation relations in a closed quantum system

Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Oct 3;113(14):140601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.140601. Epub 2014 Oct 3.

Abstract

We report the experimental reconstruction of the nonequilibrium work probability distribution in a closed quantum system, and the study of the corresponding quantum fluctuation relations. The experiment uses a liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance platform that offers full control on the preparation and dynamics of the system. Our endeavors enable the characterization of the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a quantum spin from a finite-time thermodynamics viewpoint.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chloroform / chemistry
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Kinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Quantum Theory*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Chloroform