Eur. Phys. J. B 34, 325-330 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2003-00228-x

Fourier's Law confirmed for a class of small quantum systems

¹ Institute of Theoretical Physics I, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
² Institute of Thechnical Physics - DLR Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Corresponding author: ^a mathias@theo1.physik.uni-stuttgart.de

Received: 10 March 2003
Revised: 14 May 2003
Published online: 11 August 2003

Abstract

Within the Lindblad formalism we consider an interacting spin chain coupled locally to heat baths. We investigate the dependence of the energy transport on the type of interaction in the system as well as on the overall interaction strength. For a large class of couplings we find a normal heat conduction and confirm Fourier's Law. In a fully quantum mechanical approach linear transport behavior appears to be generic even for small quantum systems.