https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2003-00275-3
Relaxation into equilibrium under pure Schrödinger dynamics
Institut für Theoretische Physik I - Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany
Corresponding author: a This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Received:
11
June
2003
Published online:
2
October
2003
Abstract
We consider bipartite quantum systems that are described completely by a state vector 
and the fully deterministic Schrödinger equation. Under weak constraints and without any artificially introduced decoherence or irreversibility, the smaller of the two subsystems shows thermodynamic behaviour like relaxation into an equilibrium, maximization of entropy and the emergence of the Boltzmann energy distribution. This generic behaviour results from entanglement.
PACS: 05.70.Ln – Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics / 05.30.-d – Quantum statistical mechanics
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2003
