Entropy of a Free Quantum Particle

Jian-Ping Peng

Department of Physics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/jmp.2012.312241                

Abstract

The time-dependent entropy of a single free quantum particle in the non-relativistic regime is studied in detail for the process started from a fully coherent quantum state to thermodynamic equilibrium with its surroundings at a finite temperature. It is shown that the entropy at the end of the process converges to a universal constant, as a result of thermal interaction.

Keywords

Entropy Generation; Quantum Thermodynamic Systems

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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