Nonequilibrium fluctuations, fluctuation theorems, and counting statistics in quantum systems

Fluctuation theorems (FTs), which describe some universal properties of nonequilibrium fluctuations, are examined from a quantum perspective and derived by introducing a two-point measurement on the system. FTs for closed and open systems driven out of equilibrium by an external time-dependent force, and for open systems maintained in a nonequilibrium steady state by nonequilibrium boundary conditions, are derived from a unified approach. Applications to fermion and boson transport in quantum junctions are discussed. Quantum master equations and Green's functions techniques for computing the energy and particle statistics are presented.

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• FD
  Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
• OO
  Office of Science
• DO
  Division of Chemistry
• BE
  Basic Energy Sciences