Quick Navigation

Topics

Quantum Thermodynamics

State convertibility and fluctuation theorems from a dynamical reference: majorization meets martingales

arXiv
Authors: Davide Cugini, Giacomo Guarnieri

Year

2026

Paper ID

76604

Status

Preprint

Abstract Read

~2 min

Abstract Words

195

Citations

N/A

Abstract

State convertibility represents a fundamental concept used to determine whether a transformation is possible given a specific set of resources. Within the field of Thermodynamics, where physical process are required to preserve a reference state typically in microcanonical or canonical form, this translates into the notions of majorization and thermo-majorization ---criteria that require constructing and comparing state-dependent Lorenz curves. In this work, we firstly unify and extend these notions to an arbitrary and possibly time-dependent reference distribution g(t), introducing the concept of g(t)-majorization; we then introduce a dual picture whereby state convertibility is turned into a one-dimensional convex-order problem, which allows us to demonstrate that a transition is admissible if and only if the associated real-valued distributions of relative populations kj(t)/gj(t) are connected by a martingale. Building on it, we then derive an exact fluctuation theorem for a reference-relative entropy production whose average violation certifies, through a χ2-divergence bound, the mismatch between an assumed and the true reference evolution---a model-independent diagnostic that requires no independent characterization of the latter and turns an observed breakdown of the fluctuation relation into a certified lower bound on the reference error.

Why This Paper Matters

  • This paper contributes to the Quantum Thermodynamics research area in the Quantum Articles archive.
  • It adds a 2026 reference point for readers tracking recent quantum research.
  • State convertibility represents a fundamental concept used to determine whether a transformation is possible given a specific set of resources.

Paper Tools

Become a member to use research tools

Sign in to open papers, visit source links, share, cite, compare, copy DOI links, request category corrections, and build your reading list.

Show Paper arXiv Publisher Share Cite This Paper Copy URL Compare Copy DOI Add to Reading List Category Correction Request

References & Citation Signals

Local Citation Graph (Related-Paper Links)

Current Paper #76604 #78815 Finite Quantum Engineering Ther... #78784 Coherence-assisted quantum stat...

External citation index: OpenAlex citation signal

Community Reactions

Quick sentiment from readers on this paper.

Score: 0
Likes: 0 Dislikes: 0

Sign in to react to this paper.

Discussion & Reviews (Moderated)

Average Rating: 0.0 / 5 (0 ratings)

No written reviews yet.