Seminario de Alejandro Jenkins (Universidad de Costa Rica)
Alejandro Jenkins (Universidad de Costa Rica)
"MOVING QUANTUM BATHS: FROM BLACK HOLES TO DRY FRICTION"
Abstract:
We describe the dynamics of a quantum field coupled to a moving heat
bath in the formalism of the Markovian master equation for the field
as an open quantum system. This formalism can be easily applied to
the superradiance of a rotating black hole, an exercise that provides
us with a useful paradigm for describing irreversible active
processes in quantum thermodynamics.
Fermions can't superradiate, but work may be extracted from active
fermionic states in the presence of two baths with different chemical
potentials.
We argue that the above may explain the triboelectric effect (the
charging of rough surfaces by rubbing, a phenomenon known since
antiquity, but which has never been explained microscopically).
We also apply this formalism to shock waves, fleshing out
Zel'dovich's intuition that in this case "quantum mechanics helps understand
classical mechanics". Finally, we argue that this approach may throw
light on the dynamics of other irreversible processes in astrophysics.
This is work in collaboration with Robert Alicki (Gdansk).
Fecha: jueves 23 de mayo de 2019
Hora: 12:00
Lugar: Seminario de Física Teórica