Description
Title: Approach to equilibrium in quantum systems
Abstract: This talk is about the problem of approach to equilibrium in quantum systems. I will formulate the problem for translation invariant quantum systems (spins or fermions) on a lattice within the approach of algebraic quantum statistical mechanics. Then, I will discuss some recent results relating the zeroth law of thermodynamics (approach to equilibrium) and the second law (increase of entropy). The main result is that approach to equilibrium is necessarily accompanied by a strict increase of the specific (mean) entropy. This talk is based on joint work with Vojkan Jaksic and Claude-Alain Pillet.
