Abstract
As the dimensions of physical systems approach the nanoscale, the laws of
thermodynamics must be reconsidered due to the increased importance of
fluctuations and quantum effects. While the statistical mechanics of small
classical systems is relatively well understood, the quantum case still poses
challenges. Here we set up a formalism that allows to calculate the full
probability distribution of energy exchanges between a periodically driven
quantum system and a thermalized heat reservoir. The formalism combines Floquet
theory with a generalized master equation approach. For a driven two-level
system and in the long-time limit, we obtain a universal expression for the
distribution, providing clear physical insight into the exchanged energy
quanta. We illustrate our approach in two analytically solvable cases and
discuss the differences in the corresponding distributions. Our predictions
could be directly tested in a variety of systems, including optical cavities
and solid-state devices.
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