How often do quantum systems violate the second law of thermodynamics?
The likelihood of seeing quantum systems violating the second law of thermodynamics has been calculated by UCL scientists.
In two papers, published in Physical Review X and funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the team determined a more precise version of a basic law of physics – which says that disorder tends to increase with time unless acted on by an outside force – and applied it to the smallest quantum systems. (more…)