On the Quantum Jarzynski Identity

Understand

In this note, we will discuss how to compactly express and prove the Jarzynski identity for an open quantum system with dissipative dynamics.

• We will avoid explicitly measuring the work directly, which is tantamount to continuously monitoring the system, and instead measure the heat flow from the environment.
• We represent the measurement of heat flow with Hermitian map superoperators that act on the system density matrix.
• Hermitian maps provide a convenient and compact representation of sequential measurement and correlation functions.