Temperature in Quantum Systems: Meaning & Impact

[Quantum River]

What is the meaning of temperature in a quantum system? Surely temperature concerns lots of particles. (More is different. -Philip W. Anderson) So the wave function of the system is very very big. Could temperature only exist in a mixed state system. But how do we define temperature? How does temperature influence the evolution of the system? The Schrödinger equation alone controls the evolution of the system already.

 

[dextercioby]

What is the meaning of temperature in a quantum system? Surely temperature concerns lots of particles. (More is different. -Philip W. Anderson) So the wave function of the system is very very big. Could temperature only exist in a mixed state system. But how do we define temperature? How does temperature influence the evolution of the system? The Schrödinger equation alone controls the evolution of the system already.

The formalism of QM doesn't account for a description of the physical quantity called "temperature". However, we can describe quantum mechanically a statistical system for which we know to define the temperature.

 

[Anonym]

What is the meaning of temperature in a quantum system? Surely temperature concerns lots of particles. (More is different. -Philip W. Anderson) So the wave function of the system is very very big. Could temperature only exist in a mixed state system. But how do we define temperature? How does temperature influence the evolution of the system? The Schrödinger equation alone controls the evolution of the system already.

Visit also "Energy Vs Information" session