A Quantum Analogue of the Jarzynski Equality

A quantum analogue of the Jarzynski equality is constructed. This equality connects an ensemble average of exponentiated work with the Helmholtz free-energy difference in a nonequilibrium switching process subject to a thermal heat bath. To confirm its validity in a practical situation, we also investigate an open quantum system that is a spin 1/2 system with a scanning magnetic field interacting with a thermal heat bath. As a result, we find that the quantum analogue functions well.