Thermalization in Isolated Quantum Systems II

Dear Colleagues,

The field of mesoscopic physics is experiencing rapid development, with contributions from many subfields of science, including atomic, molecular and nuclear physics; condensed matter physics on the micro- and nano-scale; biophysics; and quantum information. In all cases, we have to deal with relatively small systems of interacting constituents where statistical features are clearly emerging and are described in terms of temperature, entropy, etc., while at the same time, one still can study, theoretically and experimentally, individual quantum states.

In traditional statistical physics, usually considered statistical ensembles within the limits of an infinitely large volume and particle number, if the thermalization equilibrium is reached due to interaction with a thermostat, in a small system with a finite number of particles, thermal equilibrium is established as a result of interparticle interactions which, at high level of density, leads to the chaotic mixing of simple many-body configurations. Historically this follows the line from Boltzmann to Landau and Lifshitz who stressed in their Statistical Physics that statistical properties can be observed and studied on the level of individual quantum states. This area of science addresses the emergence of thermodynamic phenomena from quantum mechanics and quantum chaos, creating, in a sense, a new paradigm of statistical mechanics.

This emerging field encompasses many different brilliant ideas and very wide-ranging practical applications; its interdisciplinary nature enables different viewpoints and illuminating discussions. We, therefore, solicit contribution to this Special Issue on a new branch of quantum physics and its applications.

Prof. Dr. Vladimir Zelevinsky
Guest Editor

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• quantum and classical chaos
• thermalization in isolated quantum systems
• quantum signatures of thermalization
• strength functions and thermalization
• statistics of particles in quantum thermalized systems
• quantum thermalization and collective phenomena
• peculiarities of small systems
• various definitions of entropy and temperature
• thermalization in open systems
• time development of thermalization
• relaxation to equilibrium
• experimental observation of quantum thermalization
• quench dynamics
• fluctuations in isolated systems