Deffner, SebastianLutz, Eric2020-08-112020-08-112010-10-19Sebastian Deffner and Eric Lutz, Generalized Clausius Inequality for Nonequilibrium Quantum Processes, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 17 (2010), DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.170402https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.170402http://hdl.handle.net/11603/19390We show that the nonequilibrium entropy production for a driven quantum system is larger than the Bures length, the geometric distance between its actual state and the corresponding equilibrium state. This universal lower bound generalizes the Clausius inequality to arbitrary nonequilibrium processes beyond linear response. We further derive a fundamental upper bound for the quantum entropy production rate and discuss its connection to the Bremermann-Bekenstein bound.4 pagesen-USThis item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.© 2010 The American Physical SocietyText