Entropy and correlations in an open quantum system

Abstract

An open quantum system, as the name suggests, is a quantum-mechanical system which interacts with the rest of the universe. We will start by looking at Landauer's principle and its relation with the second law of thermodynamics and with information. This thesis will then look at the correlations, heat exchanged and entropy of a simple open quantum system that interacts with its environment as we tune this interaction from a simple Markovian one, which is an interaction that does not maintain a memory of the past to one that is increasingly non-Markovian.