Exploring the gap between thermal operations and enhanced thermal operations

The gap between thermal operations (TO) and enhanced thermal operations (EnTO) is an open problem raised in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 210403 (2015)]. It originates from the limitations on coherence evolutions. Here we solve this problem by analytically proving that a state transition induced by EnTO cannot be approximately realized by TO. It confirms that TO and EnTO lead to different laws of state conversions. Our results can also contribute to the study of the restrictions on coherence dynamics in quantum thermodynamics.

Automated summary

The study confirmed that there are different laws of state conversions between thermal operations and enhanced thermal operations, and that a state transition induced by the latter cannot be approximately realized by the former. This contributes to the research on restrictions on coherence dynamics in quantum thermodynamics.