Scaling Behavior of Interactions in a Modular Quantum System and the Existence of Local Temperature

Abstract

We consider a quantum system of fixed size consisting of a regular chain of n-level subsystems, where n is finite. Forming groups of N subs-sterns each, We Show that the strength of interaction between the groups scales with N-1/2. AS a consequence. if the total system is in a thermal state with inverse temperature beta, a sufficient. condition for subgroups of size N to be approximately in a thermal state with the same temperature is root(N) over bar much greater than 3 (δE) over bar. where (δE) over bar is the width of the. occupied level spectrum of the total system. These scaling properties indicate on what scale local temperatures may be meaningfully defined as intensive variables.. This question is particularly relevant for non-equilibrium scenarios such as heat conduction, etc.

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