Statistics of a Free Single Quantum Particle at a Finite Temperature

Abstract

We present a model to study the statistics of a single structureless quantum particle freely moving in a space at a finite temperature. It is shown that the quantum particle feels the temperature and can exchange energy with its environment in the form of heat transfer. The underlying mechanism is diffraction at the edge of the wave front of its matter wave. Expressions of energy and entropy of the particle are obtained for the irreversible process.