Quantum chaos and the arrow of time

Abstract

We show that quantum chaotic many-body systems possess the thermodynamic arrow of time in the thermodynamic limit. Berry's conjecture in quantum chaotic systems and equivalence of ensembles imply the Kelvin statement of the second law of thermodynamics at leading order in perturbation theory. We verify this result using numerical calculations. We also show that this gives rise to new constraints on the off-diagonal terms in eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) statement. We call the new constraints collectively as ETH-monotonicity. These constraints arise because pure entropic consideration is not enough for the emergence of the thermodynamic arrow of time.