Quantum thermodynamics: Inside-outside perspective

We introduce an energy-resolved variant of quantum thermodynamics for open systems strongly coupled to their baths. The approach generalizes the Landauer-Buttiker inside-outside duality method [Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 107701 (2018)10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.107701] to interacting systems subjected to arbitrary external driving. It is consistent with the underlying dynamical quantum transport description and is capable of overcoming limitations of the only other consistent approach [New J. Phys. 12, 013013 (2010)10.1088/1367-2630/12/1/013013]. We illustrate viability of the generalized inside-outside method with numerical simulations for generic junction models.