  We present a protocol for the study of the dynamics and thermodynamics of
quantum systems strongly coupled to a bath and subject to an external
modulation. Our protocol quantifies the evolution of the system-bath composite
by expanding the full density matrix as a series in the powers of the
modulation rate, from which the functional form of work, heat and entropy rates
can be obtained. Under slow driving, thermodynamic laws are established. The
entropy production rate is positive and is found to be related to the excess
work dissipated by friction, at least up to second order in the driving speed.
As an example of the present methodology, we reproduce the results for the
quantum thermodynamics of the driven resonance level model. We also emphasize
that our formalism is quite general and allows for electron-electron
interactions, which can give rise to exotic Kondo resonances appearing in
thermodynamic quantities.
