TY - UNPB
T1 - Quantum photo-thermodynamics on a programmable photonic quantum processor
AU - Somhorst, Frank
AU - Meer, Reinier van der
AU - Anguita, Malaquias Correa
AU - Schadow, Riko
AU - Snijders, Henk J.
AU - Goede, Michiel de
AU - Kassenberg, Ben
AU - Venderbosch, Pim
AU - Taballione, Caterina
AU - Epping, Jörn P.
AU - Vlekkert, Hans H. van den
AU - Bulmer, Jacob F. F.
AU - Lugani, Jasleen
AU - Walmsley, Ian A.
AU - Pinkse, Pepijn W. H.
AU - Eisert, Jens
AU - Walk, Nathan
AU - Renema, Jelmer J.
PY - 2021/12/31
Y1 - 2021/12/31
N2 - One of the core questions of quantum physics is how to reconcile the unitary evolution of quantum states, which is information-preserving and time-reversible, with the second law of thermodynamics, which is neither. The resolution to this paradox is to recognize that global unitary evolution of a multi-partite quantum state causes the state of local subsystems to evolve towards maximum-entropy states. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate this effect in linear quantum optics by simultaneously showing the convergence of local quantum states to a generalized Gibbs ensemble constituting a maximum-entropy state under precisely controlled conditions, while using a new, efficient certification method to demonstrate that the state retains global purity. Our quantum states are manipulated by a programmable integrated photonic quantum processor, which simulates arbitrary non-interacting Hamiltonians, demonstrating the universality of this phenomenon. Our results show the potential of photonic devices for quantum simulations involving non-Gaussian states.
AB - One of the core questions of quantum physics is how to reconcile the unitary evolution of quantum states, which is information-preserving and time-reversible, with the second law of thermodynamics, which is neither. The resolution to this paradox is to recognize that global unitary evolution of a multi-partite quantum state causes the state of local subsystems to evolve towards maximum-entropy states. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate this effect in linear quantum optics by simultaneously showing the convergence of local quantum states to a generalized Gibbs ensemble constituting a maximum-entropy state under precisely controlled conditions, while using a new, efficient certification method to demonstrate that the state retains global purity. Our quantum states are manipulated by a programmable integrated photonic quantum processor, which simulates arbitrary non-interacting Hamiltonians, demonstrating the universality of this phenomenon. Our results show the potential of photonic devices for quantum simulations involving non-Gaussian states.
KW - quant-ph
KW - cond-mat.stat-mech
KW - physics.optics
U2 - 10.48550/arXiv.2201.00049
DO - 10.48550/arXiv.2201.00049
M3 - Preprint
BT - Quantum photo-thermodynamics on a programmable photonic quantum processor
PB - ArXiv.org
ER -