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arXiv:2504.09571 · Entropy

Time-of-Flow Distributions in Discrete Quantum Systems: From Operational Protocols to Quantum Speed Limits

Mathieu Beau

Published Sep 24, 2025• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose a general and experimentally accessible framework to quantify transition timing in discrete quantum systems via the time-of-flow (TF) distribution. Defined from the rate of population change in a target state, the TF distribution can be reconstructed through repeated projective measurements at discrete times on independently prepared systems, thus avoiding Zeno inhibition. In monotonic regimes, it admits a clear interpretation as a time-of-arrival (TOA) or time-of-departure (TOD) distribution. We apply this approach to optimize time-dependent Hamiltonians, analyze shortcut-to-adiabaticity (STA) protocols, study non-adiabatic features in the dynamics of a three-level time-dependent detuning model, and derive a transition-based quantum speed limit (TF-QSL) for both closed and open quantum systems. We also establish a lower bound on temporal uncertainty and examine decoherence effects, demonstrating the versatility of the TF framework for quantum control and diagnostics. This method provides both a conceptual tool and an experimental protocol for probing and engineering quantum dynamics in discrete-state platforms.

DOI
10.3390/e27100996

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We propose a general and experimentally accessible framework to quantify transition timing in discrete quantum systems via the time-of-flow (TF) distribution. Defined from the rate of population change in a target state, the TF distribution can be reconstructed through repeated projective measurements at discrete times on independently prepared systems, thus avoiding Zeno inhibition. In monotonic regimes, it admits a clear interpretation as a time-of-arrival (TOA) or time-of-departure (TOD) distribution. We apply this approach to optimize time-dependent Hamiltonians, analyze shortcut-to-adiabaticity (STA) protocols, study non-adiabatic features in the dynamics of a three-level time-dependent detuning model, and derive a transition-based quantum speed limit (TF-QSL) for both closed and open quantum systems. We also establish a lower bound on temporal uncertainty and examine decoherence effects, demonstrating the versatility of the TF framework for quantum control and diagnostics. This method provides both a conceptual tool and an experimental protocol for probing and engineering quantum dynamics in discrete-state platforms.
We introduce a general framework for defining context-dependent time distributions in quantum systems using projective measurements. The time-of-flow (TF) distribution, derived from population transfer rates into a measurement subspace, yields a time-energy uncertainty relation of the form $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}\mathcal{T}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}H\ensuremath{\ge}\ensuremath{\hbar}/(6\sqrt{3})\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\theta}$, where $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\theta}$ quantifies the net population transfer measured by the projector. This bound applies to arbitrary projectors under unitary dynamics and reveals that time uncertainty is inherently measurement dependent. We demonstrate the framework with two applications: a general time-of-arrival--energy uncertainty relation and a driven three-level system under detuned coherent driving. The TF framework unifies timing observables across spin, atomic, and matter-wave systems and offers an experimentally accessible route to probing quantum timing in controlled measurements.
Quantum mechanics establishes a fundamental bound for the minimum evolution time between two states of a given system. Known as the quantum speed limit (QSL), it is a useful tool in the context of quantum control, where the speed of some control protocol is usually intended to be as large as possible. While QSL expressions for time-independent Hamiltonians have been well studied, the time-dependent regime has remained somewhat unexplored, albeit being usually the relevant problem to be compared with when studying systems controlled by external fields. In this paper we explore the relation between optimal times found in quantum control and the QSL bound, in the (relevant) time-dependent regime, by discussing the ubiquitous two-level Landau-Zener-type Hamiltonian.
Quantum mechanics establishes a fundamental bound for the minimum evolution time between two states of a given system. Known as the quantum speed limit (QSL), it is a useful tool in the context of quantum control, where the speed of some control protocol is usually intended to be as large as possible. While QSL expressions for time-independent Hamiltonians have been well studied, the time-dependent regime has remained somewhat unexplored, albeit being usually the relevant problem to be compared with when studying systems controlled by external fields. In this paper we explore the relation between optimal times found in quantum control and the QSL bound, in the (relevant) time-dependent regime, by discussing the ubiquitous two-level Landau-Zener–type Hamiltonian.
Quantum speed limits (QSLs) impose fundamental constraints on the evolution speed of quantum systems. For systems with time-independent Hamiltonians, the QSLs are intricately linked to the energy spectra of the initial state, which signify the generalization of the time-energy uncertainty relation. Based on arbitrary-order norms of the Hamiltonian, dual energies from inverted spectra, and the standard deviation of energy, different types of QSLs have been proposed, revealing three dynamical parameter regimes of quantum state evolution. Despite the theoretical advancements, a comprehensive experimental examination remains elusive. In this research, by introducing unified bounds suitable for all evolution times, we present the experimental verification to the QSLs in various scenarios with a superconducting circuit. We explore the dynamical evolution with regard to each parameter regime as well as the critical point by carefully engineering the initial-state population of the superconducting resonator. We test our unified bounds over finite-level states and infinite-level classical and nonclassical Gaussian states, which validates the criteria for the QSLs. Our work substantially deepens our comprehension of unitary quantum evolution.
The transition time between states plays an important role in designing quantum devices as they are very sensitive to environmental influences. Decoherence phenomenon is responsible for possible destructions of the entanglement that is a fundamental requirement to implement quantum information processing systems. If the time between states is minimized, the decoherence effects can be reduced, thus, it is advantageous to the designer to develop expressions for time performance measures. Quantum speed limit (QSL) problem has been studied from the theoretical point of view, providing general results. Considering the implementation of quantum control systems, as the decoherence phenomenon is unavoidable, it is important to apply these general results to particular cases, developing expressions and performance measures, to assist control engineering designers. Here, a minimum time performance measure is defined for quantum control problems, for time-independent or time-dependent Hamiltonians, and applied to some practical examples, providing hints that may be useful for researchers pursuing optimization strategies for quantum control systems.
Quantum speed limits (QSLs) identify fundamental time scales of physical processes by providing lower bounds on the rate of change of a quantum state or the expectation value of an observable. We introduce a generalization of QSL for unitary operator flows, which are ubiquitous in physics and relevant for applications in both the quantum and classical domains. We derive two types of QSLs and assess the existence of a crossover between them, that we illustrate with a qubit and a random matrix Hamiltonian, as canonical examples. We further apply our results to the time evolution of autocorrelation functions, obtaining computable constraints on the linear dynamical response of quantum systems out of equilibrium and the quantum Fisher information governing the precision in quantum parameter estimation.