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Exact non-equilibrium quantum observable statistics.

Stefano Gherardini

Published Jan 31, 2019• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The exact statistics of an arbitrary measuring observable, describing specific features of an open quantum system, is analytically obtained. Due to the probabilistic nature of a sequence of intermediate measurements and stochastic fluctuations induced by the interaction with an external environment, the measurement outcomes at the end of the system evolution are random variables. Here, we provide the exact large deviation form of their probability distribution, given by an exponentially decaying profile in the number of measurements. The most probable distribution of the measurement outcomes in a single realization of the system transformation is then derived, thus achieving predictions beyond the expectation value.

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Gabriele Perfetto

This Ph.D. thesis concerns a very active area of current research in theoretical physics, which is non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. More specifically, the focus will be on the study of the non-equilibrium dynamics and fluctuations in isolated many body systems driven out of equilibrium. We shall consider primarily quantum systems, albeit many of the theoretical techniques that will be used can be applied to both classical and quantum statistical systems. The novel contribution of this work is two-fold. First, we have developed new analytical techniques to study exactly the large-deviation statistics of physical quantities relevant for the description of systems driven out of equilibrium, like the work done in a quantum quench or the time-integrated current characterizing transport of matter, energy or charge etc, discussed in Part I of the thesis. Second, we have singled out a class of experimentally relevant nondisordered quantum systems showing a dramatically slow approach to thermal equilibrium and we have provided quantitative predictions for this behavior, which is discussed in Part II.

•Oct 8, 2020•0 citations
The exact statistics of an arbitrary measuring observable, describing specific features of an open quantum system, is analytically obtained. Due to the probabilistic nature of a sequence of intermediate measurements and stochastic fluctuations induced by the interaction with an external environment, the measurement outcomes at the end of the system evolution are random variables. Here, we provide the exact large deviation form of their probability distribution, given by an exponentially decaying profile in the number of measurements. The most probable distribution of the measurement outcomes in a single realization of the system transformation is then derived, thus achieving predictions beyond the expectation value.
The exact statistics of an arbitrary quantum observable is analytically obtained. Due to the probabilistic nature of a sequence of intermediate measurements and stochastic fluctuations induced by the interaction with the environment, the measurement outcomes at the end of the system's evolution are random variables. Here, we provide the exact large-deviation form of their probability distribution, which is given by an exponentially decaying profile in the number of measurements. The most probable distribution of the measurement outcomes in a single realization of the system transformation is then derived, thus achieving predictions beyond the expectation value. The theoretical results are confirmed by numerical simulations of an experimentally reproducible two-level system with stochastic Hamiltonian.
In quantum mechanics, conservation laws are usually understood only statistically and only in the context of unitary evolution: during such evolution, if an observable commutes with the Hamiltonian, its expectation value and Born-rule probability distribution remain unchanged. Individual measurement outcomes, however, disrupt even this weak form of statistical conservation. Recently, though, it has been argued that a stronger, non-statistical form of conservation, valid at the level of individual measurement outcomes, can be recovered. The proposal relies on the claim that any superposition of eigenstates of a conserved quantity must ultimately be prepared relative to another physical system, which serves as the relevant reference frame and remains correlated with the system being prepared. On this enlarged description, the change observed in the measured system is claimed to be exactly compensated by an opposite change in the preparer, thereby restoring conservation at the level of individual measurement outcomes. We analyze this proposal and argue that it faces significant conceptual difficulties. We show that the proposed mechanism is not adequately justified and, moreover, does not establish conservation in individual measurement outcomes as claimed.
We develop a statistical model of microscopic stochastic deviation from classical mechanics based on a stochastic process with a transition probability that is assumed to be given by an exponential distribution of infinitesimal stationary action. We apply the statistical model to stochastically modify a classical mechanical model for the measurement of physical quantities reproducing the prediction of quantum mechanics. The system+apparatus always has a definite configuration at all times, as in classical mechanics, fluctuating randomly following a continuous trajectory. On the other hand, the wavefunction and quantum mechanical Hermitian operator corresponding to the physical quantity arise formally as artificial mathematical constructs. During a single measurement, the wavefunction of the whole system+apparatus evolves according to a Schrödinger equation and the configuration of the apparatus acts as the pointer of the measurement so that there is no wavefunction collapse. We will also show that while the outcome of each single measurement event does not reveal the actual value of the physical quantity prior to measurement, its average in an ensemble of identical measurements is equal to the average of the actual value of the physical quantity prior to measurement over the distribution of the configuration of the system.
Abstract The dynamics of a quantum system, undergoing unitary evolution and continuous monitoring, can be described in term of quantum trajectories. Although the averaged state fully characterizes expectation values, the entire ensemble of stochastic trajectories goes beyond simple linear observables, keeping a more attentive description of the entire dynamics. Here we go beyond the Lindblad dynamics and study the probability distribution of the expectation value of a given observable over the possible quantum trajectories. The measurements are applied to the entire system, having the effect of projecting the system into a product state. We develop an analytical tool to evaluate this probability distribution at any time t. We illustrate our approach by analyzing two paradigmatic examples: a single qubit subjected to magnetization measurements, and a free hopping particle subjected to position measurements.
This Ph.D. thesis concerns a very active area of current research in theoretical physics, which is non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. More specifically, the focus will be on the study of the non-equilibrium dynamics and fluctuations in isolated many body systems driven out of equilibrium. We shall consider primarily quantum systems, albeit many of the theoretical techniques that will be used can be applied to both classical and quantum statistical systems. The novel contribution of this work is two-fold. First, we have developed new analytical techniques to study exactly the large-deviation statistics of physical quantities relevant for the description of systems driven out of equilibrium, like the work done in a quantum quench or the time-integrated current characterizing transport of matter, energy or charge etc, discussed in Part I of the thesis. Second, we have singled out a class of experimentally relevant nondisordered quantum systems showing a dramatically slow approach to thermal equilibrium and we have provided quantitative predictions for this behavior, which is discussed in Part II.