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Can Quantum Measurements Control Temperature?

Gershon Kurizki, Goren Gordon

Published Apr 16, 2020• 0 citations

Abstract

Henry is trapped in a burning building because of Eve’s mischief. Henry’s entanglement with the hot environment is ominous: his states receive excessive energy from the environment, threatening his physiology. Can quantum effects rescue Henry from the fire? Unexpectedly, Eve comes to his rescue. She frequently measures his energy in a “quantum non-demolition” (QND) fashion which is expected to keep his state intact. Surprisingly, Henry grows hotter or colder depending on Eve’s measurement rate! These quantum effects seem to violate the laws of thermodynamics. Engraved in stone as these laws and the ensuing time directionality (time arrow) may be, they fail if the system is examined too frequently, whence time arrow loses its meaning. One may speculate over the role of such anomalies in the Big Bang. These anomalies support Parmenides’ view that time flow is determined by the observer’s choices. The appendix to this chapter elaborates on the dynamics induced by system–environment interaction changes.

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198787464.003.0011

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