For a quantum-mechanical counting process we show ergodicity, under the condition that the underlying open quantum system approaches equilibrium in the time mean. This implies equality of time average and ensemble average for correlation functions of the detection current to all orders and with probability 1.
Abstract The theoretical cornerstone of statistical mechanics is the ergodic assumption, i.e. the assumption that the time average of an observable equals its ensemble average. Here, we show how such a property is present when an open quantum system is continuously perturbed by an external environment effectively observing the system at random times while the system dynamics approaches the quantum Zeno regime. In this context, by large deviation theory we analytically show how the most probable value of the probability for the system to be in a given state eventually deviates from the non-stochastic case when the Zeno condition is not satisfied. We experimentally test our results with ultra-cold atoms prepared on an atom chip.
Open quantum systems usually reach a unique stationary state with ergodic dynamics. In other words, the ensemble averages and the time averages of the expectation values of open quantum systems are usually the same for all quantum trajectories. Although open quantum systems are in general ergodic, many classical stochastic processes are not. Hence if classical physics emerges from microscopic quantum models, there have to be mechanisms which induce non-ergodicity in open quantum systems. In this paper, we identify such a mechanism by showing that quantum feedback dramatically alters the dynamics of open quantum systems, thereby possibly inducing non-ergodicity and a persistent dependence of ensemble averages on initial conditions. As a concrete example, we study an optical cavity inside an instantaneous quantum feedback loop.
The experimental realization of successive non-demolition measurements on single microscopic systems brings up the question of ergodicity in quantum mechanics (QM). We investigate whether time averages over one realization of a single system are related to QM averages over an ensemble of similarly prepared systems. We adopt a generalization of the von Neumann model of measurement, coupling the system to N ‘probes’, with a strength that is at our disposal, and detecting the latter. The model parallels the procedure followed in experiments on quantum electrodynamic cavities. The modification of the probability of the observable eigenvalues due to the coupling to the probes can be computed analytically and the results compare qualitatively well with those obtained numerically by the experimental groups. We find that the problem is not ergodic, except in the case of an eigenstate of the observable being studied.
The experimental realization of successive non-demolition measurements on single microscopic systems brings up the question of ergodicity in Quantum Mechanics (QM). We investigate whether time averages over one realization of a single system are related to QM averages over an ensemble of similarly prepared systems. We adopt a generalization of von Neumann model of measurement, coupling the system to N "probes" --with a strength that is at our disposal-- and detecting the latter. The model parallels the procedure followed in experiments on Quantum Electrodynamic cavities. The modification of the probability of the observable eigenvalues due to the coupling to the probes can be computed analytically and the results compare qualitatively well with those obtained numerically by the experimental groups. We find that the problem is not ergodic, except in the case of an eigenstate of the observable being studied.