An information-theoretic proof of the Planckian bound for thermalization

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2506.19188v1
• Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2025 23:25:01 GMT
• Title: An information-theoretic proof of the Planckian bound for thermalization
• Abstract summary: We show that quantum mechanics entails a fundamental lower bound on the thermalization time $tau$ of any system.<n>In the low-temperature regime, our bound takes the form $tau geq hbar / Delta$ with $Delta$ the spectral gap.<n>These bounds, rooted in Hamiltonian estimation, hold for arbitrary quantum processes that output states close to the corresponding thermal ensemble for a nontrivial class of Hamiltonians.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: We demonstrate that quantum mechanics entails a fundamental lower bound on the thermalization time $\tau$ of any system. At finite temperature, we show that $\tau$ is bounded by half the Planckian dissipation time, $\tau \geq \tau_{\rm Pl}/2$ with $\tau_{\rm Pl} = \hbar/(k_{\rm B} T)$. In the low-temperature regime, our bound takes the form $\tau \geq \hbar / \Delta$ with $\Delta$ the spectral gap, in close connection with the quantum adiabatic theorem. These bounds, rooted in Hamiltonian estimation, hold for arbitrary quantum processes that output states close to the corresponding thermal ensemble for a nontrivial class of Hamiltonians.

Related papers

• Non-equilibrium quantum thermometry with bosonic samples [0.0]
  We study low-temperature non-equilibrium quantum thermometry with a bosonic probe at $T$ through a Drudemic spectral density.<n>We treat the probe--bath dynamics exactly, using the quadratic solution of Boyanovsky and Jasnow.<n>We prove that the Markovian QFI rises monotonically to its stationary value and develops no interior optimum.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-06-26T09:37:58Z)
• Anomalous Mixed-State Floquet Topology in One-Dimensional Open Quantum Systems [41.99844472131922]
  We investigate the non-equilibrium topology of a periodically driven, dissipative Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain.<n>We show that the steady state can be characterised by a Hermitian purity spectrum.<n>We identify a pair of topological invariants $(0_mathrmEGP, _mathrmEGP)$, revealing a structure consistent with a $mathbbZtimesmathbbZ$ classification known from isolated Floquet SSH systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-04-28T05:54:40Z)
• Quantum model for black holes and clocks [41.99844472131922]
  We consider a stationary quantum system consisting of two non-interacting yet entangled subsystems, $$ and $$.<n>We identify a quantum theory characterizing $$ such that, in the quantum-to-classical crossover of the composite system, $$ behaves as a test particle within the gravitational field of a Schwarzschild Black Hole.<n>This leads us to discuss how the quantum model for $$ endows the SBH with all the characteristics of a "perfect" clock.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2026-01-12T11:26:06Z)
• Quantum quenches across continuous and first-order quantum transitions in one-dimensional quantum Ising models [0.0]
  We investigate the quantum dynamics generated by quantum quenches (QQs) of the Hamiltonian parameters in many-body systems.<n>We consider the quantum Ising chain in the presence of homogeneous transverse ($g$) and longitudinal ($h$) magnetic fields.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-12-19T08:24:50Z)
• Theta-term in Russian Doll Model: phase structure, quantum metric and BPS multifractality [45.88028371034407]
  We investigate the phase structure of the deterministic and disordered versions of the Russian Doll Model (RDM)<n>We find the pattern of phase transitions in the global charge $Q(theta,gamma)$, which arises from the BA equation.<n>We conjecture that the Hamiltonian of the RDM model describes the mixing in particular 2d-4d BPS sector of the Hilbert space.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-10-23T17:25:01Z)
• Exploring confinement transitions in $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge theories with dipolar atoms beyond one dimension [32.235129163152045]
  Confinement of particles into bound states is a phenomenon spanning from high-energy to condensed matter physics.<n>State-of-the-art quantum simulators constitute a promising platform to address this problem.<n>We study confinement in chains of $mathbbZ$ LGTs coupled to matter fields, that can be mapped to a mixed-dimensional (mixD) XXZ model.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-09-19T17:58:55Z)
• The Thermodynamic Cost of Ignorance: Thermal State Preparation with One Ancilla Qubit [0.5729426778193399]
  We investigate a model of thermalization wherein a single ancillary qubit randomly interacts with the system to be thermalized.<n>This not only sheds light on the emergence of Gibbs states in nature, but also provides a routine for preparing arbitrary thermal states on a digital quantum computer.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2025-02-05T17:50:37Z)
• Slow Mixing of Quantum Gibbs Samplers [47.373245682678515]
  We present a quantum generalization of these tools through a generic bottleneck lemma.<n>This lemma focuses on quantum measures of distance, analogous to the classical Hamming distance but rooted in uniquely quantum principles.<n>We show how to lift classical slow mixing results in the presence of a transverse field using Poisson Feynman-Kac techniques.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-11-06T22:51:27Z)
• High-Temperature Gibbs States are Unentangled and Efficiently Preparable [22.397920564324973]
  We show that thermal states of local Hamiltonians are separable above a constant temperature.<n>This proof of sudden death of thermal entanglement resolves the fundamental question of whether many-body systems can exhibit entanglement at high temperature.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-03-25T15:11:26Z)
• Thermalization of closed chaotic many-body quantum systems [0.0]
  We investigate thermalization of a chaotic many-body quantum system by combining the Hartree-Fock approach and the Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture. We show that in the semiclassical regime, $rm Tr (A rho(t))$ decays with time scale $hbar / Delta$ towards an equilibrium value.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-10-04T11:16:35Z)
• Grüneisen parameter as an entanglement compass and the breakdown of the Hellmann-Feynman theorem [0.0]
  Gr"uneisen ratio $Gamma$, i.e., the singular part of the ratio of thermal expansion to the specific heat, has been broadly employed to explore both finite-$T$ and quantum critical points (QCPs) We propose a quantum analogue to $Gamma$ that computes entanglement as a function of a tuning parameter $lambda$.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-06-01T11:28:40Z)
• Finite temperature quantum condensations in the space of states: General Proof [0.0]
  We prove the extension to finite temperature of a class of quantum phase transitions, acting as condensations in the space of states. We also show that the critical surface has universal features at high and low temperatures.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-09-27T08:33:16Z)
• Non-Abelian eigenstate thermalization hypothesis [58.720142291102135]
  The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) explains why chaotic quantum many-body systems thermalize internally if the Hamiltonian lacks symmetries. We adapt the ETH to noncommuting charges by positing a non-Abelian ETH and invoking the approximate microcanonical subspace introduced in quantum thermodynamics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-06-10T18:14:18Z)
• On quantum algorithms for the Schr\"odinger equation in the semi-classical regime [27.175719898694073]
  We consider Schr"odinger's equation in the semi-classical regime. Such a Schr"odinger equation finds many applications, including in Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics and Ehrenfest dynamics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-12-25T20:01:54Z)
• Fast Thermalization from the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis [69.68937033275746]
  Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis (ETH) has played a major role in understanding thermodynamic phenomena in closed quantum systems. This paper establishes a rigorous link between ETH and fast thermalization to the global Gibbs state. Our results explain finite-time thermalization in chaotic open quantum systems.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-12-14T18:48:31Z)
• Taking the temperature of a pure quantum state [55.41644538483948]
  Temperature is a deceptively simple concept that still raises deep questions at the forefront of quantum physics research. We propose a scheme to measure the temperature of such pure states through quantum interference.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-03-30T18:18:37Z)
• Evolution of a Non-Hermitian Quantum Single-Molecule Junction at Constant Temperature [62.997667081978825]
  We present a theory for describing non-Hermitian quantum systems embedded in constant-temperature environments. We find that the combined action of probability losses and thermal fluctuations assists quantum transport through the molecular junction.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-01-21T14:33:34Z)
• Thermalization processes induced by quantum monitoring in multi-level systems [0.0]
  We study the heat statistics of a multi-level $N$-dimensional quantum system monitored by a sequence of projective measurements. The late-time, properties of the heat characteristic function are analyzed in the thermodynamic limit of a high, ideally infinite, number $M$ of measurements.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-12-30T16:14:05Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.