Work Distributions on Quantum Fields

Alvaro Ortega, Emma McKay, Álvaro M. Alhambra, and Eduardo Martín-Martínez
Phys. Rev. Lett. 122, 240604 – Published 21 June 2019
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We study the work cost of processes in quantum fields without the need of projective measurements, which are always ill defined in quantum field theory. Inspired by interferometry schemes, we propose a work distribution that generalizes the two-point measurement scheme employed in quantum thermodynamics to the case of quantum fields and avoids the use of projective measurements. The distribution is calculated for local unitary processes performed on Kubo-Martin-Schwinger (thermal) states of scalar fields. Crooks theorem and the Jarzynski equality are shown to be satisfied for a family of spatiotemporally localized unitaries, and some features of the resulting distributions are studied as functions of temperature and the degree of localization of the unitary operation. We show how the work fluctuations become much larger than the average as the process becomes more localized in both time and space.

  • Figure
  • Received 14 February 2019
  • Revised 22 May 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.240604

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & TechnologyAtomic, Molecular & OpticalGeneral PhysicsParticles & FieldsStatistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Alvaro Ortega1, Emma McKay1,2, Álvaro M. Alhambra3, and Eduardo Martín-Martínez1,2,3

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
  • 2Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
  • 3Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 31 Caroline Street North, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 2Y5, Canada

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 122, Iss. 24 — 21 June 2019

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×