Simulating Finite-Time Isothermal Processes with Superconducting Quantum Circuits

Finite-time isothermal processes are ubiquitous in quantum-heat-engine cycles, yet complicated due to the coexistence of the changing Hamiltonian and the interaction with the thermal bath. Such complexity prevents classical thermodynamic measurements of a performed work. In this paper, the isothermal process is decomposed into piecewise adiabatic and isochoric processes to measure the performed work as the internal energy change in adiabatic processes. The piecewise control scheme allows the direct simulation of the whole process on a universal quantum computer, which provides a new experimental platform to study quantum thermodynamics. We implement the simulation on ibmqx2 to show the 1/τ scaling of the extra work in finite-time isothermal processes.     

Effective Field Theory Description of the Higher Dimensional Quantum Hall Liquid

We derive an effective topological field theory model of the four dimensional quantum Hall liquid state recently constructed by Zhang and Hu. Using a generalization of the flux attachment transformation, the effective field theory can be formulated as a U(1) Chern–Simons theory over the total configuration space CP₃, or as a SU(2) Chern–Simons theory over S⁴. The new quantum Hall liquid supports various types of topological excitations, including the 0-brane (particles), the 2-brane (membranes), and the 4-brane. There is a topological phase interaction among the membranes which generalizes the concept of fractional statistics.     

A Kinetic Theory Approach to Quantum Gravity

We describe a kinetic theory approach to quantum gravity by which we mean a theory of the microscopic structure of space-time, not a theory obtained by quantizing general relativity. A figurative conception of this program is like building a ladder with two knotty poles: quantum matter field on the right and space-time on the left. Each rung connecting the corresponding knots represents a distinct level of structure. The lowest rung is hydrodynamics and general relativity; the next rung is semiclassical gravity, with the expectation value of quantum fields acting as source in the semiclassical Einstein equation. We recall how ideas from the statistical mechanics of interacting quantum fields helped us identify the existence of noise in the matter field and its effect on metric fluctuations, leading to the establishment of the third rung: stochastic gravity, described by the Einstein–Langevin equation. Our pathway from stochastic to quantum gravity is via the correlation hierarchy of noise and induced metric fluctuations. Three essential tasks beckon: (1) deduce the correlations of metric fluctuations from correlation noise in the matter field; (2) reconstituting quantum coherence—this is the reverse of decoherence—from these correlation functions; and (3) use the Boltzmann–Langevin equations to identify distinct collective variables depicting recognizable metastable structures in the kinetic and hydrodynamic regimes of quantum matter fields and how they demand of their corresponding space-time counterparts. This will give us a hierarchy of generalized stochastic equations—call them the Boltzmann–Einstein hierarchy of quantum gravity—for each level of space-time structure, from the the macroscopic (general relativity) through the mesoscopic (stochastic gravity) to the microscopic (quantum gravity).     

A Unified Algebraic Approach to Quantum Theory

Conventional approaches to quantum mechanics are essentially dualistic. This is reflected in the fact that their mathematical formulation is based on two distinct mathematical structures: the algebra of dynamical variables (observables) and the vector space of state vectors. In contrast, coherent interpretations of quantum mechanics highlight the fact that quantum phenomena must be considered as undivided wholes. Here, we discuss a purely algebraic formulation of quantum mechanics. This formulation does not require the specification of a space of state vectors; rather, the required vector spaces can be identified as substructures in the algebra of dynamical variables (suitably extended for bosonic systems). This formulation of quantum mechanics captures the undivided wholeness characteristic of quantum phenomena, and provides insight into their characteristic nonseparability and nonlocality. The interpretation of the algebraic formulation in terms of quantum process is discussed.     

Classical Invasive Description of Informationally-Complete Quantum Processes

In classical stochastic theory, the joint probability distributions of a stochastic process obey by definition the Kolmogorov consistency conditions. Interpreting such a process as a sequence of physical measurements with probabilistic outcomes, these conditions reflect that the measurements do not alter the state of the underlying physical system. Prominently, this assumption has to be abandoned in the context of quantum mechanics, yet there are also classical processes in which measurements influence the measured system. Here, conditions that characterize uniquely classical processes that are probed by a reasonable class of such invasive measurements are derived. We then analyze under what circumstances such classical processes can simulate the statistics arising from quantum processes associated with informationally-complete measurements. It is expected that this investigation will help build a bridge between two fundamental traits of non-classicality, namely, coherence and contextuality.     

A Naturally Renormalized Quantum Field Theory

It was shown that quantum metric fluctuations smear out the singularities of Green functions on the light cone (Ford, ), but it does not remove other ultraviolet divergences of the quantum field theory (QFT). We have proved that quantization in indefinite metric, i.e. QFT in Krein space, removes all divergences of the theory except light cone singularity (Gazeau, et al., Class. Quantum Gravity, 17:1415, 2000, ; Takook, Int. J. Mod. Phys. E, 11:509, 2002, ). In this paper, by considering the QFT in Krein space and the quantum metric fluctuations, it is shown that all divergences can be removed.     

A New Approach to Noise in Quantum Mechanics

Journal of Statistical Physics - The standard way of describing noise in a quantum system consists in attaching to the system a reservoir or bath, which is assumed to be in thermal equilibrium....     

Relative Quantum Field Theory

We highlight the general notion of a relative quantum field theory, which occurs in several contexts. One is in gauge theory based on a compact Lie algebra, rather than a compact Lie group. This is relevant to the maximal superconformal theory in six dimensions.     

Braided Quantum Field Theory

We develop a general framework for quantum field theory on noncommutative spaces, i.e., spaces with quantum group symmetry. We use the path integral approach to obtain expressions for n-point functions. Perturbation theory leads us to generalised Feynman diagrams which are braided, i.e., they have non-trivial over- and under-crossings. We demonstrate the power of our approach by applying it to φ⁴-theory on the quantum 2-sphere. We find that the basic divergent diagram of the theory is regularised. Received: 3 July 1999 / Accepted: 10 November 2000     

PT-Symmetric Quantum Field Theory

In the context of the PT-symmetric version of quantum electrodynamics, it is argued that the C-operator introduced in order to define a unitary inner product has nothing to do with charge conjugation.     

Shuffling Quantum Field Theory

We discuss shuffle identities between Feynman graphs using the Hopf algebra structure of perturbative quantum field theory. For concrete exposition, we discuss vertex function in massless Yukawa theory.     

Subdynamics Theory in the Functional Approach to Quantum Mechanics

The formalism of subdynamics is extended to thefunctional approach to quantum systems and is used forthe Friedrichs model in which diagonal singularities instates and observables are included. In this approach we compute the generalizedeigenvectors and eigenvalues of the Liouville-vonNeumann operator, using an iterative scheme. As complexgeneralized eigenvalues are obtained, the decay rates ofunstable modes are included in the spectraldecomposition.     

Topological Quantum Field Theory for the Universal Quantum Invariant

We extend the universal quantum invariant defined in [15] to an invariant of 3-manifolds with boundaries, and show that the invariant satisfies modified axioms of TQFT. Received: 22 August 1996 / Accepted: 17 January 1997     

Relativistic Nonlocal Quantum Field Theory

A theory is defined to be relativistic if its Hamiltonian, total momenta, and boost's generators satisfy commutation relations of the Poincaré group. Field theories with usual local interactions are known to be relativistic. A simple example of a relativistic nonlocal theory is found. However, it has divergences. Some conditions are obtained which are necessary in order that a nonlocal theory be relativistic and divergenceless.