Emergence of Constructor-Based Irreversibility in Quantum Systems: Theory and Experiment

Vedral, Vlatko; Knoll, Laura T.; Piacentini, Fabrizio; Bernardi, Ettore; Rebufello, Enrico; Avella, Alessio; Gramegna, Marco; Degiovanni, I. P.; Genovese, M.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.128.080401

Cited by 8 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…It is interesting to point out that approximate constructors for a possible task are typically implemented by open quantum systems, in line with what is expected in the theory of quantum controls, [16]. For the interested reader, in [15] there is a model of a possible task and approximate constructors in quantum theory, where it is highlighted that approximate constructors can be dissipative open systems.…”

Section: Constructor Theory Of Informationmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…This work provides the foundation for formulating thermodynamics in an information-theoretic, dynamics-independent and scale-independent way: hence, it can inform new experimental schemes to test this proposed scale-and dynamics-independent reformulation of the second law, see e.g. [15]. It is also a first step towards a theory of programmable constructors in quantum theory, which will generalise the theory of quantum computation to general tasks, in a way already envisaged in von Neumann' theory of the universal constructor [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Rather, the requirement is that the behaviour of such a constructor can be approximated to arbitrarily high accuracy, short of perfection, by a sequence of processes each of which can be realised in nature. As explained in the appendix, and in [15], if a task is possible, then for any given finite accuracy, it is possible to find a suitable environment which (under an allowed dynamical interaction) approximates a constructor for the task by delivering the substrates in the desired output attributes (within the specified accuracy). Hence, if the task is possible, there is an (infinite) sequence of approximate constructors, each one implementing the task in question to ever improving accuracies.…”

Section: Constructor Theory Of Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of the classical limit of a quantum model, the task defining a work variable is exactly performable by a constructor only in the asymptotic limit. In [15] the case of approximating a possible task has been described carefully, and also demonstrated with a quantum simulation.…”

Section: Work Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That the task T is possible implies in quantum theory that there exists a subspace V C T with the above properties. (See also reference [15] where a more general set of necessary conditions for a constructor are given).…”

Section: Non Empty;mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The information-theoretic foundation of thermodynamic work extraction

Marletto

2022

J. Phys. Commun.

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In this paper I demonstrate a novel distinction between work and heat, in terms of the distinguishability of states. Specifically, I show that if it is possible to extract work deterministically from a physical system prepared in any one of a set of states, then those states must be distinguishable from one another. This result is formulated independently of scale and of particular dynamical laws; it also provides a novel connection between thermodynamics and information theory, established via the law of conservation of energy. This connection, unlike the well-known one between information and the second law, is exact, i.e., it does not depend on coarse-graining or ensemble approximation. Albeit compatible with these conclusions, existing thermodynamics approaches cannot provide a result of such generality, because they are scale-dependent (relying on ensembles or coarse-graining) or tied to particular dynamical laws. This result provides a foundation for thermodynamics that is both broader and more secure than existing ones, with implications for the theory of von Neumann's universal constructor.

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Section: Constructor Theory Of Informationmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Constructor Theory Of Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Work Mediamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Non Empty;mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The information-theoretic foundation of thermodynamic work extraction

Marletto

2022

J. Phys. Commun.

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Irreversibility beyond Landauer’s principle: is it possible to perform erasure using the quantum homogenizer?

Violaris

2022

New J. Phys.

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Erasure is fundamental for information processing. It is also key in connecting information theory and thermodynamics, as it is a logically irreversible task. We provide a new angle on this connection, noting that there may be an additional cost to erasure, that is not captured by standard results such as Landauer’s principle. To make this point we use a model of irreversibility based on Constructor Theory – a recently proposed generalization of the quantum theory of computation. The model uses a machine called the “quantum homogenizer”, which has the ability to approximately realise the transformation of a qubit from any state to any other state and remain approximately unchanged, through overall entirely unitary interactions. We argue that when performing erasure via quantum homogenization there is an additional cost to performing the erasure step of the Szilard’s engine, because it is more difficult to reliably produce pure states in a cycle than to produce maximally mixed states. We also discuss the implications of this result for the cost of erasure in more general terms.

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Impossibility of universal work extraction from coherence: reconciling axiomatic and resource-theory approaches

Plesnik,

Violaris

2024

New J. Phys.

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We compare how the impossibility of a universal work extractor from coherence arises from different approaches to quantum thermodynamics: an explicit protocol accounting for all relevant quantum resources, and axiomatic, information-theoretic constraints imposed by constructor theory. We first explain how the impossibility of a universal work extractor from coherence is directly implied by a recently proposed constructor-theoretic theorem based on distinguishability, which is scale- and dynamics- independent. Then we give an explicit demonstration of this result within quantum theory, by proving the impossibility of generalising a proposed quantum protocol for deterministically extracting work from coherence. We demonstrate a new connection between the impossibility of universal work extractors and constructor-based irreversibility, which was recently shown using the quantum homogenizer. Finally we discuss additional avenues for applying the constructor-theoretic formulation of work extraction to quantum thermodynamics, including the irreversibility of quantum computation and thermodynamics of multiple conserved quantities.

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Emergence of Constructor-Based Irreversibility in Quantum Systems: Theory and Experiment

Cited by 8 publications

References 43 publications

The information-theoretic foundation of thermodynamic work extraction

The information-theoretic foundation of thermodynamic work extraction

Irreversibility beyond Landauer’s principle: is it possible to perform erasure using the quantum homogenizer?

Impossibility of universal work extraction from coherence: reconciling axiomatic and resource-theory approaches

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