Simulating and Optimising Quantum Thermometry Using Single Photons

Experimental repetitive quantum channel simulation

Universal control of quantum systems is a major goal to be achieved for quantum information processing, which demands thorough understanding of fundamental quantum mechanics and promises applications of quantum technologies. So far, most studies concentrate on ideally isolated quantum systems governed by unitary evolutions, while practical quantum systems are open and described by quantum channels due to their inevitable coupling to environment. Here, we experimentally simulate arbitrary quantum channels for an open quantum system, i.e. a single photonic qubit in a superconducting quantum circuit. The arbitrary channel simulation is achieved with minimum resource of only one ancilla qubit and measurement-based adaptive control. By repetitively implementing the quantum channel simulation, we realize an arbitrary Liouvillian for a continuous evolution of an open quantum system for the first time. Our experiment provides not only a testbed for understanding quantum noise and decoherence, but also a powerful tool for full control of practical open quantum systems.

Geometrical Bounds on Irreversibility in Open Quantum Systems

The Clausius inequality has deep implications for reversibility and the arrow of time. Quantum theory is able to extend this result for closed systems by inspecting the trajectory of the density matrix on its manifold. Here we show that this approach can provide an upper and lower bound to the irreversible entropy production for open quantum systems as well. These provide insights on how the information on the initial state is forgotten through a thermalization process. Limits of the applicability of our bounds are discussed and demonstrated in a quantum photonic simulator.

Quantum Simulation of Single-Qubit Thermometry Using Linear Optics

Standard thermometry employs the thermalization of a probe with the system of interest. This approach can be extended by incorporating the possibility of using the nonequilibrium states of the probe and the presence of coherence. Here, we illustrate how these concepts apply to the single-qubit thermometer introduced by Jevtic et al. [Phys. Rev. A 91, 012331 (2015)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.91.012331] by performing a simulation of the qubit-environment interaction in a linear-optical device. We discuss the role of the coherence and how this affects the usefulness of nonequilibrium conditions. The origin of the observed behavior is traced back to how the coherence affects the propensity to thermalization. We discuss this aspect by considering the availability function.