English

Non-equilibrium quantum probing through linear response

Quantum Physics 2024-02-14 v2 Statistical Mechanics

Abstract

The formalism of linear response theory can be extended to encompass physical situations where an open quantum system evolves towards a non-equilibrium steady-state. Here, we use the framework put forward by Konopik and Lutz [Phys. Rev. Research {\bf 1}, 033156 (2019)] to go beyond unitary perturbations of the dynamics. Considering an open system comprised of two coupled quantum harmonic oscillators, we study the system's response to unitary perturbations, affecting the Hamiltonian dynamics, as well as non-unitary perturbations, affecting the properties of the environment, e.g., its temperature and squeezing. We show that linear response, combined with a quantum probing approach, can effectively provide valuable quantitative information about the perturbation and characteristics of the environment, even in cases of non-unitary dynamics.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2306.08500,
  title  = {Non-equilibrium quantum probing through linear response},
  author = {Sherry Blair and Giorgio Zicari and Alessio Belenchia and Alessandro Ferraro and Mauro Paternostro},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2306.08500},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

8 + 4 pages, 7 figures, RevTeX4-2 Close to published version in Phys. Rev. Research

R2 v1 2026-06-28T11:05:00.827Z