arXiv subjects

Anthony J. Short

Publications and source records attributed to Anthony J. Short.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Can a spin-half particle ever give more than two spots in a Stern-Gerlach experiment? -- the subtle physics of effective Hamiltonians

We show that a spin-1/2 particle can behave as if it were spin-$s$, and generate $2s+1$ spots in a Stern Gerlach measurement (albeit with a smaller gyromagnetic ratio). This arises from some subtle properties of effective Hamiltonians and Hamiltonians with constraints. Examples of implications of the effect in condensed matter are discussed. We also give some simple non-perturbative bounds for a system subjected to strong constraints.

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arXiv2026

Fermion Doubling in Dirac Quantum Walks

We consider discrete spacetime models known as quantum walks, which can be used to simulate Dirac particles. In particular we look at fermion doubling in these models, in which high momentum states yield additional low energy solutions which behave like Dirac particles. The presence of doublers carries over to the `second quantised' version of the walks represented by quantum cellular automata, which may lead to spurious solutions when introducing interactions. Moreover, we also consider pseudo-doublers, which have high energy but behave like low energy Dirac particles, and cause potential problems regarding the stability of the vacuum. To address these issues, we propose a family of quantum walks, that are free of these doublers and pseudo-doublers, but still simulate the Dirac equation in the continuum limit. However, there remain a small number of additional low energy solutions which do not directly correspond to Dirac particles. While the conventional Dirac walk always has a zero probability for the walker staying at the same point after a single time step, we obtain the family of walks by allowing this probability to be non-zero.

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arXiv2024

The Dirac Vacuum in Discrete Spacetime

We consider introducing the Dirac sea in a quantum cellular automata model of fermions in discrete spacetime which approximates the Dirac equation in the continuum limit. However, if we attempt to fill up the `negative' energy states, we run into a problem. A new boundary is created between positive and negative energy states, at which pair creation seems energetically favourable. This happens because of the modular nature of energy in discrete time models. We then suggest a possible remedy by amending the model, in order to pull states away from the new boundary.

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arXiv2023

Probability in many-worlds theories

We consider how to define a natural probability distribution over worlds within a simple class of deterministic many-worlds theories. This can help us understand the typical properties of worlds within such states, and hence explain the empirical success of quantum theory within a many-worlds framework. We give three reasonable axioms which lead to the Born rule in the case of quantum theory, and also yield natural results in other cases, including a many-worlds variant of classical stochastic dynamics.

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arXiv2021

Quantum theory cannot violate a causal inequality

Within quantum theory, we can create superpositions of different causal orders of events, and observe interference between them. This raises the question of whether quantum theory can produce results that would be impossible to replicate with any classical causal model, thereby violating a causal inequality. This would be a temporal analogue of Bell inequality violation, which proves that no local hidden variable model can replicate quantum results. However, unlike the case of non-locality, we show that quantum experiments \emph{can} be simulated by a classical causal model, and therefore cannot violate a causal inequality.

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arXiv2021

Eigenstate Thermalisation on Average

We consider conditions under which an isolated quantum system approaches a microcanonical equilibrium state. A key component is the eigenstate thermalisation hypothesis, which proposes that all energy eigenstates appear thermal. We introduce a weaker version of this requirement, applying only to the average distinguishability of eigenstates from the thermal state, and investigate its necessity and sufficiency for thermalisation.

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arXiv2020

Reference frames which separately store non-commuting conserved quantities

Even in the presence of conservation laws, one can perform arbitrary transformations on a system if given access to a suitable reference frame, since conserved quantities may be exchanged between the system and the frame. Here we explore whether these quantities can be separated into different parts of the reference frame, with each part acting as a `battery' for a distinct quantity. For systems composed of spin-$\frac12$ particles, we show that the components of angular momentum $S_x$, $S_y$ and $S_z$ (non-commuting conserved quantities) may be separated in this way, and also provide several extensions of this result. These results also play a key role in the quantum thermodynamics of non-commuting conserved quantities.

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arXiv2019

Exploring the limits of no backward in time signalling

We present an operational and model-independent framework to investigate the concept of no-backwards-in-time signaling. We define no-backwards-in-time signaling conditions, closely related to the spatial no-signaling conditions. These allow for theoretical possibilities in which the future affects the past, nevertheless without signaling backwards in time. This is analogous to non-local but no-signaling spatial correlations. Furthermore, our results shed new light on situations with indefinite causal structure and their connection to quantum theory.

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arXiv2019

Local Probability Conservation in Discrete Time Quantum Walks

We show that probability is locally conserved in discrete time quantum walks, corresponding to a particle evolving in discrete space and time. In particular, for a spatial structure represented by an arbitrary directed graph, and any unitary evolution of a particle which respects that locality structure, we can define probability currents which also respect the locality structure and which yield the correct final probability distribution.

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arXiv2018

Tripartite non-classical correlations without backwards in time signalling

We investigate the relationship between no backwards in time signaling and classically causal correlations. We discover that unlike the case for two parties, the no backwards in time signaling paradigm for three parties is not enough to ensure that correlations can be reproduced with a classical causal ordering. We demonstrate this with an explicit example. We also generalise some existing results for linear two-time states to multi-party scenarios.

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arXiv2018

Quantum Reference Frames and Their Applications to Thermodynamics

We construct a quantum reference frame, which can be used to approximately implement arbitrary unitary transformations on a system in the presence of any number of extensive conserved quantities, by absorbing any back action provided by the conservation laws. Thus, the reference frame at the same time acts as a battery for the conserved quantities. Our construction features a physically intuitive, clear and implementation-friendly realisation. Indeed, the reference system is composed of the same types of subsystems as the original system and is finite for any desired accuracy. In addition, the interaction with the reference frame can be broken down into two-body terms coupling the system to one of the reference frame subsystems at a time. We apply this construction to quantum thermodynamic setups with multiple, possibly non-commuting conserved quantities, which allows for the definition of explicit batteries in such cases.

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arXiv2017

Equilibration time scales of physically relevant observables

We address the problem of understanding from first principles the conditions under which a quantum system equilibrates rapidly with respect to a concrete observable. On the one hand previously known general upper bounds on the time scales of equilibration were unrealistically long, with times scaling linearly with the dimension of the Hilbert space. These bounds proved to be tight, since particular constructions of observables scaling in this way were found. On the other hand, the computed equilibration time scales for certain classes of typical measurements, or under the evolution of typical Hamiltonians, turn out to be unrealistically short. However neither classes of results cover physically relevant situations, which up to now had only been tractable in specific models. In this paper we provide a new upper bound on the equilibration time scales which, under some physically reasonable conditions, give much more realistic results than previously known. In particular, we apply this result to the paradigmatic case of a system interacting with a thermal bath, where we obtain an upper bound for the equilibration time scale independent of the size of the bath. In this way, we find general conditions that single out observables with realistic equilibration times within a physically relevant setup.

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arXiv2017

Connecting processes with indefinite causal order and multi-time quantum states

Recently, the possible existence of quantum processes with indefinite causal order has been extensively discussed, in particular using the formalism of process matrices. Here we give a new perspective on this question, by establishing a direct connection to the theory of multi-time quantum states. Specifically, we show that process matrices are equivalent to a particular class of pre- and post- selected quantum states. This offers a new conceptual point of view to the nature of process matrices. Our results also provide an explicit recipe to experimentally implement any process matrix in a probabilistic way, and allow us to generalize some of the previously known properties of process matrices. Furthermore we raise the issue of the difference between the notions of indefinite temporal order and indefinite causal order, and show that one can have indefinite causal order even with definite temporal order.

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arXiv2016

Comparing classical and quantum equilibration

By using a physically-relevant and theory independent definition of measurement-based equilibration, we show quantitatively that equilibration is easier for quantum systems than for classical systems, in the situation where the initial state of the system is completely known (pure state). This shows that quantum equilibration is a fundamental, nigh unavoidable, aspect of physical systems, while classical equilibration relies on experimental ignorance. When the state is not completely known, a mixed state, this framework also shows quantum equilibration requires weaker conditions.

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arXiv2015

Thermodynamics of quantum systems with multiple conserved quantities

We consider a generalisation of thermodynamics that deals with multiple conserved quantities at the level of individual quantum systems. Each conserved quantity, which, importantly, need not commute with the rest, can be extracted and stored in its own battery. Unlike in standard thermodynamics, where the second law places a constraint on how much of the conserved quantity (energy) that can be extracted, here, on the contrary, there is no limit on how much of any individual conserved quantity that can be extracted. However, other conserved quantities must be supplied, and the second law constrains the combination of extractable quantities and the trade-offs between them which are allowed. We present explicit protocols which allow us to perform arbitrarily good trade-offs and extract arbitrarily good combinations of conserved quantities from individual quantum systems.

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arXiv2015

Rapid spatial equilibration of a particle in a box

We study the equilibration behaviour of a quantum particle in a one-dimensional box, with respect to a coarse grained position measurement (whether it lies in a certain spatial window or not). We show that equilibration in this context indeed takes place and does so very rapidly, in a time comparable to the time for the initial wave packet to reach the edges of the box. We also show that, for this situation, the equilibration behaviour is relatively insensitive to the precise choice of position measurements or initial condition.

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arXiv2015

Clock-Driven Quantum Thermal Engines

We consider an isolated autonomous quantum machine, where an explicit quantum clock is responsible for performing all transformations on an arbitrary quantum system (the engine), via a time-independent Hamiltonian. In a general context, we show that this model can exactly implement any energy-conserving unitary on the engine, without degrading the clock. Furthermore, we show that when the engine includes a quantum work storage device we can approximately perform completely general unitaries on the remainder of the engine. This framework can be used in quantum thermodynamics to carry out arbitrary transformations of a system, with accuracy and extracted work as close to optimal as desired, whilst obeying the first and second laws of thermodynamics. We thus show that autonomous thermal machines suffer no intrinsic thermodynamic cost compared to externally controlled ones.

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arXiv2014

Work extraction and thermodynamics for individual quantum systems

Thermodynamics is traditionally concerned with systems comprised of a large number of particles. Here we present a framework for extending thermodynamics to individual quantum systems, including explicitly a thermal bath and work-storage device (essentially a `weight' that can be raised or lowered). We prove that the second law of thermodynamics holds in our framework, and give a simple protocol to extract the optimal amount of work from the system, equal to its change in free energy. Our results apply to any quantum system in an arbitrary initial state, in particular including non-equilibrium situations. The optimal protocol is essentially reversible, similar to classical Carnot cycles, and indeed, we show that it can be used it to construct a quantum Carnot engine.

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