Thermality versus objectivity: Can they peacefully coexist?

Le, Thao P.; Winter, Andreas; Adesso, Gerardo

Abstract

Under the influence of external environments, quantum systems can undergo various different processes, including decoherence and equilibration. We observe that macroscopic objects are both objective and thermal, thus leading to the expectation that both objectivity and thermalisation can peacefully coexist on the quantum regime too. Crucially, however, objectivity relies on distributed classical information that could conflict with thermalisation. Here, we examine the overlap between thermal and objective states. We find that in general, one cannot exist when the other is present. However, there are certain regimes where thermality and objectivity are more likely to coexist: in the high temperature limit, at the non-degenerate low temperature limit, and when the environment is large. This is consistent with our experiences that everyday-sized objects can be both thermal and objective.

Citation

Le, T. P., Winter, A., & Adesso, G. (2021). Thermality versus objectivity: Can they peacefully coexist?. Entropy, 23(11), Article 1506. https://doi.org/10.3390/e23111506

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 9, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 13, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 15, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2021
• Journal: Entropy
• Electronic ISSN: 1099-4300
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 11
• Article Number: 1506
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/e23111506
• Keywords: General Physics and Astronomy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6724692
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/23/11/1506