Autonomous quantum clocks
Does thermodynamics limit our ability to measure time?
Paul Erker (Università della Svizzera Italiana, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Mark T. Mitchison (University of Ulm, Imperial College London)
Ralph Silva (Université de Genève)
Mischa P. Woods (TU Delft - QID/Wehner Group, University College London, TU Delft - QuTech Advanced Research Centre)
Nicolas Brunner (Université de Genève)
Marcus Huber (Austrian Academy of Sciences)
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Abstract
Time remains one of the least well-understood concepts in physics, most notably in quantum mechanics. A central goal is to find the fundamental limits of measuring time. One of the main obstacles is the fact that time is not an observable and thus has to be measured indirectly. Here, we explore these questions by introducing a model of time measurements that is complete and autonomous. Specifically, our autonomous quantum clock consists of a system out of thermal equilibrium—a prerequisite for any system to function as a clock—powered by minimal resources, namely, two thermal baths at different temperatures. Through a detailed analysis of this specific clock model, we find that the laws of thermodynamics dictate a trade-off between the amount of dissipated heat and the clock’s performance in terms of its accuracy and resolution. Our results furthermore imply that a fundamental entropy production is associated with the operation of any autonomous quantum clock, assuming that quantum machines cannot achieve perfect efficiency at finite power. More generally, autonomous clocks provide a natural framework for the exploration of fundamental questions about time in quantum theory and beyond.
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