Статья

Quantum thermalization through entanglement in an isolated many-body system

Adam M. KaufmanDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAM. Eric TaiDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAAlexander LukinDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAMatthew RispoliDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USARobert SchittkoDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAPhilipp M. PreissDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAMarkus GreinerDepartment of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

2016en

ABI

Аннотация

Statistical mechanics relies on the maximization of entropy in a system at thermal equilibrium. However, an isolated quantum many-body system initialized in a pure state remains pure during Schrödinger evolution, and in this sense it has static, zero entropy. We experimentally studied the emergence of statistical mechanics in a quantum state and observed the fundamental role of quantum entanglement in facilitating this emergence. Microscopy of an evolving quantum system indicates that the full quantum state remains pure, whereas thermalization occurs on a local scale. We directly measured entanglement entropy, which assumes the role of the thermal entropy in thermalization. The entanglement creates local entropy that validates the use of statistical physics for local observables. Our measurements are consistent with the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis.

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Идентификаторы

DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf6725

Цитирования и источники

Цитирований: 10Использованных источников: 0

Показатели — AkademScholar