Author
Matteo Lostaglio
Other affiliations: University of Amsterdam, Imperial College London, Delft University of Technology
Bio: Matteo Lostaglio is an academic researcher from ICFO – The Institute of Photonic Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quantum state & Quantum thermodynamics. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 46 publications receiving 1940 citations. Previous affiliations of Matteo Lostaglio include University of Amsterdam & Imperial College London.
Papers
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TL;DR: It is shown that free energy relations cannot properly describe quantum coherence in thermodynamic processes, and it is found that coherence transformations are always irreversible.
Abstract: Recent studies have developed fundamental limitations on nanoscale thermodynamics, in terms of a set of independent free energy relations. Here we show that free energy relations cannot properly describe quantum coherence in thermodynamic processes. By casting time-asymmetry as a quantifiable, fundamental resource of a quantum state, we arrive at an additional, independent set of thermodynamic constraints that naturally extend the existing ones. These asymmetry relations reveal that the traditional Szilard engine argument does not extend automatically to quantum coherences, but instead only relational coherences in a multipartite scenario can contribute to thermodynamic work. We find that coherence transformations are always irreversible. Our results also reveal additional structural parallels between thermodynamics and the theory of entanglement. The statistical nature of standard thermodynamics provides an incomplete picture for individual processes at the nanoscale, and new relations have been developed to extend it. Here, the authors show that by quantifying time-asymmetry it is also possible to characterize how quantum coherence is modified in such processes.
664 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show how the processing of quantum coherence is constrained by the laws of thermodynamics, and how these laws can be used to constrain the quantum process.
Abstract: Quantum mechanics and thermodynamics are fundamental fields of physics. Scientists show how the processing of quantum coherence is constrained by the laws of thermodynamics.
411 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that for any thermal machine with finite resources not all the coherence of a state can be extracted as work, however, even bounded thermal machines can be reused infinitely many times in the process of work extraction from coherence.
Abstract: The interplay between quantum-mechanical properties, such as coherence, and classical notions, such as energy, is a subtle topic at the forefront of quantum thermodynamics. The traditional Carnot argument limits the conversion of heat to work; here we critically assess the problem of converting coherence to work. Through a careful account of all resources involved in the thermodynamic transformations within a fully quantum-mechanical treatment, we show that there exist thermal machines extracting work from coherence arbitrarily well. Such machines only need to act on individual copies of a state and can be reused. On the other hand, we show that for any thermal machine with finite resources not all the coherence of a state can be extracted as work. However, even bounded thermal machines can be reused infinitely many times in the process of work extraction from coherence.
283 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a generalisation of the Landauer principle is used to illustrate tradeoffs between the erasure costs paid in different "currencies" and the maximum entropy and complete passivity approaches in the presence of multiple observables.
Abstract: We discuss some features of thermodynamics in the presence of multiple conserved quantities. We prove a generalisation of Landauer principle illustrating tradeoffs between the erasure costs paid in different ‘currencies’. We then show how the maximum entropy and complete passivity approaches give different answers in the presence of multiple observables. We discuss how this seems to prevent current resource theories from fully capturing thermodynamic aspects of non-commutativity.
105 citations
08 Feb 2018
TL;DR: It is proved that elementary thermal operations present tighter constraints on the allowed transformations than thermal operations, which implies that stronger constraints than those imposed by single-shot quantities can be given if the authors tailor a thermodynamic resource theory to the relevant experimental scenario.
Abstract: To what extent do thermodynamic resource theories capture physically relevant constraints? Inspired by quantum computation, we define a set of elementary thermodynamic gates that only act on 2 energy levels of a system at a time. We show that this theory is well reproduced by a Jaynes-Cummings interaction in rotating wave approximation and draw a connection to standard descriptions of thermalisation. We then prove that elementary thermal operations present tighter constraints on the allowed transformations than thermal operations. Mathematically, this illustrates the failure at finite temperature of fundamental theorems by Birkhoff and Muirhead-Hardy-Littlewood-Polya concerning stochastic maps. Physically, this implies that stronger constraints than those imposed by single-shot quantities can be given if we tailor a thermodynamic resource theory to the relevant experimental scenario. We provide new tools to do so, including necessary and sufficient conditions for a given change of the population to be possible. As an example, we describe the resource theory of the Jaynes-Cummings model. Finally, we initiate an investigation into how our resource theories can be applied to Heat Bath Algorithmic Cooling protocols.
85 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss and review the development of this rapidly growing research field that encompasses the characterization, quantification, manipulation, dynamical evolution, and operational application of quantum coherence.
Abstract: The coherent superposition of states, in combination with the quantization of observables, represents one of the most fundamental features that mark the departure of quantum mechanics from the classical realm. Quantum coherence in many-body systems embodies the essence of entanglement and is an essential ingredient for a plethora of physical phenomena in quantum optics, quantum information, solid state physics, and nanoscale thermodynamics. In recent years, research on the presence and functional role of quantum coherence in biological systems has also attracted a considerable interest. Despite the fundamental importance of quantum coherence, the development of a rigorous theory of quantum coherence as a physical resource has only been initiated recently. In this Colloquium we discuss and review the development of this rapidly growing research field that encompasses the characterization, quantification, manipulation, dynamical evolution, and operational application of quantum coherence.
1,392 citations
TL;DR: This paper introduced a new development in theoretical quantum physics, the ''resource-theoretic'' point of view, which aims to be closely linked to experiment, and to state exactly what result you can hope to achieve for what expenditure of effort in the laboratory.
Abstract: This review introduces a new development in theoretical quantum physics, the ``resource-theoretic'' point of view. The approach aims to be closely linked to experiment, and to state exactly what result you can hope to achieve for what expenditure of effort in the laboratory. This development is an extension of the principles of thermodynamics to quantum problems; but there are resources that would never have been considered previously in thermodynamics, such as shared knowledge of a frame of reference. Many additional examples and new quantifications of resources are provided.
841 citations
TL;DR: This work demonstrates the usefulness of the approach by proving that the fidelity-based geometric measure of coherence is a full convex coherence monotone, and deriving a closed formula for it on arbitrary single-qubit states.
Abstract: Quantum coherence is an essential ingredient in quantum information processing and plays a central role in emergent fields such as nanoscale thermodynamics and quantum biology. However, our understanding and quantitative characterization of coherence as an operational resource are still very limited. Here we show that any degree of coherence with respect to some reference basis can be converted to entanglement via incoherent operations. This finding allows us to define a novel general class of measures of coherence for a quantum system of arbitrary dimension, in terms of the maximum bipartite entanglement that can be generated via incoherent operations applied to the system and an incoherent ancilla. The resulting measures are proven to be valid coherence monotones satisfying all the requirements dictated by the resource theory of quantum coherence. We demonstrate the usefulness of our approach by proving that the fidelity-based geometric measure of coherence is a full convex coherence monotone, and deriving a closed formula for it on arbitrary single-qubit states. Our work provides a clear quantitative and operational connection between coherence and entanglement, two landmark manifestations of quantum theory and both key enablers for quantum technologies.
753 citations
TL;DR: Quantum thermodynamics is an emerging research field aiming to extend standard thermodynamics and non-equilibrium statistical physics to ensembles of sizes well below the thermodynamic limit.
Abstract: Quantum thermodynamics is an emerging research field aiming to extend standard thermodynamics and non-equilibrium statistical physics to ensembles of sizes well below the thermodynamic limit, in non-equilibrium situations, and with the full inclusion of quantum effects Fuelled by experimental advances and the potential of future nanoscale applications this research effort is pursued by scientists with different backgrounds, including statistical physics, many-body theory, mesoscopic physics and quantum information theory, who bring various tools and methods to the field A multitude of theoretical questions are being addressed ranging from issues of thermalisation of quantum systems and various definitions of "work", to the efficiency and power of quantum engines This overview provides a perspective on a selection of these current trends accessible to postgraduate students and researchers alike
732 citations