{
  "id": "2305.06008",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2023-05-10T09:34:25.000Z",
  "updated": "2023-05-10T09:34:25.000Z",
  "title": "A thermodynamic approach to optimization in complex quantum systems",
  "authors": [
    "Alberto Imparato",
    "Nicholas Chancellor",
    "Gabriele De Chiara"
  ],
  "categories": [
    "quant-ph",
    "cond-mat.stat-mech"
  ],
  "abstract": "We consider the problem of finding the energy minimum of a complex quantum Hamiltonian by employing a non-Markovian bath prepared in a low energy state. The energy minimization problem is thus turned into a thermodynamic cooling protocol in which we repeatedly put the system of interest in contact with a colder auxiliary system. By tuning the internal parameters of the bath, we show that the optimal cooling is obtained in a regime where the bath exhibits a quantum phase transition in the thermodynamic limit. This result highlights the importance of collective effects in thermodynamic devices. We furthermore introduce a two-step protocol that combines the interaction with the bath with a measure of its energy. While this protocol does not destroy coherence in the system of interest, we show that it can further enhance the cooling effect.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2023-05-10T09:34:25.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "complex quantum systems",
      "thermodynamic approach",
      "optimization",
      "energy minimization problem",
      "quantum phase transition"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}