Measurement phase transitions and statistical mechanics

Adam Nahum

Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris

Abstract:

A many-body quantum system that is continually monitored by an external observer can be in two distinct dynamical phases, distinguished by whether or not repeated local measurements (throughout the bulk of the system) prevent the build-up of long-range quantum entanglement. I will describe some basic features of such “measurement phase transitions”, and theoretical approaches to their critical properties that make connections with topics in classical statistical mechanics such as percolation, disordered magnets, and travelling waves.

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