Energy protection arguments fail in the interaction picture

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum simulations in the interaction picture do not thermalize with the environment, highlighting limitations in using spin Hamiltonians with degenerate ground states for quantum information storage.

Contribution

It reveals that energy protection arguments fail in the interaction picture, showing a fundamental limitation in the coherence preservation of simulated quantum systems.

Findings

Interaction picture simulations do not thermalize with environment

Energy protection arguments are invalid in the interaction frame

Implications for quantum information storage in spin systems

Abstract

Spin Hamiltonians with degenerate ground states are one potential system for the storage of quantum information at low temperatures. Trapped ions can be used to simulate the dynamics of these Hamiltonians, but the coherence-preserving properties will be lost. This illustrates that a quantum simulation performed in an interaction frame will not thermalize with its environment.