Poor qubits make for rich physics: noise-induced quantum Zeno effects and noise-induced Berry phases

TL;DR

This paper reviews how environmental noise influences quantum transitions, highlighting effects like the quantum Zeno effect and noise-induced Berry phases, especially in poorly isolated qubits, and suggests noise can facilitate observing certain quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that noise can induce Berry phases and compares different noise-related effects on quantum transitions, emphasizing their relevance to poor qubits.

Findings

Noise can induce Berry phases in quantum systems.

Environmental noise can alter quantum transition rates.

Noise may facilitate the observation of Berry phases.

Abstract

We briefly review three ways that environmental noise can slow-down (or speed-up) quantum transitions; (i) Lamb shifts, (ii) over-damping and (iii) orthogonality catastrophe. We compare them with the quantum Zeno effect induced by observing the system. These effects are relevant to poor qubits (those strongly coupled to noise). We discuss Berry phases generated by the orthogonality catastrophe, and argue that noise may make it easier to observe Berry phases.