Quantum speed limit for non-Markovian dynamics

TL;DR

This paper derives a quantum speed limit for non-Markovian open quantum systems, showing that non-Markovian effects can accelerate quantum evolution and tighten the minimal evolution time bound.

Contribution

It introduces a Margolus-Levitin type bound expressed via the operator norm of the nonunitary generator, applicable to driven open quantum systems, and demonstrates its tightness in a specific model.

Findings

Non-Markovian effects can speed up quantum evolution.

The derived bound is tight in the damped Jaynes-Cummings model.

Non-Markovian dynamics lead to smaller quantum speed limit times.

Abstract

We derive a Margolus-Levitin type bound on the minimal evolution time of an arbitrarily driven open quantum system. We express this quantum speed limit time in terms of the operator norm of the nonunitary generator of the dynamics. We apply these results to the damped Jaynes-Cummings model and demonstrate that the corresponding bound is tight. We further show that non-Markovian effects can speed up quantum evolution and therefore lead to a smaller quantum speed limit time.