Quantum thermodynamic uncertainty relation for continuous measurement

TL;DR

This paper derives a universal quantum thermodynamic uncertainty relation for continuous measurements in open quantum systems, linking measurement fluctuations to dynamical activity and entropy production, with applications to atomic and thermal systems.

Contribution

It introduces a new quantum thermodynamic uncertainty relation applicable to arbitrary continuous measurements in Markovian open quantum systems, unifying bounds based on activity and entropy production.

Findings

Universal bounds on measurement fluctuations are established.

The relations are applicable to various quantum systems including atoms and thermal machines.

The bounds hold regardless of the specific continuous measurement performed.

Abstract

We use quantum estimation theory to derive a thermodynamic uncertainty relation in Markovian open quantum systems, which bounds the fluctuation of continuous measurements. The derived quantum thermodynamic uncertainty relation holds for arbitrary continuous measurements satisfying a scaling condition. We derive two relations; the first relation bounds the fluctuation by the dynamical activity and the second one does so by the entropy production. We apply our bounds to a two-level atom driven by a laser field and a three-level quantum thermal machine with jump and diffusion measurements. Our result shows that there exists a universal bound upon the fluctuations, regardless of continuous measurements.