Evolution of Quantum Nonequilibrium for Coupled Harmonic Oscillators

TL;DR

This paper investigates how interactions in coupled harmonic oscillators within pilot-wave theory can hinder or prevent quantum relaxation to equilibrium, with implications for cosmology and potential detection of nonequilibrium states.

Contribution

It demonstrates through numerical simulations that interactions can significantly delay or stop relaxation to quantum equilibrium in coupled oscillators, a novel insight in pilot-wave theory.

Findings

Interactions can delay quantum relaxation

Complete relaxation can be prevented in some initial states

Potential implications for cosmological models and detection of nonequilibrium

Abstract

In the context of de Broglie-Bohm pilot-wave theory, violations of the Born rule are allowed and can be considered as describing nonequilibrium distributions. We study the effects of interactions on quantum relaxation towards equilibrium for a system of one-dimensional coupled harmonic oscillators. We show by numerical simulations that interactions can delay or even prevent complete relaxation for some initial states. We also discuss how this effect might be relevant for cosmological scenarios and how nonequilibrium could be detected in some models.