First-detection-time statistics in many-body quantum transport

TL;DR

This paper investigates how interference among many particles influences the mean first detection time in quantum transport, highlighting differences between detecting exactly n versus at least n particles and analyzing spectral properties of the evolution operator.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of first detection time statistics in many-body quantum systems with partial distinguishability and interactions, emphasizing the role of interference.

Findings

Interference significantly affects detection times in many-body quantum transport.

Spectral properties of the evolution operator explain divergences in mean detection times.

Differences between detecting exactly n and at least n particles are characterized.

Abstract

We study the transport of many partially distinguishable and possibly interacting particles under the action of repeated projective measurements on a target space and investigate how the particles' interference affects the mean first detection time. We contrast the detection of exactly $n$ versus at least $n$ particles, explain divergences in the mean first detection time through spectral properties of the generating evolution operator, and illustrate our findings by an example.