Light cones for open quantum systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in Markovian open quantum systems, the evolution of localized states propagates with finite speed within energy-dependent light cones, providing explicit bounds on this propagation.

Contribution

It establishes a finite-speed propagation principle for open quantum systems and derives explicit bounds on the light cone slope, extending concepts of locality to dissipative quantum dynamics.

Findings

Finite speed of quantum state propagation in open systems

Explicit bounds on the light cone slope

Localization persists within energy-dependent regions

Abstract

We consider Markovian open quantum dynamics (MOQD). We show that, up to small-probability tails, the supports of quantum states evolving under such dynamics propagate with finite speed in any finite-energy subspace. More precisely, we prove that if the initial quantum state is localized in space, then any finite-energy part of the solution of the von Neumann-Lindblad equation is approximately localized inside an energy-dependent light cone. We also obtain an explicit upper bound for the slope of this light cone.