The Dynamical Resource Theory of Informational Non-Equilibrium

TL;DR

This paper introduces a dynamical resource theory framework to quantify and characterize the ability of quantum channels to preserve informational non-equilibrium, linking it to operational tasks and classical capacity.

Contribution

It develops a resource theory for informational non-equilibrium preservation in quantum dynamics, characterizes allowed channels, and connects this to operational and capacity measures.

Findings

Characterization of allowed quantum channels for preserving informational non-equilibrium.

Operational interpretation via a state discrimination game with Bell measurements.

Link between channel classical capacity and informational non-equilibrium preservation.

Abstract

Information is instrumental in our understanding of thermodynamics. Their interplay has been studied through completely degenerate Hamiltonians whereby the informational contributions to thermodynamic transformations can be isolated. In this setting, all states other then the maximally mixed state are considered to be in informational non-equilibrium. An important yet still open question is: how to characterise the ability of quantum dynamics to maintain informational non-equilibrium? Here, the dynamical resource theory of informational non-equilibrium preservability is introduced to begin providing an answer to this question. A characterisation of the allowed operations is given for qubit channels and the n dimensional Weyl-covariant channels - a physically relevant subset of the general channels. An operational interpretation of a state discrimination game with Bell state measurements is given. Finally, an explicit link between a channels classical capacity and its ability to maintain informational non-equilibrium is made.