Observing the quantum Mpemba effect in a quantum processor
B. Vermersch, Quobly & Université Grenoble Alpes (on leave)
When a system is brought out of equilibrium, it may exhibit phenomena
that defy conventional wisdom. One particularly puzzling example is the
Mpemba effect, firstly described as the phenomenon where hot water
freezes faster than cold water. While the Mpemba effect remains partly
unexplained but also difficult to reproduce, quantum processors were
recently used to experimentally observe a "quantum" Mpemba effect. While
classical and quantum Mpemba effects are a priori not related, this
experiment result reveals a surprising aspect of thermalization in
quantum systems.
My presentation will begin with a short introduction on the classical
Mpemba effect. I will then introduce quantum processors, which are
systems of individually controlled quantum particles that interact in a
programmable manner. This will allow me to describe the experimental
sequence that led to the observation of the quantum Mpemba effect.
L. Kh. Joshi et al., Observing the Quantum Mpemba Effect in Quantum Simulations, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 010402 (2024).