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Observation of quantum strong Mpemba effect

Author

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  • Jie Zhang

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Gang Xia

    (National University of Defense Technology)

  • Chun-Wang Wu

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Ting Chen

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Qian Zhang

    (Hunan Normal University)

  • Yi Xie

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Wen-Bo Su

    (National University of Defense Technology)

  • Wei Wu

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Cheng-Wei Qiu

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Ping-Xing Chen

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Weibin Li

    (University of Nottingham
    University of Nottingham)

  • Hui Jing

    (Hunan Normal University
    National University of Defense Technology)

  • Yan-Li Zhou

    (National University of Defense Technology
    Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and technology of Quantum Information
    Hefei National Laboratory)

Abstract

An ancient and counterintuitive phenomenon known as the Mpemba effect (water can cool faster when initially heated up) showcases the critical role of initial conditions in relaxation processes. How to realize and utilize this effect for speeding up relaxation is an important but challenging task in purely quantum system till now. Here, we experimentally study the strong Mpemba effect in a single trapped ion system in which an exponentially accelerated relaxation in time is observed by preparing an optimal quantum initial state with no excitation of the slowest decaying mode. Also, we demonstrate that the condition of realizing such effect coincides with the Liouvillian exceptional point, featuring the coalescence of both the eigenvalues and the eigenmodes of the systems. Our work provides an efficient strategy to engineer the dynamics of open quantum system, and suggests a link unexplored yet between the Mpemba effect and the non-Hermitian physics.

Suggested Citation

  • Jie Zhang & Gang Xia & Chun-Wang Wu & Ting Chen & Qian Zhang & Yi Xie & Wen-Bo Su & Wei Wu & Cheng-Wei Qiu & Ping-Xing Chen & Weibin Li & Hui Jing & Yan-Li Zhou, 2025. "Observation of quantum strong Mpemba effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-54303-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54303-0
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