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Observation of minimal and maximal speed limits for few and many-body states

Author

Listed:
  • Zitian Zhu

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Lei Gao

    (Beijing Computational Science Research Center)

  • Zehang Bao

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Liang Xiang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Zixuan Song

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Shibo Xu

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Ke Wang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Jiachen Chen

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Feitong Jin

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Xuhao Zhu

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yu Gao

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yaozu Wu

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Chuanyu Zhang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Ning Wang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Yiren Zou

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Ziqi Tan

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Aosai Zhang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Zhengyi Cui

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Fanhao Shen

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Jiarun Zhong

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Tingting Li

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Jinfeng Deng

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Xu Zhang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Hang Dong

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Pengfei Zhang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • Zhen Wang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Chao Song

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Chen Cheng

    (Lanzhou University)

  • Qiujiang Guo

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Hekang Li

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University)

  • H. Wang

    (Zhejiang University
    Zhejiang University
    Hefei National Laboratory)

  • Hai-Qing Lin

    (Zhejiang University
    Beijing Computational Science Research Center)

  • Rubem Mondaini

    (University of Houston
    University of Houston)

Abstract

Tracking the time evolution of a quantum state allows one to verify the thermalization rate or the propagation speed of correlations in generic quantum systems. Inspired by the energy-time uncertainty principle, bounds have been demonstrated on the maximal speed at which a quantum state can change, resulting in immediate and practical tasks. Based on a programmable superconducting quantum processor, we test the dynamics of various emulated quantum mechanical systems encompassing single- and many-body states. We show that one can test the known quantum speed limits and that modifying a single Hamiltonian parameter allows the observation of the crossover of the different bounds on the dynamics. We also unveil the observation of minimal quantum speed limits in addition to more common maximal ones, i.e., the lowest rate of change of a unitarily evolved quantum state. Our results show a comprehensive experimental characterization of quantum speed limits and enhance the understanding for their subsequent study in engineered non-unitary conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zitian Zhu & Lei Gao & Zehang Bao & Liang Xiang & Zixuan Song & Shibo Xu & Ke Wang & Jiachen Chen & Feitong Jin & Xuhao Zhu & Yu Gao & Yaozu Wu & Chuanyu Zhang & Ning Wang & Yiren Zou & Ziqi Tan & Aos, 2025. "Observation of minimal and maximal speed limits for few and many-body states," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56451-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56451-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Liang Xiang & Jiachen Chen & Zitian Zhu & Zixuan Song & Zehang Bao & Xuhao Zhu & Feitong Jin & Ke Wang & Shibo Xu & Yiren Zou & Hekang Li & Zhen Wang & Chao Song & Alexander Yue & Justine Partridge & , 2024. "Enhanced quantum state transfer by circumventing quantum chaotic behavior," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Brendan Saxberg & Andrei Vrajitoarea & Gabrielle Roberts & Margaret G. Panetta & Jonathan Simon & David I. Schuster, 2022. "Disorder-assisted assembly of strongly correlated fluids of light," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7940), pages 435-441, December.
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    4. Marc Cheneau & Peter Barmettler & Dario Poletti & Manuel Endres & Peter Schauß & Takeshi Fukuhara & Christian Gross & Immanuel Bloch & Corinna Kollath & Stefan Kuhr, 2012. "Light-cone-like spreading of correlations in a quantum many-body system," Nature, Nature, vol. 481(7382), pages 484-487, January.
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