Gaussian time-translation covariant operations: structure, implementation, and thermodynamics

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Hu, Xueyuan, Lautenbacher, Lea, Spaventa, Giovanni, Plenio, Martin B., Ng, Nelly H. Y., Son, Jeongrak
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Hu, Xueyuan
Lautenbacher, Lea
Spaventa, Giovanni
Plenio, Martin B.
Ng, Nelly H. Y.
Son, Jeongrak
author_facet Hu, Xueyuan
Lautenbacher, Lea
Spaventa, Giovanni
Plenio, Martin B.
Ng, Nelly H. Y.
Son, Jeongrak
contents Time-translation symmetry strongly constrains physical dynamics, yet systematic characterization for continuous-variable systems lags behind its discrete-variable counterpart. We close this gap by providing a rigorous classification of Gaussian quantum operations that are covariant under time translations, termed Gaussian covariant operations. We show that several key results known for discrete-variable covariant operations break down in the Gaussian optical setting: discrepancies arise in physical and thermodynamic implementation, in the extensivity of asymmetry, and in catalytic advantages. Our results provide comprehensive mathematical and operational toolkits for Gaussian covariant operations, including a peculiar pair of asymmetry measures that are completely non-extensive. Our findings also reveal surprising consequences of the interplay among symmetry, Gaussianity, and thermodynamic constraints, suggesting that real-world scenarios with multiple constraints have a rich structure not accessible from examining individual constraints separately.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_02471
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Gaussian time-translation covariant operations: structure, implementation, and thermodynamics
Hu, Xueyuan
Lautenbacher, Lea
Spaventa, Giovanni
Plenio, Martin B.
Ng, Nelly H. Y.
Son, Jeongrak
Quantum Physics
Time-translation symmetry strongly constrains physical dynamics, yet systematic characterization for continuous-variable systems lags behind its discrete-variable counterpart. We close this gap by providing a rigorous classification of Gaussian quantum operations that are covariant under time translations, termed Gaussian covariant operations. We show that several key results known for discrete-variable covariant operations break down in the Gaussian optical setting: discrepancies arise in physical and thermodynamic implementation, in the extensivity of asymmetry, and in catalytic advantages. Our results provide comprehensive mathematical and operational toolkits for Gaussian covariant operations, including a peculiar pair of asymmetry measures that are completely non-extensive. Our findings also reveal surprising consequences of the interplay among symmetry, Gaussianity, and thermodynamic constraints, suggesting that real-world scenarios with multiple constraints have a rich structure not accessible from examining individual constraints separately.
title Gaussian time-translation covariant operations: structure, implementation, and thermodynamics
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02471