Exploring Noisy Quantum Thermodynamical Processes via the Depolarizing-Channel Approximation

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Li, Jian, Wang, Xiaoyang, Huber, Marcus, Friis, Nicolai, Bakhshinezhad, Pharnam
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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_version_ 1866915749564514304
author Li, Jian
Wang, Xiaoyang
Huber, Marcus
Friis, Nicolai
Bakhshinezhad, Pharnam
author_facet Li, Jian
Wang, Xiaoyang
Huber, Marcus
Friis, Nicolai
Bakhshinezhad, Pharnam
contents Noise and errors are unavoidable in any realistic quantum process, including processes designed to reduce noise and errors in the first place. In particular, quantum thermodynamical protocols for cooling can be significantly affected, potentially altering both their performance and efficiency. Analytically characterizing the impact of such errors becomes increasingly challenging as the system size grows, particularly in deep quantum circuits where noise can accumulate in complex ways. To address this, we introduce a general framework for approximating the cumulative effect of gate-dependent noise using a global depolarizing channel. We specify the regime in which this approximation provides a reliable description of the noisy dynamics. Applying our framework to the thermodynamical two-sort algorithmic cooling (TSAC) protocol, we analytically derive its asymptotic cooling limit in the presence of noise. Using the cooling limit, the optimal cooling performance is achieved by a finite number of qubits--distinguished from the conventional noiseless TSAC protocol by an infinite number of qubits--and fundamental bounds on the achievable ground-state population are derived. This approach opens new avenues for exploring noisy quantum thermodynamical processes.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_16317
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring Noisy Quantum Thermodynamical Processes via the Depolarizing-Channel Approximation
Li, Jian
Wang, Xiaoyang
Huber, Marcus
Friis, Nicolai
Bakhshinezhad, Pharnam
Quantum Physics
Noise and errors are unavoidable in any realistic quantum process, including processes designed to reduce noise and errors in the first place. In particular, quantum thermodynamical protocols for cooling can be significantly affected, potentially altering both their performance and efficiency. Analytically characterizing the impact of such errors becomes increasingly challenging as the system size grows, particularly in deep quantum circuits where noise can accumulate in complex ways. To address this, we introduce a general framework for approximating the cumulative effect of gate-dependent noise using a global depolarizing channel. We specify the regime in which this approximation provides a reliable description of the noisy dynamics. Applying our framework to the thermodynamical two-sort algorithmic cooling (TSAC) protocol, we analytically derive its asymptotic cooling limit in the presence of noise. Using the cooling limit, the optimal cooling performance is achieved by a finite number of qubits--distinguished from the conventional noiseless TSAC protocol by an infinite number of qubits--and fundamental bounds on the achievable ground-state population are derived. This approach opens new avenues for exploring noisy quantum thermodynamical processes.
title Exploring Noisy Quantum Thermodynamical Processes via the Depolarizing-Channel Approximation
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.16317