Quantum timekeeping and the dynamics of scrambling in critical systems
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arXiv
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| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866908923105116160 |
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| author | Tripathy, Devjyoti Centrone, Federico Deffner, Sebastian |
| author_facet | Tripathy, Devjyoti Centrone, Federico Deffner, Sebastian |
| contents | In this work, we develop a quantum metrological framework for quantum chaos by showing that local subsystems of information scrambling systems naturally function as quantum stopwatches. The reduced quantum state of a subsystem encodes the passage of time through its growing distinguishability from the initial preparation. Treating time as the estimation parameter, we then derive a generalized quantum Cramer-Rao bound that directly relates the precision of time estimation to the decay of out-of-time ordered correlators (OTOCs) and subsystem quantum Fisher information (QFI). As a main result, we obtain continuity bounds for quantum Lyapunov exponent in terms of the subsystem QFI in quantumly chaotic dynamics. Furthermore, using a scaling analysis based on imaginary-time correlators, we show that the subsystem QFI exhibits universal critical amplification near quantum phase transitions. Our results are demonstrated and verified by a numerical analysis of the dynamics of a chaotic Ising chain. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_13016 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Quantum timekeeping and the dynamics of scrambling in critical systems Tripathy, Devjyoti Centrone, Federico Deffner, Sebastian Quantum Physics Statistical Mechanics In this work, we develop a quantum metrological framework for quantum chaos by showing that local subsystems of information scrambling systems naturally function as quantum stopwatches. The reduced quantum state of a subsystem encodes the passage of time through its growing distinguishability from the initial preparation. Treating time as the estimation parameter, we then derive a generalized quantum Cramer-Rao bound that directly relates the precision of time estimation to the decay of out-of-time ordered correlators (OTOCs) and subsystem quantum Fisher information (QFI). As a main result, we obtain continuity bounds for quantum Lyapunov exponent in terms of the subsystem QFI in quantumly chaotic dynamics. Furthermore, using a scaling analysis based on imaginary-time correlators, we show that the subsystem QFI exhibits universal critical amplification near quantum phase transitions. Our results are demonstrated and verified by a numerical analysis of the dynamics of a chaotic Ising chain. |
| title | Quantum timekeeping and the dynamics of scrambling in critical systems |
| topic | Quantum Physics Statistical Mechanics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.13016 |