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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.21769 |
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| _version_ | 1866912978572410880 |
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| author | Mannhart, Jochen |
| author_facet | Mannhart, Jochen |
| contents | Recent studies have identified materials and devices whose behavior lies beyond the scope of conventional electronic-structure theory. Such theories are formulated entirely in terms of Hamiltonian evolution and therefore describe only unitary dynamics and thus only a restricted class of quantum systems.
In contrast, electron systems that incorporate quantum measurement as an intrinsic dynamical element undergo Hamiltonian evolution interleaved with projection-induced state updates. This unitary-projective dynamics breaks constraints imposed by purely unitary evolution and permits stochastic population transfer between symmetry-related transport channels, thereby enabling fundamentally new material functionalities. This insight motivates the deliberate design of materials and devices that harness unitary-projective dynamics.
This article explores the foundations of unitary-projective electron dynamics and charts the resulting landscape of quantum materials and their functionalities. Model calculations demonstrate passive mesoscopic structures with intrinsic nonreciprocal single-electron transmission, materials exhibiting a novel category of magnetism, and possible platforms for energy harvesting and conversion with efficiencies that exceed the standard Carnot limit. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_21769 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Materials Beyond Hamiltonian Limits -- Quantum Measurement as a Resource for Material Design Mannhart, Jochen Statistical Mechanics Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Materials Science Quantum Physics Recent studies have identified materials and devices whose behavior lies beyond the scope of conventional electronic-structure theory. Such theories are formulated entirely in terms of Hamiltonian evolution and therefore describe only unitary dynamics and thus only a restricted class of quantum systems. In contrast, electron systems that incorporate quantum measurement as an intrinsic dynamical element undergo Hamiltonian evolution interleaved with projection-induced state updates. This unitary-projective dynamics breaks constraints imposed by purely unitary evolution and permits stochastic population transfer between symmetry-related transport channels, thereby enabling fundamentally new material functionalities. This insight motivates the deliberate design of materials and devices that harness unitary-projective dynamics. This article explores the foundations of unitary-projective electron dynamics and charts the resulting landscape of quantum materials and their functionalities. Model calculations demonstrate passive mesoscopic structures with intrinsic nonreciprocal single-electron transmission, materials exhibiting a novel category of magnetism, and possible platforms for energy harvesting and conversion with efficiencies that exceed the standard Carnot limit. |
| title | Materials Beyond Hamiltonian Limits -- Quantum Measurement as a Resource for Material Design |
| topic | Statistical Mechanics Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Materials Science Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.21769 |