Arrow of Time as an indicator of Measurement-Induced Phase Transitions
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arXiv
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Preprint |
| Publicado: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866913055725584384 |
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| author | Hurvitz, Nitay Kochol, Alon Fleurov, Victor Sela, Eran |
| author_facet | Hurvitz, Nitay Kochol, Alon Fleurov, Victor Sela, Eran |
| contents | Measurement-induced phase transitions (MIPTs) in monitored quantum systems are typically diagnosed using entanglement-based measures. Here, we develop a complementary thermodynamic perspective based on the arrow of time (AoT), which arises from the intrinsic irreversibility of the quantum measurements driving these transitions. We study the AoT - defined as the logarithmic ratio of forward and backward trajectory probabilities - across a family of models exhibiting MIPTs. We find that, like entanglement entropy, the AoT is a nonlinear functional of the averaged density matrix; however, in contrast to entanglement, it is associated with a local operator. To determine whether the AoT exhibits critical behavior, we formulate and exactly solve a model of a random quantum circuit with non-projective measurements. This allows us to analytically demonstrate that the AoT displays nonanalytic behavior and identify its critical exponent. Our results establish the AoT as a novel diagnostic for phase transitions in monitored quantum systems. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_20828 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Arrow of Time as an indicator of Measurement-Induced Phase Transitions Hurvitz, Nitay Kochol, Alon Fleurov, Victor Sela, Eran Statistical Mechanics Quantum Physics Measurement-induced phase transitions (MIPTs) in monitored quantum systems are typically diagnosed using entanglement-based measures. Here, we develop a complementary thermodynamic perspective based on the arrow of time (AoT), which arises from the intrinsic irreversibility of the quantum measurements driving these transitions. We study the AoT - defined as the logarithmic ratio of forward and backward trajectory probabilities - across a family of models exhibiting MIPTs. We find that, like entanglement entropy, the AoT is a nonlinear functional of the averaged density matrix; however, in contrast to entanglement, it is associated with a local operator. To determine whether the AoT exhibits critical behavior, we formulate and exactly solve a model of a random quantum circuit with non-projective measurements. This allows us to analytically demonstrate that the AoT displays nonanalytic behavior and identify its critical exponent. Our results establish the AoT as a novel diagnostic for phase transitions in monitored quantum systems. |
| title | Arrow of Time as an indicator of Measurement-Induced Phase Transitions |
| topic | Statistical Mechanics Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.20828 |