Prof. Arjendu Pattanayak, Carleton College

"Controlling open quantum systems using measurement back action"

Abstract: This talk will present some recent work from our group demonstrating significant progress towards controlling open quantum systems. I will start from discussing how to interpret weak measurement as generalized fluctuation and dissipation forces. Measurement parameter choices affect the dynamics by altering these forces. Our results show that choice of measurement scheme can be significantly more relevant than system scale in determining how differently the system behaves from its classical limit. These quantum-classical differences also include making a nonlinear system transition from regular to chaotic dynamics and vice versa, depending on other system parameters. We have found that adaptive control can further enhance these effects. I will discuss the implications for energy harvesting devices, the broad lessons learned about the connection between measurement, information, and quantum thermodynamics, as well as the potential for experimental testing of these ideas in various systems.