Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme

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SYMM: Symposium Micromachines

SYMM 1: Micromachines

SYMM 1.3: Invited Talk

Friday, March 9, 2018, 14:30–15:00, RW HS

Autonomous quantum machines and timekeeping — •Marcus Huber — Boltzmanngasse 3, Vienna, Austria

We introduce the concept of an autonomous quantum clock, which represents a minimal model of a quantum clock that is both complete and self-contained. It allows us to elucidate the fundamental limitations in the process of timekeeping without implicitly assuming unaccounted-for resources through external control. We focus on the case where the out-of-thermal-equilibrium resource powering the clock is a hot thermal bath. We show that the clock's accuracy and resolution, i.e. it's performance, are intimately related to the power the clock dissipates. In other words, measuring time results in an increase in entropy. This finding provides a quantitative basis for the intuitive connection between the second law of thermodynamics and the arrow of time. On the practical side the findings complement resource theoretic approaches to quantum thermodynamics by unveiling a hidden cost of timing machine cycles.