On the inherent thermodynamics of quantum information processing

Abstract

A thermodynamically irreversible process generates entropy and dissipates heat. The processing of bits of information can itself at times feature irreversible acts, such as the deletion of a bit, which as demonstrated by Landauer and expanded on by Bennett leads to heat exchange with an environment. This foundationalrelationship between thermodynamic and logical irreversibility invites us to examine this idea in a more general context.Within the domain of quantum information processing, quantum physics mathematically furnishes our information source with a Hilbert space allowing for more general operations. This leads to sources of thermodynamics which were not present in the domain of bits. The generation of non-classical resources such as entanglement towards a computational goal and the accurate autonomous control of a quantum system to carry out a computation both come at a thermodynamic cost. Beyond this, quantum systems are fragile and interaction with their environments leads to error whose impact and mitigation has thermodynamic repercussions.Throughout this project we will explore these connections from different perspectives. Firstly a foundational standpoint, to understand what limitations thermodynamics places on the quantum computations we can carry out and their complexity. Secondly from a pragmatic standpoint, to understand the role ofthermodynamics in the scaling of fault-tolerant quantum computation. In doing so developing a more complete picture on the inherent thermodynamics of quantum information processing and its many different facets.