Eur. Phys. J. D 19, 263-266 (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e20020077

Quantum computer inverting time arrow for macroscopic systems

Laboratoire de Physique Quantique ( UMR 5626 du CNRS) , Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France

Corresponding author: ^a dima@irsamc.ups-tlse.fr

Received: 31 October 2001
Published online: 15 May 2002

Abstract

Since Boltzmann developed the statistical theory for macroscopic thermodynamics the question has relentlessly been put forward of how time-reversibility at microscopic level is compatible with macroscopic irreversibility. Here we show that a quantum computer can efficiently simulate a macroscopic thermodynamic process with chaotic microscopic dynamics and invert the time arrow even in presence of quantum errors. In contrast, small errors in classical computer simulation of this dynamics grow exponentially with time and rapidly destroy time-reversibility.