Quantum Speed Limit Bounds in an Open Quantum Evolution

Abstract

Quantum mechanics dictates bounds for the minimal evolution time between predetermined initial and final states. Several of these Quantum Speed Limit (QSL) bounds were derived for non-unitary dynamics using different approaches. Here, we perform a systematic analysis of the most common QSL bounds in the damped Jaynes-Cummings model, covering the Markovian and non-Markovian regime. We show that only one of the analysed bounds cleaves to the essence of the QSL theory outlined in the pioneer works of Mandelstam \& Tamm and Margolus \& Levitin in the context of unitary evolutions. We also show that all of QSL bounds analysed reflect the fact that in our model non-Markovian effects speed up the quantum evolution. However, it is not possible to infer the Markovian or non-Markovian behaviour of the dynamics only analysing the QSL bounds.