Fluctuation, Dissipation, and Entanglement: the Classical and Quantum Theory of Thermal Magnetic Noise

Abstract

A general theory of thermal magnetic fluctuations near conductive materials is developed; such fluctuations are the magnetic analog of Johnson noise. For realistic experiments in quantum computing and magnetic resonance force microscopy, the predicted relaxation can be rapid enough that substantial experimental care should be taken to minimize it. The same Hamiltonian matrix elements that govern fluctuation and dissipation are shown to also govern entanglement and renormalization, and a specific example of a fluctuation-dissipation-entanglement theorem is constructed.