Symmetry-initialized quantum Gibbs sampling: a non-Abelian asymmetry cascade

Abstract:For a quantum Gibbs sampler whose mixing bottleneck is a weakly broken symmetry, I show that the correct initialization is determined by representation theory. I first prove a general speedup-versus-prefactor dichotomy: by exactly eliminating slow-mode overlap, I convert a nominal prefactor reduction into a fundamental, asymptotic acceleration of the system's mixing time. I then show that when the bottleneck is a weakly broken symmetry, the otherwise exponentially expensive bottleneck eigenvector is the symmetry this http URL a non-Abelian group $G$, I prove that the correct initialization target is the group-averaging asymmetry. Projecting this asymmetry out requires a $G$-invariant input. Partial, subgroup-invariant inputs produce a cascade of mixing-time speedups indexed by the subgroup lattice. Conversely, matching first moments alone is provably this http URL asymmetry is a directly measurable initialization target. I verify these results analytically and numerically in an $SU(2)$ Davies sampler where total-spin multiplets constitute the slow modes. The predicted speedup cascade emerges with relaxation rates scaling linearly with the symmetry-breaking parameter. Finally, the model maps the boundaries of the asymmetry target, illustrating where the separate matching of conserved logical data becomes necessary.

Quantum Physics (quant-ph); Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech); Data Structures and Algorithms (cs.DS); High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th); Mathematical Physics (math-ph)

arXiv:2608.00055 [quant-ph]

(or arXiv:2608.00055v1 [quant-ph] for this version)