Quantum bucket brigade

Client
Joint Quantum Institute
Year
2023
Type
editorial illustration
Field
quantum information / disordered systems
Links
JQI story
Description
Editorial illustration for a story about how disorder changes quantum speed limits in a one-dimensional spin chain.

Context

The JQI story explained new quantum speed limits for systems with disorder. In the research analogy, spins pass information along a one-dimensional line like a bucket brigade, but a disordered connection can slow the handoff.

Approach

I used the bucket-brigade analogy directly. Repeated blue buckets show regular handoffs, while one red bucket and hand marks the disordered link. The arrows inside the buckets represent quantum states moving along the chain.