Research theme · 02
Quantum foundations and emergent physics
The quantum origins of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and the emergence of smooth spacetime from quantum gravity.
How do familiar macroscopic laws and structures emerge from an underlying quantum description? We study this question across thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, classical behavior, and spacetime.
The common thread is emergence: identifying the conditions under which microscopic quantum physics gives rise to an effective description at larger scales. Our research connects foundational questions to specific models, observables, and quantum geometries.
Research direction · 01
Quantum-dynamical foundations of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
How do thermodynamics and statistical mechanics arise from quantum dynamics? We investigate the conditions under which quantum systems admit an equilibrium description, how observables thermalize, and how macroscopic laws emerge from microscopic evolution.
Work in this direction includes observable statistical mechanics, eigenstate thermalization, and the role of quantum constraints at equilibrium. These questions connect the foundations of statistical physics to the dynamics of many-body systems.
Papers in this direction
2025
Non-classicality at equilibrium and efficient predictions under non-commuting charges
L. Scarpa, N. Ranabhat, A. Te'eni, A. Alhajri, V. Vedral, F. Anza, L. P. García-Pintos
arXiv:2507.22882 (2025)Preprint
Observable Statistical Mechanics
L. Scarpa, A. Alhajri, V. Vedral, F. Anza
arXiv:2309.15173 (2025)Preprint
2022
Geometric quantum thermodynamics
F. Anza, J. P. Crutchfield
Physical Review E 106 (5) (2022)
Szilard Engines as Quantum Thermodynamical Systems
M. Ashrafi, K. J. Ray, F. Anza, J. P. Crutchfield
arXiv:2010.14652 (2022)Preprint
2020
Logarithmic growth of local entropy and total correlations in many-body localized dynamics
F. Anza, F. Pietracaprina, J. Goold
Quantum 4 250 (2020)
2018
Eigenstate Thermalization for Degenerate Observables
F. Anza, C. Gogolin, M. Huber
Physical Review Letters 120 (15) (2018)
New Equilibrium Ensembles for Isolated Quantum Systems
F. Anza
Entropy 20 (10) 744 (2018)
2017
Information-theoretic equilibrium and observable thermalization
F. Anzà, V. Vedral
Scientific Reports 7 (1) (2017)
Research direction · 02
Thermodynamic emergence of smooth spacetime from quantum gravity
How could a smooth spacetime emerge from the quantum degrees of freedom that describe gravity at the Planck scale? We explore the possibility that smooth spacetime arises as a thermodynamic, potentially non-equilibrium, limit of quantum gravity.
This direction connects the foundations of statistical mechanics with quantum geometry. Related work examines typicality in spin-network states, constraints in loop quantum gravity, and the fate of the hoop conjecture in quantum gravity.
Papers in this direction
2018
Pure states statistical mechanics: On its foundations and applications to quantum gravity
F. Anza
arXiv:1808.00535 (2018)Preprint
2017
Fate of the Hoop Conjecture in Quantum Gravity
F. Anzà, G. Chirco
Physical Review Letters 119 (23) (2017)
2016
Typicality in spin-network states of quantum geometry
F. Anza, G. Chirco
Physical Review D 94 (8) (2016)
2015
A note on the secondary simplicity constraints in loop quantum gravity
F. Anzà, S. Speziale
Classical and Quantum Gravity 32 (19) 195015 (2015)
Research direction · 03
Emergence of classical structure
How does a classical description become possible within a quantum universe? We study how the structure of quantum states and their correlations can support the emergence of classical behavior.
Our work on branching states connects this question to the organization of information in quantum systems.
Papers in this direction
2024
Branching States as The Emergent Structure of a Quantum Universe
A. Touil, F. Anza, S. Deffner, J. P. Crutchfield
Quantum 8 1494 (2024)