{
  "id": "oai:papers.qnfo.org:a-quantized-measurement-action-threshold-as-a-falsifiable-dynamical-phase-transi",
  "slug": "a-quantized-measurement-action-threshold-as-a-falsifiable-dynamical-phase-transi",
  "title": "A Quantized Measurement-Action Threshold as a Falsifiable Dynamical Phase Transition",
  "authors": [
    "Rowan Brad Quni-Gudzinas"
  ],
  "abstract": "Weak measurements on qubits are routine in superconducting-circuit, trapped-ion, and optical experiments, yet standard measurement theory supplies no criterion that tells an experimenter when a definite outcome exists rather than a partially collapsed, noisy state: decoherence theory predicts rates that scale smoothly with measurement strength and no critical point at all. We formalize a threshold conjecture under which a definite outcome emerges only when the accumulated measurement action S crosses a quantized value, with the first threshold at S_c = ℏln 2 = 7.3097×10^-35 J s, derived by combining Landauer's principle with the time-energy uncertainty relation. We construct a free-energy functional F[ρ] = ⟨ H⟩ - T S(ρ) + λ Δ I, show by Landau expansion that the transition is second-order with order-parameter exponent β = 1/2 and information-susceptibility exponent $1$, and derive the Fisher-information threshold t_c = 2/F_Q. For an assumed measurement rate γ = 10⁴ mathrms^-1 this gives t_c = ln 2/(2γ) ≈ 34.66 mus; for weak measurements of strength ε = 0.1 the threshold falls after N_c ≈ 138.6 measurements. Sub-threshold dynamics are predicted to be non-unitary \"flickering\" without pointer stabilization, a signature categorically distinct from decoherence. If confirmed, readout-protocol design shifts from heuristic error budgeting to action budgeting; the conjecture is stated with explicit falsification criteria.",
  "abstract_markdown": "Weak measurements on qubits are routine in superconducting-circuit, trapped-ion, and optical experiments, yet standard measurement theory supplies no criterion that tells an experimenter when a definite outcome exists rather than a partially collapsed, noisy state: decoherence theory predicts rates that scale smoothly with measurement strength and no critical point at all. We formalize a threshold conjecture under which a definite outcome emerges only when the accumulated measurement action $S$ crosses a quantized value, with the first threshold at $S_c = \\hbar\\ln 2 = 7.3097\\times10^{-35}\\ \\mathrm{J\\,s}$, derived by combining Landauer's principle with the time-energy uncertainty relation. We construct a free-energy functional $F[\\rho] = \\langle H\\rangle - T\\,S(\\rho) + \\lambda\\,\\Delta I$, show by Landau expansion that the transition is second-order with order-parameter exponent $\\beta = 1/2$ and information-susceptibility exponent $1$, and derive the Fisher-information threshold $t_c = 2/F_Q$. For an assumed measurement rate $\\gamma = 10^{4}\\ \\mathrm{s^{-1}}$ this gives $t_c = \\ln 2/(2\\gamma) \\approx 34.66\\ \\mu\\mathrm{s}$; for weak measurements of strength $\\varepsilon = 0.1$ the threshold falls after $N_c \\approx 138.6$ measurements. Sub-threshold dynamics are predicted to be non-unitary \"flickering\" without pointer stabilization, a signature categorically distinct from decoherence. If confirmed, readout-protocol design shifts from heuristic error budgeting to action budgeting; the conjecture is stated with explicit falsification criteria.",
  "date": "2026-11-03",
  "first_published": "2026-11-03",
  "last_revised": "2026-11-03T00:00:00Z",
  "modified": "2026-11-03T00:00:00Z",
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  "language": "en",
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  "url": "https://papers.qnfo.org/papers/a-quantized-measurement-action-threshold-as-a-falsifiable-dynamical-phase-transi",
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  "version_url": "https://papers.qnfo.org/papers/a-quantized-measurement-action-threshold-as-a-falsifiable-dynamical-phase-transi/v/1.0.0",
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    "creators": [
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        "name": "Rowan Brad Quni-Gudzinas",
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    "titles": [
      {
        "title": "A Quantized Measurement-Action Threshold as a Falsifiable Dynamical Phase Transition"
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    "publicationYear": "2026",
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        "description": "Weak measurements on qubits are routine in superconducting-circuit, trapped-ion, and optical experiments, yet standard measurement theory supplies no criterion that tells an experimenter when a definite outcome exists rather than a partially collapsed, noisy state: decoherence theory predicts rates that scale smoothly with measurement strength and no critical point at all. We formalize a threshold conjecture under which a definite outcome emerges only when the accumulated measurement action S crosses a quantized value, with the first threshold at S_c = ℏln 2 = 7.3097×10^-35 J s, derived by combining Landauer's principle with the time-energy uncertainty relation. We construct a free-energy functional F[ρ] = ⟨ H⟩ - T S(ρ) + λ Δ I, show by Landau expansion that the transition is second-order with order-parameter exponent β = 1/2 and information-susceptibility exponent $1$, and derive the Fisher-information threshold t_c = 2/F_Q. For an assumed measurement rate γ = 10⁴ mathrms^-1 this gives t_c = ln 2/(2γ) ≈ 34.66 mus; for weak measurements of strength ε = 0.1 the threshold falls after N_c ≈ 138.6 measurements. Sub-threshold dynamics are predicted to be non-unitary \"flickering\" without pointer stabilization, a signature categorically distinct from decoherence. If confirmed, readout-protocol design shifts from heuristic error budgeting to action budgeting; the conjecture is stated with explicit falsification criteria.",
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