Only quantum channels save work by waiting

As the paper states it, in briefReleasing each output of a repeated channel before the next input arrives costs nothing extra for classical channels, and can cost extra for quantum ones.

Blind checks

Every result passed a blind refutation-first check

Machine checks

Machine checks in Python

In Lean

Finite and algebraic cores in Lean with Mathlib.

Lean

Selected parts.

Peer review

Not yet.

The verification label is the one shared by the four companion papers, given in full on The price of time order.

Every check here is internal. How we check results.

Novelty

Extends named prior work: the batch cost is the thermodynamic capacity of Faist, Berta and Brandão, credited, and Rybár and Ziman’s repeatable channels are credited; at zero Hamiltonian the law is the authors’ earlier work. New, in the paper’s words: the finite-temperature law with work in place of purity, the converse at every fixed error, and the fixed-dimension undecidability.

PDF

papers/save-work-v1.0.2.pdf, version 1.0.2, 896,722 bytes.

SHA-256 6a62ca5f7c767271d05c9b3cc3344a4fae83ec50c7098ac528fda543922f8dbf

DOI

10.5281/zenodo.23323044; all versions 10.5281/zenodo.23310624

Code

github.com/Apsiape/save-work-by-waiting

1. 12 Oct 2026The four thermodynamics papers of 11 October cited Thompson et al. with a DOI that did not resolve. Version 1.0.2 of each paper gives the correct DOI, 10.1103/dryx-l5rt.

All corrections, and what counts as one.

@misc{douglas2026savework,
  author  = {Douglas, Seth and Mghirbi, Nidhal},
  title   = {Only quantum channels save work by waiting},
  year    = {2026},
  version = {1.0.2},
  doi     = {10.5281/zenodo.23323044},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23323044}
}

save-work.bibAll papers as BibTeX