Nonperturbative analysis of spontaneous emission in one dimensional special photonic crystals

The retarded spontaneous emission (SpE) process of a two-level atom embedded in realistic one dimensional photonic crystals (1DPC) is investigated with the quantum nonperturbative theory. The atomic transient decay is divided into two processes: the first comes from the natural decay to free space and the second is induced by the reflected field emitted from the atom itself. Due to the multi-reflection in the multi-layer structure, the correct delay time of the induced decay process is hard to calculate in the usual ways. However with the special but practical 1DPC provided, we give the analytic result of the atomic dynamic decay in 1DPC. Our result gives a clear picture to show the process which the atom feels the surrounding.     

Quantum Zeno effect: Quantum shuffling and Markovianity

The behavior displayed by a quantum system when it is perturbed by a series of von Neumann measurements along time is analyzed. Because of the similarity between this general process with giving a deck of playing cards a shuffle, here it is referred to as quantum shuffling, showing that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects emerge naturally as two time limits. Within this framework, a connection between the gradual transition from anti-Zeno to Zeno behavior and the appearance of an underlying Markovian dynamics is found. Accordingly, although a priori it might result counterintuitive, the quantum Zeno effect corresponds to a dynamical regime where any trace of knowledge on how the unperturbed system should evolve initially is wiped out (very rapid shuffling). This would explain why the system apparently does not evolve or decay for a relatively long time, although it eventually undergoes an exponential decay. By means of a simple working model, conditions characterizing the shuffling dynamics have been determined, which can be of help to understand and to devise quantum control mechanisms in a number of processes from the atomic, molecular and optical physics.     

Zeno and anti-Zeno effects for quantum Brownian motion

In this Letter, we investigate the occurrence of the Zeno and anti-Zeno effects for quantum Brownian motion. We single out the parameters of both the system and the reservoir governing the crossover between Zeno and anti-Zeno dynamics. We demonstrate that, for high reservoir temperatures, the short time behavior of environment induced decoherence is ultimately responsible for the occurrence of either the Zeno or the anti-Zeno effect. Finally, we suggest a way to manipulate the decay rate of the system and to observe a controlled continuous passage from decay suppression to decay acceleration using engineered reservoirs in the trapped ion context.     

Dynamics of quantum zeno and anti-zeno efects in an open system

We provide a general dynamical approach for the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects in an open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements.In our approach the repeated measurements are described by a general dynamical model without the wave function collapse postulation.Based on that model,we further study both the short-time and long-time evolutions of the open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements,and derive the measurement-modified decay rates of the excited state.In the cases with frequent ideal measurements at zero-temperature,we re-obtain the same decay rate as that from the wave function collapse postulation(Nature,2000,405:546).The correction to the ideal decay rate is also obtained under the non-ideal measurements.Especially,we find that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects are possibly enhanced by the non-ideal natures of measurements.For the open system under measurements with arbitrary period,we generally derive the rate equation for the long-time evolution for the cases with arbitrary temperature and noise spectrum,and show that in the long-time evolution the noise spectrum is efectively tuned by the repeated measurements.Our approach is also able to describe the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects given by the phase modulation pulses,as well as the relevant quantum control schemes.     

Dynamics of quantum zeno and anti-zeno effects in an open system

We provide a general dynamical approach for the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects in an open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements.In our approach the repeated measurements are described by a general dynamical model without the wave function collapse postulation.Based on that model,we further study both the short-time and long-time evolutions of the open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements,and derive the measurement-modified decay rates of the excited state.In the cases with frequent ideal measurements at zero-temperature,we re-obtain the same decay rate as that from the wave function collapse postulation(Nature,2000,405:546).The correction to the ideal decay rate is also obtained under the non-ideal measurements.Especially,we find that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects are possibly enhanced by the non-ideal natures of measurements.For the open system under measurements with arbitrary period,we generally derive the rate equation for the long-time evolution for the cases with arbitrary temperature and noise spectrum,and show that in the long-time evolution the noise spectrum is efectively tuned by the repeated measurements.Our approach is also able to describe the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects given by the phase modulation pulses,as well as the relevant quantum control schemes.     

Quantum Zeno and Anti-Zeno Effects in the Dynamics of Non-Degenerate Hyper-Raman Processes Coupled to Two Linear Waveguides

The effect of the presence of two probe waveguides on the dynamics of hyper-Raman processes is studied in terms of quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects. Specifically, the enhancement (diminution) of the evolution of the hyper-Raman processes due to interaction with the probe waveguides via evanescent waves is viewed as quantum Zeno (anti-Zeno) effect. This study considers the two probe waveguides interacting with only one of the optical modes at a time. For instance, as a specific scenario, it is considered that the two non-degenerate pump modes interact with each probe waveguide linearly, while Stokes and anti-Stokes modes do not interact with the probes. Similarly, in another scenario, it is assumed both the probe waveguides interact with Stokes (anti-Stokes) mode simultaneously. The present results show that quantum Zeno (anti-Zeno) effect is associated with phase-matching (mismatching). However, it do not find any relation between the presence of the quantum Zeno effect and antibunching in the bosonic modes present in the hyper-Raman processes.     

Quantum Zeno effect by general measurements

It was predicted that frequently repeated measurements on an unstable quantum state may alter the decay rate of the state. This is called the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) or the anti-Zeno effect (AZE), depending on whether the decay is suppressed or enhanced. In conventional theories of the QZE and AZE, effects of measurements are simply described by the projection postulate, assuming that each measurement is an instantaneous and ideal one. However, real measurements are not instantaneous and ideal. For the QZE and AZE by such general measurements, interesting and surprising features have recently been revealed, which we review in this article. The results are based on the quantum measurement theory, which is also reviewed briefly. As a typical model, we consider a continuous measurement of the decay of an excited atom by a photodetector that detects a photon emitted from the atom upon decay. This measurement is an indirect negative-result one, for which the curiosity of the QZE and AZE is emphasized. It is shown that the form factor is renormalized as a backaction of the measurement, through which the decay dynamics is modified. In a special case of the flat response, where the detector responds to every photon mode with an identical response time, results of the conventional theories are reproduced qualitatively. However, drastic differences emerge in general cases where the detector responds only to limited photon modes. For example, against predictions of the conventional theories, the QZE or AZE may take place even for states that exactly follow the exponential decay law. We also discuss relation to the cavity quantum electrodynamics.     

Optically induced polarons in bose-einstein condensates: monitoring composite quasiparticle decay

Nonresonant light scattering off atomic Bose-Einstein condensates is predicted to give rise to hitherto unexplored composite quasiparticles: unstable polarons, i.e., local "impurities" dressed by virtual phonons. Optical monitoring of their spontaneous decay can display either Zeno or anti-Zeno deviations from the golden rule, and thereby probe the temporal correlations of elementary excitations in the condensates.     

Thermal modulation in Zeno and anti-Zeno effects on quantum measurement

We have proposed the mathematical formulations of quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects at non-zero temperature on vibrational population transfer and dissociation of a diatomic system. The proposed formulation has been tested for diatomic systems HBr⁺ and HI using time-dependent Fourier grid Hamiltonian method. The effect of temperature on the dynamics is incorporated through the population distribution at different vibrational states following Boltzmann distribution formula. It has been found that with increase in temperature Zeno effect increases and anti-Zeno effect decreases in case of survival probability on ground vibrational state. In case of dissociation, with increase in temperature Zeno effect increases while anti-Zeno effect remains almost same.     

Quantum‐optical analogies using photonic structures

Engineered photonic waveguides have provided in the past decade an extremely rich laboratory tool to visualize with optical waves the classic analogues of a wide variety of coherent quantum phenomena encountered in atomic, molecular or condensed‐matter physics. As compared to quantum systems, optics offers the rather unique advantage of a direct mapping of the wave function evolution in coordinate space by simple fluorescence imaging or scanning tunneling optical microscopy techniques. In this contribution recent theoretical and experimental advances in the field of quantum‐optical analogies are reviewed. Special attention is devoted to some relevant optical analogies based on the use of curved photonic structures, including: coherent destruction of tunneling in driven bistable potentials; coherent population transfer and adiabatic passage in laser‐driven multilevel atomic systems; quantum decay control and Zeno dynamics; electronic Bloch oscillations and Zener tunneling, Anderson localization and dynamic localization in crystalline potentials.     

Quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno paradoxes

Continuous observation of a time independent projection operator is known to prevent change of state (the quantum Zeno paradox). We discuss the recent result that generic continuous measurement of time dependent projection operators will in fact ensure change of state: an anti-Zeno paradox.     

Tripartite entanglement of atoms trapped in coupled cavities via quantum Zeno dynamics

A scheme is proposed for the generation of a W state for three atoms trapped in spatially separated cavities connected by optical fibers via quantum Zeno dynamics. Our scheme is based on the resulting effective dynamics induced by continuous coupling between the atoms and cavities. The effects of decoherence such as atomic spontaneous emission and the fiber and cavity losses are considered. Numerical results show that the scheme is very robust against the cavity decay due to a tiny excitation probability of the cavity fields during the operation.     

Polarization correlation in the two-photon decay of atomic hydrogen: nonlocality versus entanglement

From the work by Perrie et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 1790 (1985)], photon pairs from the 2s _1/2 → 1s _1/2 (two-photon) decay of atomic hydrogen are known to be quantum mechanically correlated. In these experiments, the polarization states of the photons emitted in back-to-back geometry were shown to violate the Bell inequality as a qualitative sign of nonlocality and entanglement. In the present contribution, we analyze how these nonlocal quantum correlations, as given by the violation of the Bell inequality, differ from the concurrence as a true entanglement measure. Results are shown for both quantifiers in dependence of the decay geometry and the initial polarization of the atoms for the 2s _1/2 → 1s _1/2 and 3d _5/2 → 1s _1/2 two-photon decay of atomic hydrogen. These results display the difference between nonlocality and entanglement and, hence, may stimulate further experiments on nonlocal quantum correlations in atomic systems.     

Quantum Zeno control of decoherence

We demonstrate the possibility of controlling the quantum to classical transition by means of the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects. We consider a quantum harmonic oscillator initially prepared in a Schrödinger cat state and interacting with an engineered amplitude reservoir. We show that the environment induced decoherence transforming the cat state into a statistical mixture can be strongly inhibited by means of either appropriate sequences of measurements or shuttered reservoirs.     

Zeno and anti-zeno polarization control of spin ensembles by induced dephasing

We experimentally and theoretically demonstrate the purity (polarization) control of qubits entangled with multiple spins, using induced dephasing in nuclear magnetic resonance setups to simulate repeated quantum measurements. We show that one may steer the qubit ensemble towards a quasiequilibrium state of a certain purity by choosing suitable time intervals between dephasing operations. These results demonstrate that repeated dephasing at intervals associated with the anti-Zeno regime leads to ensemble purification, whereas those associated with the Zeno regime lead to ensemble mixing.     

What does an observed quantum system reveal to its observer?

The evolution of a quantum system under observation becomes retarded or even impeded. We review this “quantum Zeno effect” in the light of the criticism that has been raised upon a previous attempt to demonstrate it, of later reexaminations of both the projection postulate and the significance of the observations, and of the results of a recent experiment on an individual cold atom. Here, the micro-state of the quantum system gets unveiled with the observation, and the effect of measurement is no longer mixed up with dephasing the object's wave function by the reactive effect of the detection. A procedure is outlined that promises to provide, by observation, an upper limit for the delay of even an exponential decay. Received 11 January 2001 and Received in final form 28 February 2001     

Quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects in surface diffusion of interacting adsorbates

Surface diffusion of interacting adsorbates is here analyzed within the context of two fundamental phenomena of quantum dynamics, namely the quantum Zeno effect and the anti-Zeno effect. The physical implications of these effects are introduced here in a rather simple and general manner within the framework of non-selective measurements and for two (surface) temperature regimes: high and very low (including zero temperature). The quantum intermediate scattering function describing the adsorbate diffusion process is then evaluated for flat surfaces, since it is fully analytical in this case. Finally, a generalization to corrugated surfaces is also discussed. In this regard, it is found that, considering a Markovian framework and high surface temperatures, the anti-Zeno effect has already been observed, though not recognized as such.     

Nonexponential decay via tunneling in tight-binding lattices and the optical zeno effect

An exactly-solvable model for the decay of a metastable state coupled to a semi-infinite, tight-binding lattice, showing large deviations from exponential decay in the strong coupling regime, is presented. An optical realization of the lattice model, based on discrete diffraction in a semi-infinite array of tunneling-coupled optical waveguides, is proposed to test nonexponential decay and for the observation of an optical analog of the quantum Zeno effect.     

Survival probability of a local excitation in a non-Markovian environment: Survival collapse, Zeno and anti-Zeno effects

The decay dynamics of a local excitation interacting with a non-Markovian environment, modeled by a semi-infinite tight-binding chain, is exactly evaluated. We identify distinctive regimes for the dynamics. Sequentially: (i) early quadratic decay of the initial-state survival probability, up to a spreading time t_S, (ii) exponential decay described by a self-consistent Fermi Golden Rule, and (iii) asymptotic behavior governed by quantum diffusion through the return processes, leading to an inverse power law decay. At this last cross-over time t_R a survival collapse becomes possible. This could reduce the survival probability by several orders of magnitude. The cross-over times t_S and t_R allow to assess the range of applicability of the Fermi Golden Rule and give the conditions for the observation of the Zeno and anti-Zeno effect.     

Quantum Zeno effect in atomic spin-exchange collisions

The suppression of spin-exchange relaxation in dense alkali-metal vapors discovered in 1973 and governing modern atomic magnetometers is here reformulated in terms of quantum measurement theory and the quantum Zeno effect. This provides a new perspective of understanding decoherence in spin-polarized atomic vapors.