Reduced decoherence in large quantum registers

Among the biggest obstacles for building larger (and thus more powerful) quantum-information processors is decoherence, the decay of quantum-information by the coupling between the quantum register and its environment. Procedures for reducing decoherence processes will be essential for successful operation of larger quantum processors. We study model quantum registers consisting of up to 4900 qubits and measure their decay as a function of the register size. We demonstrate that appropriate sequences of qubit rotations reduce the coupling between system and environment for all sizes of the quantum register, thus preserving the quantum-information 50 times longer than without decoupling.     

Dynamical method for quantizing gravity and the problem of decoherence in quantum cosmology

A regularized quantum theory of gravity interacting with matter is constructed. The construction is made on the basis of the method of dynamical quantization of generally covariant theories. A solution of the problem of decoherence in quantum cosmology is proposed on the basis of this method.     

Master and Langevin equations for electromagnetic dissipation and decoherence of density matrices

We set up a forward - backward path integral for a point particle in a bath of photons to derive a master equation for the density matrix which describes electromagnetic dissipation and decoherence. We also derive the associated Langevin equation. As an application, we recalculate the Wigner-Weisskopf formula for the natural line width of an atomic state at zero temperature and find, in addition, the temperature broadening caused by the decoherence term. Our master equation also yields the correct Lamb shift of atomic levels. The two equations may have applications to dilute interstellar gases or to few-particle systems in cavities. Received 29 November 2000 and Received in final form 11 February 2001     

Reduced density matrices of the anisotropic Heisenberg model

The reduced density matrices of the anisotropic Heisenberg model are studied by means of a functional integral representation based on a generalized Poisson process. Integral equations, which are analogous to the classical Kirkwood-Salzburg equations, are then used to prove the existence of the infinite volume limit of the reduced density matrices, analyticity properties with respect to the fugacity (or magnetic field) and the potentials, and a cluster property, in the low fugacity (high magnetic field) region.The research reported in this paper was supported by the National Science Foundation.     

On decoherence in quantum gravity

It was previously argued that the phenomenon of quantum gravitational decoherence described by the Wheeler‐DeWitt equation is responsible for the emergence of the arrow of time. Here we show that the characteristic spatio‐temporal scales of quantum gravitational decoherence are typically logarithmically larger than a characteristic curvature radius of the background space‐time. This largeness is a direct consequence of the fact that gravity is a non‐renormalizable theory, and the corresponding effective field theory is nearly decoupled from matter degrees of freedom in the physical limit . Therefore, as such, quantum gravitational decoherence is too ineffective to guarantee the emergence of the arrow of time and the “quantum‐to‐classical” transition to happen at scales of physical interest. We argue that the emergence of the arrow of time is directly related to the nature and properties of physical observer.

     

Nonlinear quantum cosmology

We study the effects of an information-theoretically motivated nonlinear correction to the Wheeler-deWitt equation in the minisuperspace scheme for flat, k = 0, Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universes. When the only matter is a cosmological constant, the nonlinearity can provide a barrier that screens the original Big Bang, leading to the quantum creation of a universe through tunneling just as in the k = 1 case. When the matter is instead a free massless scalar field, the nonlinearity can again prevent a contracting classical universe from reaching zero size by creating a bounce. Our studies here are self-consistent to leading order in perturbation theory for the nonlinear effects.     

Foundational problems in quantum gravity and quantum cosmology

The conventionalistically based instrumentalist epistemology and methodology underlying the various approaches to the quantization of gravity is contrasted with the operationally based logical analysis practiced by the founders of relativity theory and quantum mechanics in developing their respective disciplines. The foundational problems to which they give rise are described. Their origins are traced to instrumentalist practices which have been in the past the objects of criticisms by Dirac, Heisenberg, Born, and others, but which have nevertheless prevailed in relativistic quantum physics after the emergence of the conventional renormalization program. The operationally based premises of a recently developed geometro-stochastic approach to the quantization of gravity are analyzed. It is shown that their roots lie in the epistemology adopted by the founders of relativity theory and quantum mechanics, and that they reflect a conceptualization of quantum reality which offers the possibility of a resolution of the main foundational problems encountered by the other approaches to quantum gravity.     

Noncommutative quantum cosmology

We consider noncommutative quantum cosmology in the case of the low-energy string effective theory. Exact solutions are found and compared with the commutative case.     

Noncommutative quantum cosmology

We propose a model for noncommutative quantum cosmology by means of a deformation of minisuperspace. For the Kantowski-Sachs metric we are able to find the exact wave function. We construct wave packets and show that new quantum states that "compete" to be the most probable state appear, in clear contrast with the commutative case. A tunneling process could be possible among these states.     

约化密度矩阵及其在量子信息处理中的应用

密度矩阵在量子力学中主要是扩展了态矢量的概念.约化密度矩阵是通过对整个系统中的密度矩阵的某一子系求部分迹得到的.本文首先介绍了约化密度矩阵的定义,然后指出约化密度矩阵在纠缠态的定义、两体系统中量子纠缠的度量、系统与环境耦合造成的退相干的物理机制等量子信息前沿领域方面的应用.     

Entanglement and decoherence in a quantum dimer

The dynamical properties of quantum entanglement in an integrable quantum dimer are studied in terms of the reduced-density linear entropy with various coupling parameters and total boson numbers. The characteristic time of decoherence process in the early-time evolution of the linear entropy is obtained, indicating that the characteristic time and the corresponding entropy exhibit a maximum near the position of the corresponding classical separatrix energy.     

Disorder and decoherence in coined quantum walks

This article aims to provide a review on quantum walks. Starting form a basic idea of discrete-time quantum walks, we will review the impact of disorder and decoherence on the properties of quantum walks. The evolution of the standard quantum walks is deterministic and disorder introduces randomness to the whole system and change interference pattern leading to the localization effect. Whereas, decoherence plays the role of transmitting quantum walks to classical random walks.     

How to calculate decoherence matrices numerically

A central object in the interpretation of quantum mechanics of closed systems is the decoherence matrix. But only for a very small number of models one is able to give explicit expressions for its elements. So numerical methods are required. Unfortunately the dimensions of these matrices are usually very high, which makes also a direct numerical calculation impossible. In this paper I will develop an algorithm that combines the numerical calculation of the elements of the decoherence matrix with a permanent estimation. If the chosen histories are almost decoherent, the algorithm will provide the diagonal and maybe some near to diagonal elements only. In this case, within numerical errors, we can assume, that all not calculated elements are smaller than a given threshold. If the histories are coherent, the algorithm has to calculate too much data (there exist too much non-vanishing elements) and the success depends mainly on the available computer time.As an example I apply this procedure to the Caldeira—Leggett-model.     

Standard clocks in quantum cosmology

A method is proposed for determining the classical time parameter in quantum cosmology that does not destroy the covariance of the theory.St. Petersburg Technical University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 20–24, November, 1993.     

Parallel decoherence in composite quantum systems

For the standard quantum Brownian motion (QBM) model, we point out the occurrence of simultaneous (parallel), mutually irreducible and autonomous decoherence processes. Besides the standard Brownian particle, we show that there is at least another system undergoing the dynamics described by the QBM model. We do this by selecting the two mutually irreducible, global structures (decompositions into subsystems) of the composite system of the QBM model. The generalization of this observation is a new, challenging task in the foundations of the decoherence theory. We do not place our findings in any interpretational context.     

On decoherence in quantum clock synchronization

We study two quantum versions of the Eddington clock-synchronization protocol in the presence of decoherence. The first protocol uses maximally entangled states to achieve the Heisenberg limit for clock synchronization. The second protocol achieves the limit without using entanglement. We show the equivalence of the two protocols under any single-qubit decoherence model that does not itself provide synchronization information.