Finite-time quantum thermodynamic processes

We study a single quantum object subject to a parametrized distortion of its discrete spectrum and to a parametrized change of its state, which remains diagonal in its invariant energy eigenbasis. The Carnot and the Otto cycle are investigated in the quasistatic as well as in the dynamic (finite time) regime. The second law is found to be valid as a result of this control, irrespective of the type of attractor states chosen. For specific control functions analytical results are obtained for the work, heat, and efficiency. The influence of dissipation is discussed.     

Finite time thermodynamic analysis of quantum Otto heat engine with squeezed thermal bath

We investigate the finite time performance of reciprocating quantum Otto heat engine coupled to squeezed hot reservoir. We emphasize the converged limit cycle where each stroke is performed in finite time. To fully exploit the quantum availability provided by the squeezed bath, an optimal frequency protocol in the work extraction stroke is explicitly proposed. The power output is optimized with respect to the hot and cold isochore times. Thermodynamic analysis shows that for a wide range of squeezing parameters, efficiency at maximum power exceeds the generalized Curzon–Ahlborn efficiency defined by the effective temperature of the squeezed bath.     

Kerr相互作用下量子相干性分布和量子信息流动

本文针对Kerr相互作用下系统中量子相干性的动力学分布进行了研究.所讨论系统包含两个没有相互作用的原子,每个原子都被囚禁在各自的光腔中,同时光腔被充满了非线性Kerr介质.研究发现非线性Kerr相互作用能够增加两原子间的量子相干性,而且增大的幅度会随着Kerr相互作用强度的增加而得以提高.其次,借助迹距离的方法,还探讨了非线性Kerr相互作用对于原子与光腔之间的量子信息流动的影响,发现Kerr相互作用可以加快量子信息回流到原子子系统中,抑制原子子系统与其余子系统间的量子信息交换,阻碍量子信息在系统中不同子系统间的流动,从而保护原子子系统中拥有的量子信息.     

Kinetic transport theory with quantum coherence

We derive transport equations for fermions and bosons in spatially or temporally varying backgrounds with special symmetries, by use of the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism. In a noninteracting theory the coherence information is shown to be encoded in new singular shells for the 2-point function. Imposing this phase space structure to the interacting theory leads to a a self-consistent equation of motion for a physcial density matrix, including coherence and a well defined collision integral. The method is applied e.g. to demonstrate how an initially coherent out-of-equlibrium state approaches equlibrium through decoherence and thermalization.     

Freezing quantum coherence with weak measurement

We show how to optimally protect quantum states and freeze coherence under incoherent channels using a quantum weak measurement and quantum measurement reversal. In particular, we present explicit formulas for the conditions for freezing quantum coherence in a given quantum state.     

The second law, Maxwell's demon, and work derivable from quantum heat engines

With a class of quantum heat engines which consists of two-energy-eigenstate systems undergoing, respectively, quantum adiabatic processes and energy exchanges with heat baths at different stages of a cycle, we are able to clarify some important aspects of the second law of thermodynamics. The quantum heat engines also offer a practical way, as an alternative to Szilard's engine, to physically realize Maxwell's demon. While respecting the second law on the average, they are also capable of extracting more work from the heat baths than is otherwise possible in thermal equilibrium.     

Quantum computers and quantum coherence

If the states of spins in solids can be created, manipulated, and measured at the single-quantum level, an entirely new form of information processing, quantum computing, will be possible. We first give an overview of quantum information processing, showing that the famous Shor speedup of integer factoring is just one of a host of important applications for qubits, including cryptography, counterfeit protection, channel capacity enhancement, distributed computing, and others. We review our proposed spin-quantum dot architecture for a quantum computer, and we indicate a variety of first generation materials, optical, and electrical measurements which should be considered. We analyze the efficiency of a two-dot device as a transmitter of quantum information via the propagation of qubit carriers (i.e. electrons) in a Fermi sea.     

A new method for quantum processes in fermionic heat baths

The general path-integral formalism for real-time dynamics for a quantum system in a fermionic environment proposed previously is investigated by using a new method called local adiabatic transformation. This method is based on the observation that in the long-time limit (the time scale of the system is much larger than that of the environment, typically characterized by the inverse of the cutoff frequency of the environment), most degrees of freedom of the environment will follow the dynamics adiabatically. This feature is utilized by transforming the original problem of coordinate coupling into a problem of velocity coupling. This is achieved by making some simple unitary transformation on the fermion field (before path-integrating out of that field). By doing perturbations on the new problem, all the previous important results are recovered. Further-more, generalizations to more realistic situations [for example, a particle traveling over a large distance and coupled to a Fermi gas through the phase factor exp(ik·R) (the coupling may involve many channels of angular momentum)] are considered and significant results obtained.     

Black holes and quantum coherence

We attempt to gain some insight into the issue of whether pure states evolve to density matrices in the black hole evaporation process by examining the mode functions of the particles entering the black hole which are correlated with the particles which escape to infinity. We show that these particles enter the black hole singularity at relatively early times. This tends to support the view that pure states evolve to density matrices, i.e., that in this process quantum coherence is lost.     

Experiments on quantum coherence with cold atoms

Coherence, or superposition of atomic states drastically modifies optical properties of atomic media, gives rise to a plethora of interference effects in the interaction of light and atoms and finds applications in quantum information and metrology. This paper presents some experiments on quantum coherences with cold atoms and discusses their possible applications.     

Classical and thermodynamic work fluctuations

We have studied the nature of classical work (W _c ) and thermodynamic work (W) fluctuations in systems driven out of equilibrium both in transient and time periodic steady state. As the observation time of a large number of trajectories increases, the fraction of trajectories which exhibit excursions away from the typical behaviour, namely, W _c < 0, W < Δ F and dissipated heat Q < 0 decreases as anticipated for macroscopic time scales. An analytical expression for such trajectories is obtained. Trajectory for which W _c < 0 may not correspond to W < Δ F or Q < 0. The applicability of steady state fluctuation theorems is discussed in our linear as well as nonlinear models.     

The set of triple-resonance sequences with a multiple quantum coherence evolution period

The new pulse sequence building block that relies on evolution of heteronuclear multiple quantum coherences is proposed. The particular chemical shifts are obtained in multiple quadrature, using linear combinations of frequencies taken from spectra measured at different quantum levels. The pulse sequences designed in this way consist of small number of RF-pulses, are as short as possible, and could be applied for determination of coupling constants. The examples presented involve 2D correlations HNCO, HNCA, HN(CO)CA, and H(N)COCA via heteronuclear zero and double coherences, as well as 2D HNCOCA technique with simultaneous evolution of triple and three distinct single quantum coherences. Applications of the new sequences are presented for 13C,15N-labeled ubiquitin.     

Relating quantum privacy and quantum coherence: an operational approach

Given many realizations of a state or a channel as a resource, two parties can generate a secret key as well as entanglement. We describe protocols to perform the secret key distillation (as it turns out, with optimal rate). Then we show how to achieve optimal entanglement generation rates by "coherent" implementation of a class of secret key agreement protocols, proving the long-conjectured "hashing inequality."     

Stochastic processes associated with quantum systems

Stochastic processes have been useful in constructing and studying states in Quantum Field Theory (e.g., the Erice Lectures [3], Simon [2], Glimm and Jaffle [6] and in Quantum Statistical Mechanics (e.g., Ginibre [5], Høegh-Khron [7], Fröhlich [4], Driessler, Landau and Perez [2]). By analytically continuing into imaginary time, we may in certain cases replace the non-commulative algebra of observables of the quantum system by a commulative algebra consisting of functions of a stochastic process.In this article we are going to discuss an appropriate mathematical framework for this connection between quantum systems and stochastic processes.     

Geometry of skew information-based quantum coherence

We study the skew information-based coherence of quantum states and derive explicit formulas for Werner states and isotropic states in a set of autotensors of mutually unbiased bases (MUBs). We also give surfaces of skew information-based coherence for Bell-diagonal states and a special class of X states in both computational basis and in MUBs. Moreover, we depict the surfaces of the skew information-based coherence for Bell-diagonal states under various types of local nondissipative quantum channels. The results show similar as well as different features compared with relative entropy of coherence and l₁ norm of coherence.     

Simulation of optimal work extraction for quantum systems with work storage

The capacity to extract work from a quantum heat machine is not only of practical value but also lies at the heart of understanding quantum thermodynamics. In this paper, we investigate optimal work extraction for quantum systems with work storage, where extracting work is completed by a unitary evolution on the composite system. We consider the physical requirement of energy conservation both strictly and on average. For both, we construct their corresponding unitaries and propose variational q...     

Towards a kinetic theory for fermions with quantum coherence

A new density matrix and corresponding quantum kinetic equations are introduced for fermions undergoing coherent evolution either in time (coherent particle production) or in space (quantum reflection). A central element in our derivation is finding new spectral solutions for the 2-point Green's functions written in the Wigner representation, that are carrying the information of the quantum coherence. Physically observable density matrix is then defined from the bare singular 2-point function by convoluting it with the extrenous information about the state of the system. The formalism is shown to reproduce familiar results from the Dirac equation approach, like Klein problem and nonlocal reflection from a mass wall. The notion of the particle number in the presence of quantum coherence is shown to be particularly transparent in the current picture. We extend the formalism to the case of mixing fields and show how the usual flavour mixing and oscillation of neutrinos emerges again from a singular shell structure. Finally, we show how the formalism can be extended to include decohering interactions.     

One-way quantum deficit and quantum coherence in the anisotropic XY chain

In this study, we investigate pairwise non-classical correlations measured using a one-way quantum deficit as well as quantum coherence in the XY spin-1/2 chain in a transverse magnetic field for both zero and finite temperatures. The analytical and numerical results of our investigations are presented. In the case when the temperature is zero, it is shown that the one-way quantum deficit can characterize quantum phase transitions as well as quantum coherence. We find that these measures have a clear critical point at λ = 1. When λ 1, the one-way quantum deficit has an analytical expression that coincides with the relative entropy of coherence. We also study an XX model and an Ising chain at the finite temperatures.     

Amplifying and freezing of quantum coherence using weak measurement and quantum measurement reversal

We analyze universal conditions where the l_1 norm and relative entropy of coherence are amplified and frozen under identical bit-flip channels;that is,using pre-measurements(quantum weak measurements or quantum measurement reversals) on the systems before undergoing local bit-flip channels.With the option of quantum weak measurements or quantum measurement reversals,the measurement strength and the success probability are all determined by the initial state of the quantum system.