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 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.     

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.     

Dynamics of atomic decay in a special one dimensional photonic crystal

Recently, Liu et al. [Phys. Rev. B 74, 075314 (2006)] pointed out that the atomic instant decay rate in one dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) showed a series of pulse-like peaks with time. In this paper, we continue their work, and adopt a special 1DPC, in which the refractive indexes of both constitution layers in a period are the same, to perform the analysis in detail. Our results show that the pulse-like peak of instant decay rate originates from the interaction between the atom and the sub-reservoir, the latter of which corresponds to the group of reflected fields having the same optical distance. The atom interacts with such a sub-reservoir mainly after the time needed for propagation. However, near the arrival time of the reflected field, the atomic level is broadened and couples to all frequency components of the sub-reservoir, and the pulse-like peak of instant decay rate appears. Although our conclusion is deduced with the special 1DPC, it is also valid for more general cases and might be useful to measure the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effect, since the interval of repeated measurements may be expanded to several optical cycles in 1DPC, which will facilitate the observation of the quantum Zeno or anti-Zeno effect.     

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.     

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.     

Quantum Anti-Zeno Effect in Artificial Quantum Systems

In this paper, we study a quantum anti-Zeno effect （QAZE） purely induced by repetitive measurements for an artificial atom interacting with a structured bath. This bath can be artificially realized with coupled resonators in one dimension and possesses photonic band structure like Bloeh electron in a periodic potential. In the presence of repetitive measurements, the pure QAZE is discovered as the observable decay is not negligible even for the atomic energy level spacing outside of the energy band of the artificial bath. If there were no measurements, the decay would not happen outside of the band. In this sense, the enhanced decay is completely induced by measurements through the relaxation channels provided by the bath. Besides, we also discuss the controversial golden rule decay rates originated from the van Hove＇s singularities and the effects of the counter-rotating terms.     

Dynamical control of macroscopic quantum tunneling

We show that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects are realizable for macroscopic quantum tunneling by current-bias modulation in Josephson junctions (and their analogs in atomic condensates).     

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 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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

The transition from quantum Zeno to anti-Zeno effects for a qubit in a cavity by varying the cavity frequency

We propose a strategy to demonstrate the transition from the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) to the anti-Zeno effect (AZE) using a superconducting qubit coupled to a transmission line cavity, by varying the central frequency of the cavity mode. Our results are obtained without the rotating wave approximation (RWA), and the initial state (a dressed state) is easy to prepare. Moreover, we find that in the presence of both qubit?s intrinsic bath and the cavity bath, the emergence of the QZE and the AZE behaviors relies not only on the match between the qubit energy-level-spacing and the central frequency of the cavity mode, but also on the coupling strength between the qubit and the cavity mode.     

Noise sensing via stochastic quantum Zeno

The dynamics of any quantum system is unavoidably influenced by the external environment. Thus, the observation of a quantum system (probe) can allow the measure of the environmental features. Here, to spectrally resolve a noise field coupled to the quantum probe, we employ dissipative manipulations of the probe, leading to so-called Stochastic Quantum Zeno (SQZ) phenomena. A quantum system coupled to a stochastic noise field and subject to a sequence of protective Zeno measurements slowly decays from its initial state with a survival probability that depends both on the measurement frequency and the noise. We present a robust sensing method to reconstruct the unknown noise power spectral density by evaluating the survival probability that we obtain when we additionally apply a set of coherent control pulses to the probe. The joint effect of coherent control, protective measurements and noise field on the decay provides us the desired information on the noise field.     

Quantum Zeno effect in trapped ions

A “continuous measurement” quantum Zeno effect (QZE) in the context of trapped ions is predicted. We describe the physical system and study its exact time evolution showing the appearance of Zeno phenomena. New indicators for the occurrence of QZE in oscillatory systems are proposed and carefully discussed.     

Quantum Zeno effect in a nonlinear coupler

The distortion of a spontaneous downconversion process caused by an auxiliary mode coupled to the idler wave is analyzed. In general, a strong coupling with the auxiliary mode tends to hinder the downconversion in the nonlinear medium. On the other hand, provided that the evolution is disturbed by the presence of a phase mismatch, the coupling may increase the speed of the downconversion. These effects are interpreted as being manifestations of quantum Zeno or anti-Zeno effects, respectively, and they are understood by using the dressed modes picture of the device. The possibility of using the coupling as a nontrivial phase-matching technique is pointed out.