Decoherence induced spontaneous symmetry breaking

We study time dependence of exchange symmetry properties of Bell states when two-qubits interact with local baths having identical parameters. In case of classical noise, we consider a decoherence Hamiltonian which is invariant under swapping the first and second qubits. We find that as the system evolves in time, two of the three symmetric Bell states preserve their qubit exchange symmetry with unit probability, whereas the symmetry of the remaining state survives with a maximum probability of 0.5 at the asymptotic limit. Next, we examine the exchange symmetry properties of the same states under local, quantum mechanical noise which is modeled by two identical spin baths. Results turn out to be very similar to the classical case. We identify decoherence as the main mechanism leading to breaking of qubit exchange symmetry.     

Symplectic quantum mechanics

Using the notion of symplectic structure and Weyl (or star) product of non-commutative geometry, we construct unitary representations for the Galilei group and show how to rewrite the Schrödinger equation in phase space. This approach gives rise to a new procedure to derive Wigner functions without the use of the Liouville-von Neumann equation. Applications are presented by deriving the states of linear and nonlinear oscillators in terms of amplitudes of probability in phase space. The notion of coherent states is also discussed in this context.     

Matched detectors as definers of force

Although quantum states nicely express interference effects, outcomes of experimental trials show no states directly; they indicate properties of probability distributions for outcomes. We prove categorically that probability distributions leave open a choice of quantum states and operators and particles, resolvable only by a move beyond logic, which, inspired or not, can be characterized as a guess. By recognizing guesswork as inescapable in choosing quantum states and particles, we free up the use of particles as theoretical inventions by which to describe experiments with devices, and thereby replace the postulate of state reductions by a theorem. By using the freedom to invent probe particles in modeling light detection, we develop a quantum model of the balancing of a light-induced force, with application to models and detecting devices by which to better distinguish one source of weak light from another. Finally, we uncover a symmetry between entangled states and entangled detectors, a dramatic example of how the judgment about what light state is generated by a source depends on choosing how to model the detector of that light.     

Coherent states of the inverted Caldirola-Kanai oscillator with time-dependent singularities

The coherent states for a system of time-dependent singular potentials coupled to inverted CK (Caldirola-Kanai) oscillator are investigated by employing invariant operator method and Lie algebraic approach. We considered Coulomb potential and inverse quadratic potential as singularities of the system. The spectrum of quantum states is discrete for λ < 0 while continuous for λ ? 0. The probability densities for both Fock state and coherent state are converged to the center as time goes by according to the dissipation of energy. We confirmed that the probability density in the coherent state oscillates back and forth like a classical wave packet.     

Quantum arrival time formula from decoherent histories

We use the decoherent histories approach to quantum mechanics to compute the probability for a wave packet to cross the origin during a given time interval. We define class operators (sums of strings of projectors) characterizing quantum-mechanical crossing and simplify them using a semiclassical approximation. Using these class operators we find that histories crossing the origin during different time intervals are approximately decoherent for a variety of initial states. Probabilities may therefore be assigned and coincide with the flux of the wave packet (the standard semiclassical formula), and are positive. The known initial states for which the flux is negative (backflow states) are shown to correspond to non-decoherent sets of histories, so probabilities may not be assigned.     

Semigroup of positive maps for qudit states and entanglement in tomographic probability representation

Stochastic and bistochastic matrices providing positive maps for spin states (for qudits) are shown to form semigroups with dense intersection with the Lie groups IGL(n,R) and GL(n,R) respectively. The density matrix of a qudit state is shown to be described by a spin tomogram determined by an orbit of the bistochastic semigroup acting on a simplex. A class of positive maps acting transitively on quantum states is introduced by relating stochastic and quantum stochastic maps in the tomographic setting. Finally, the entangled states of two qubits and Bell inequalities are given in the framework of the tomographic probability representation using the stochastic semigroup properties.     

Simulating Entangling Unitary Operator Using Non-maximally Entangled States

We use non-maximally entangled states （NMESs） to simulate an entangling unitary operator （EUO） with a certain probability. Given entanglement resources, the probability of the success we achieve is a decreasing function of the parameters of the EUO. Given an EUO, for certain entanglement resources the result is optimal, i.e., the probability obtains a maximal vaiue, and for optimal result higher parameters of the EUO match more amount of entanglement resources. The probability of the success we achieve is higher than the known results under some condition.     

A Cavity-QED Scheme for Generating Long-Lived Maximally Entangled States

We propose a potentially practical scheme to generate two-atom maximally entangled states by the large-detuning interaction between two three-level ∧-type atoms and coherent optical fields. Conditioned on the results of detecting cavity field, four pairs of atomic maximally entangled states with unity fidelity and high successful probability can be prepared. We also investigate the influence of the cavity dissipation on the generated entangledstates and discuss the experimental feasibility of our scheme.     

Bell Theorem without Inequality for Some Generalized GHZ and W States

Bell＇s theorem without inequalities is applied for some general Greenberger-Horn-Zeilinger （GHZ） states and W states and a wide range of such states can exhibit all-versus-nothing conflict between local realism and quantum theory. The case of standard GHZ state is contained in our proposal. For some generalized GHZ states more intensive violation on local realism is manifested.     

Establishment of Entanglement for Two Atoms Trapped in Two Distant Bad Cavities

A scheme is presented for generation of entangled states for two atoms trapped in two distant bad cavities. The scheme can work with bad cavities with the coupling strength smaller than the cavity decay rate, which is important from the viewpoint of experiment. In the scheme the atoms have no probability of being populated in the excited state and thus the atomic spontaneous emission is suppressed, which increases the probability of success. The fidelity of the entangled state is not affected by the detection eflciency. Furthermore, the scheme does not require the detection of the left-polarized photon and right-polarized photon at the same time.     

Strategies to measure a quantum state

We consider the problem of determining the mixed quantum state of a large but finite number of identically prepared quantum systems from data obtained in a sequence of ideal (von Neumann) measurements, each performed on an individual copy of the system. In contrast to previous approaches, we do not average over the possible unknown states but work out a “typical” probability distribution on the set of states, as implied by the experimental data. As a consequence, any measure of knowledge about the unknown state and thus any notion of “best strategy” (i.e., the choice of observables to be measured, and the number of times they are measured) depend on the unknown state. By learning from previously obtained data, the experimentalist re-adjusts the observable to be measured in the next step, eventually approaching an optimal strategy. We consider two measures of knowledge and exhibit all “best” strategies for the case of a two-dimensional Hilbert space. Finally, we discuss some features of the problem in higher dimensions and in the infinite dimensional case.     

Arrival time in quantum field theory

Via the proper-time eigenstates (event states) instead of the proper-mass eigenstates (particle states), free-motion time-of-arrival theory for massive spin-1/2 particles is developed at the level of quantum field theory. The approach is based on a position-momentum dual formalism. Within the framework of field quantization, the total time-of-arrival is the sum of the single event-of-arrival contributions, and contains zero-point quantum fluctuations because the clocks under consideration follow the laws of quantum mechanics.     

Correlations Existing in Three-Qubit Product States

Analytic results of the relationship between local noncommutativity and non-violations of Svetlichny inequalities for three-qubit separable states are obtained. It is shown that the converse trade-off relations presented by Seevinck and Uffinck [Phys. Rev. A 2007 76 042105] do not always hold for three-qubit states, and that there exists some correlation even though the state is the simple product state.     

The scattering of the Manning-Rosen potential with centrifugal term

In this Letter the approximately analytical scattering state solutions of the l-wave Schrödinger equation for the Manning-Rosen potential are carried out by a proper approximation to the centrifugal term. The normalized radial wave functions of l-wave scattering states are presented and the calculation formula of phase shifts is derived. It is well shown that the poles of the S-matrix in the complex energy plane correspond to bound states for real poles and scattering states for complex poles in the lower half of the energy plane. We consider and verify two special cases: the l=0 and the s-wave Hulthén potential.     

Spin bath decoherence of quantum entanglement

We study an analytically solvable model for decoherence of a two spin system embedded in a large spin environment. As a measure of entanglement, we evaluate the concurrence for the Bell states (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pairs). We find that while for two separate spin baths all four Bell states lose their coherence with the same time dependence, for a common spin bath, two of the states decay faster than the others. We explain this difference by the relative orientation of the individual spins in the pair. We also examine how the Bell inequality is violated in the coherent regime. Both for one bath and two bath cases, we find that while two of the Bell states always obey the inequality, the other two violate the inequality at early times.     

Phase-Dependent Effects in Stern-Gerlach Experiments

In the frame of quantum mechanics, we consider an ensemble of spin-1/2 neutral particles passing through a Stern-Gerlach apparatus and explore how their motions depend on the initial phase difference between two internal spin states. Assuming the particles moving along y-axis, due to the initial phase difference between spin states, they not only split along the longitudinal direction （z-axis） but also separate along the lateral direction （x-axis）. The dependence of the lateral displacement on the initial phase difference reminds one of the picture of a quantum interference. This generalized interference provides an alternative approach to measuring the initial phase difference. The experimental realization with ultracold atoms or Bose-Einstein condensates is also discussed.     

Probabilistic Controlled Teleportation of a Triplet W State with Combined Channel of Non-Maximally Entangled Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen and Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger States

A scheme for probabilistic controlled teleportation of a triplet W state using combined non-maximally entangled channel of two Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen （EPR） states and one Creenberger-Horne-Zeilinger （CHZ） state is proposed. In this scheme, an （m ＋ 2）-qubit CHZ state serves not only as the control parameter but also as the quantum channel. The m control qubits are shared by m supervisors. With the aid of local operations and individual measurements, including Bell-state measurement, Von Neumann measurement, and mutual classical communication etc., Bob can faithfully reconstruct the original state by performing relevant unitary transformations. The total probability of successful teleportation is only dependent on channel coefficients of EPR states and GHZ, independent of the number of supervisor m. This protocol can also be extended to probabilistic controlled teleportation of an arbitrary N-qubit state using combined non-maximally entangled channel of N- 1 EPR states and one （m ＋ 2）-qubit GHZ.     

Generation of free-travelling four-mode cluster-type entangled coherent states

A new scheme is proposed to generate free-travelling four-mode cluster-type entangled coherent states. Compared with other previously proposed schemes ours is very simple in execution using only one π-cross-Kerr medium, two 50:50 beam-splitters and two π/2-phase-shifters. Despite the setup simplicity, our scheme, unlike the others which are all probabilistic, is efficient with 100% success probability since no measurements are involved at all.