Entropy Production in Non-Markovian Collision Models: Information Backflow vs. System-Environment Correlations

We investigate the irreversible entropy production of a qubit in contact with an environment modelled by a microscopic collision model in both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes. Our main goal is to contribute to the discussions on the relationship between non-Markovian dynamics and negative entropy production rates. We employ two different types of collision models that do or do not keep the correlations established between the system and the incoming environmental particle, while both of them pertain to their non-Markovian nature through information backflow from the environment to the system. We observe that as the former model, where the correlations between the system and environment are preserved, gives rise to negative entropy production rates in the transient dynamics, the latter one always maintains positive rates, even though the convergence to the steady-state value is slower as compared to the corresponding Markovian dynamics. Our results suggest that the mechanism underpinning the negative entropy production rates is not solely non-Markovianity through information backflow, but rather the contribution to it through established system-environment correlations.     

Quantum Discord in Optical Coherent States

We study the dynamics of quantum correlation of optical coherent-state qubits affected by the environment. It consists in sending these states via a decohering quantum channel. The states used as the support of the encoding information are affected by an amplitude damping channel. The quantum discord is one of type of quantum correlations between the qubits. The discord and its dynamics of two qubits in non-Markovian environments are evaluated.     

Fisher information due to a phase noisy laser under non-Markovian environment

More recently, K. Berrada [Annals of Physics 340 (2014) 60-69] [1] studied the geometric phase of a two-level atom system driven by a phase noise laser under non-Markovian dynamics in terms of different parameters involved in the whole system, and collapse and revival phenomena were found for large class of states. In this paper, using this noise effect, we study the quantum fisher information (QFI) for a two-level atom system driven by a phase noise laser under non-Markovian dynamics. A new quantity, called QFI flow is used to characterize the damping effect and unveil a fundamental connection between non-Markovian behavior and dynamics of system–environment correlations under phase noise laser. It is shown that QFI flow has disappeared suddenly followed by a sudden birth depending on the kind of the environment damping. QFI flow provides an indicator to characterize the dissipative quantum system’s decoherence by analyzing the behavior of the dynamical non-Markovian coefficients.     

Disentanglement Dynamics in Nonequilibrium Environments

We theoretically study the non-Markovian disentanglement dynamics of a two-qubit system coupled to nonequilibrium environments with nonstationary and non-Markovian random telegraph noise statistical properties. The reduced density matrix of the two-qubit system can be expressed as the Kraus representation in terms of the tensor products of the single qubit Kraus operators. We derive the relation between the entanglement and nonlocality of the two-qubit system which are both closely associated with the decoherence function. We identify the threshold values of the decoherence function to ensure the existences of the concurrence and nonlocal quantum correlations for an arbitrary evolution time when the two-qubit system is initially prepared in the composite Bell states and the Werner states, respectively. It is shown that the environmental nonequilibrium feature can suppress the disentanglement dynamics and reduce the entanglement revivals in non-Markovian dynamics regime. In addition, the environmental nonequilibrium feature can enhance the nonlocality of the two-qubit system. Moreover, the entanglement sudden death and rebirth phenomena and the transition between quantum and classical nonlocalities closely depend on the parameters of the initial states and the environmental parameters in nonequilibrium environments.     

Correlations,Information Backflow,and Objectivity in a Class of Pure Dephasing Models

We critically examine the role that correlations established between a system and fragments of its environment play in characterising the ensuing dynamics. We employ a dephasing model with different initial conditions, where the state of the initial environment represents a tunable degree of freedom that qualitatively and quantitatively affects the correlation profiles, but nevertheless results in the same reduced dynamics for the system. We apply recently developed tools for the characterisation of non-Markovianity to carefully assess the role that correlations, as quantified by the (quantum) Jensen–Shannon divergence and relative entropy, as well as changes in the environmental state, play in whether the conditions for classical objectivity within the quantum Darwinism paradigm are met. We demonstrate that for precisely the same non-Markovian reduced dynamics of the system arising from different microscopic models, some exhibit quantum Darwinistic features, while others show that no meaningful notion of classical objectivity is present. Furthermore, our results highlight that the non-Markovian nature of an environment does not a priori prevent a system from redundantly proliferating relevant information, but rather it is the system’s ability to establish the requisite correlations that is the crucial factor in the manifestation of classical objectivity.     

Quantum coherence preservation of atom with a classical driving field under non-Markovian environment

The exact dynamics of an open quantum system consisting of one qubit driven by a classical driving field is investigated. Our attention is focused on the influences of single-and two-photon excitations on the dynamics of quantum coherence and quantum entanglement. It is shown that the atomic coherence can be improved or even maintained by the classical driving field, the non-Markovian effect, and the atom-reservoir detuning. The interconversion between the atomic coherence and the atom-reservoir entanglement exists and can be controlled by the appropriate conditions. The conservation of coherence for different partitions is explored, and the dynamics of a system with two-photon excitations is different from the case of single-photon excitation.     

Quantum correlations in non-Markovian environments

We have studied the analytical Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics of quantum correlations, such as entanglement, quantum discord and Bell nonlocalities for three noisy qubits. Quantum correlation as measured by quantum discord is found to be immune to death contrary to entanglement and Bell nonlocality for initial GHZ- or W-type mixed states.     

Correlation Dynamics of Three-Qubit System Under a Classical Dephasing Environment

By starting from the stochastic Hamiltonian of the three correlated spins and modeling their frequency fluctuations as caused by dephasing noisy environments described by Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) processes, we study the dynamics of quantum correlations, including entanglement and quantum discord. Of course, in this article, we use two definitions for the quantum discord (global quantum discord and quantum dissension). We prepared initially our open system with the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) and W states and present the exact solutions for evolution dynamics of entanglement and quantum discord between three spins under both Markovian and non-Markovian regime of this classical noise. By comparison the dynamics of entanglement with that of quantum discord we find that entanglement can be more robust than quantum discord against this noise. It is shown that by considering non-Markovian extensions the survival time of correlations prolong. Also, we compare the results of two definitions of the quantum discord and show that the quantum dissension is equal to the global quantum discord for GHZ state, but they are unequal for the W state.     

Exact c-number representation of non-Markovian quantum dissipation

The reduced dynamics of a quantum system interacting with a linear heat bath finds an exact representation in terms of a stochastic Schr?dinger equation. All memory effects of the reservoir are transformed into noise correlations and mean-field friction. The classical limit of the resulting stochastic dynamics is shown to be a generalized Langevin equation, and conventional quantum state diffusion is recovered in the Born-Markov approximation. The non-Markovian exact dynamics, valid at arbitrary temperature and damping strength, is exemplified by an application to the dissipative two-state system.     

Quantum Fisher information of the GHZ state due to classical phase noise lasers under non-Markovian environment

The dynamics of N$N$-qubit GHZ state quantum Fisher information (QFI) under phase noise lasers (PNLs) driving is investigated in terms of non-Markovian master equation. We first investigate the non-Markovian dynamics of the QFI of N$N$-qubit GHZ state and show that when the ratio of the PNL rate and the system–environment coupling strength is very small, the oscillations of the QFIs decay slower which corresponds to the non-Markovian region; yet when it becomes large, the QFIs monotonously decay which corresponds to the Markovian region. When the atom number N$N$ increases, QFIs in both regions decay faster. We further find that the QFI flow disappears suddenly followed by a sudden birth depending on the ratio of the PNL rate and the system–environment coupling strength and the atom number N$N$, which unveil a fundamental connection between the non-Markovian behaviors and the parameters of system–environment couplings. We discuss two optimal positive operator-valued measures (POVMs) for two different strategies of our model and find the condition of the optimal measurement. At last, we consider the QFI of two atoms with qubit–qubit interaction under random telegraph noises (RTNs).     

Quantum discord in non-Markovian environments

The quantum discord dynamics of two qubits in two independent non-Markovian reservoirs has been investigated. On the condition of resonant interactions, the result shows that the quantum discord has the phenomenon of “revival”. What is more, even in the region where the entanglement is zero, the quantum discord still can reveal the quantum correlations between the two qubits. Considering the detuning, it is interesting to note that the quantum discord can be preserved when the non-Markovian and the detuning conditions are satisfied simultaneously. Finally, an intuitive physical interpretation has been given by the quasimode approach.     

Quantum correlation dynamics of two qubits in independent reservoirs with initial system-reservoir correlations

The dynamics of entanglement and quantum discord(QD) between two two-level atoms interacting with two dissipative coupled cavities in the presence of initial atom-cavity correlations is investigated. In comparison with the result of the initial factorized state, we show that the initial state contained quantum correlation of atom-cavity is most robust against the dissipative environment, and the initial atom-cavity correlations, especially the quantum correlation, play a constructive role in the generation of atomic entanglement and QD.Simultaneously, the comparison between Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics, and the influences of inter-cavity hopping rate are also taken into account and analyzed.     

The dynamics of quantum correlation with two controlled qubits under classical dephasing environment

We discuss the quantum correlation dynamics of two qubits controlled through the application of π$\pi$-pulses under classical dephasing non-Markovian environment. It is shown that the quantum discord (QD) and one-norm geometric quantum discord (one-norm GQD) between the two qubits, which are prepared initially in the three-parameter-X$X$-type quantum states, depend strongly on non-Markovian properties and the time difference between adjacent pulses. The freezing time of discord and one-norm GQD can be lengthened for appropriate pulse separate time and pulse numbers. And the freezing time of one-norm GQD is longer slightly than QD for both Markovian and non-Markovian cases. What is more, we find that double sudden changes of one-norm GQD can appear only for some initial parameters when π$\pi$-pulses are applied.     

General Non-Markovian Quantum Dynamics

A general approach to the construction of non-Markovian quantum theory is proposed. Non-Markovian equations for quantum observables and states are suggested by using general fractional calculus. In the proposed approach, the non-locality in time is represented by operator kernels of the Sonin type. A wide class of the exactly solvable models of non-Markovian quantum dynamics is suggested. These models describe open (non-Hamiltonian) quantum systems with general form of nonlocality in time. To describe these systems, the Lindblad equations for quantum observable and states are generalized by taking into account a general form of nonlocality. The non-Markovian quantum dynamics is described by using integro-differential equations with general fractional derivatives and integrals with respect to time. The exact solutions of these equations are derived by using the operational calculus that is proposed by Yu. Luchko for general fractional differential equations. Properties of bi-positivity, complete positivity, dissipativity, and generalized dissipativity in general non-Markovian quantum dynamics are discussed. Examples of a quantum oscillator and two-level quantum system with a general form of nonlocality in time are suggested.     

Divergence of fermionic correlations under non-Markovian noise in a non-inertial frame

Non-Markovian dynamics of correlations of fermionic systems is investigated beyond the single-mode approximations in a non-inertial frame. Two well known correlation measures, quantum discord and geometric quantum discord, are analyzed for the fermionic states influenced by the non-Markovian noise. Persistence of discord is seen for longer times depending upon the level of mixedness of the fermionic system. The dynamics of the fermionic systems heavily depends upon the degree of white noise. It is shown that fermionic systems remain dependent upon the choice of Unruh modes (_qR$q_R$) beyond the single-mode approximations under non-Markovian noise. Quantum discord is found to be more robust as compared to the geometric quantum discord. Furthermore, the non-Markovian effects are more stronger than the acceleration of Bob, the accelerated partner.     

Order and disorder in the approach to equilibrium of a classical gas

We study the approach to equilibrium of a classical gas. The initial condition corresponds to a Maxwell velocity distribution, but to a nonequilibrium binary correlation. We consider two cases. In the first, there are initially no spatial correlations, while in the second, initial correlations correspond to long-range spatial order. We show that the gas leaves the Maxwell velocity distribution function in the process of building up equilibrium correlations. The spatial correlations in the equilibrium state are seen to emerge from a self-organization process in the gas. Non-Markovian effects play an essential role in this process by coupling the velocity distribution and the binary correlations. For the case of initial long-range correlations we obtain anti-Boltzmann behavior in the evolution of the velocity distribution as the Boltzmann entropy decreases from the nonequilibrium to the equilibrium state. For this case we also have nontrivial behavior on a short time scale due to the non-Markovian effects. The approach used here is based on the theory of subdynamics as developed in previous publications. The results obtained show the interplay between irreversible processes leading to disorder and to order in a classical gas.     

Non-Markovian quantum jumps

Open quantum systems that interact with structured reservoirs exhibit non-Markovian dynamics. We present a quantum jump method for treating the dynamics of such systems. This approach is a generalization of the standard Monte Carlo wave function (MCWF) method for Markovian dynamics. The MCWF method identifies decay rates with jump probabilities and fails for non-Markovian systems where the time-dependent rates become temporarily negative. Our non-Markovian quantum jump approach circumvents this problem and provides an efficient unraveling of the ensemble dynamics.     

Precision of estimation and entropy as witnesses of non-Markovianity in the presence of random classical noises

We investigate in detail the quantum Fisher information (QFI) behavior by examining a single qubit model in the presence of random classical noises in both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes. In particular, we precisely study the effects of noise switching rate ξ$\xi$ and qubit–environment coupling strength ν$\nu$ on the precision of estimation, when the qubit is subjected to random telegraph noise with a Lorentzian spectrum or colored noise with a spectrum of the form 1/f^α$1/f^{\alpha }$. In the Markovian regime, a monotone decay of the QFI with time is found, whereas for non-Markovian noise sudden death and revivals may occur. Despite these oscillations of the QFI in non-Markovian regime, we find that non-Markovian parameter γ=ξ/ν$\gamma =\xi /\nu$ is not the principal parameter controlling the collapse and revival of the QFI. In fact, in both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes, parameters ξ$\xi$ and ν$\nu$independently determine how the QFI varies. We also find that the QFI in the case of colored environments decreases when the number of fluctuators realizing the noise increases, and therefore the parameter estimation becomes more inaccurate. Furthermore, by analyzing the von Neumann entropy of the system density matrix, we illustratively unveil a fundamental relationship between the dynamics of this quantity and non-Markovian behavior in the presence of random classical noises. We also show that this result may lead to a better non-Markovianity interpretation, based on quantum memory effects. Moreover, we demonstrate the connection between the precision of parameter estimation and rising the non-Markovianity in our model where the environment is modeled as classical.     

Dynamics of measurement-induced non-locality and geometric discord with initial system-environment correlations

We analyze the dynamics of geometric measure of discord （GMOD） and measurement-induced non-locality （MIN） in the presence of initial system-reservoir correlations without Born and Markov approximation. Although the initial system-environment states have the same reduced density matrices for both the system and environment, the effects of different initial system-environment correlations have been shown to fundamentally alter the time evolution of GMOD and MIN between two quantum systems in both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes. In general, both GMOD and MIN experience a sudden increase for initially quantum-correlated states, and a sudden decrease for classical-correlated states before they reach the same stationary values with initially factorized states.