Decoherence and equilibration under nondestructive measurements

The evolution of observable quantities of finite quantum systems is analyzed when the latter are subject to nondestructive measurements. The type and number of measurements characterize the level of decoherence produced in the system. A finite number of instantaneous measurements leads to only a partial decoherence. But infinite number of such measurements yields complete decoherence and equilibration. Continuous measurements result in partial decoherence in finite time, but produce complete decoherence and equilibration as time tends to infinity. Resulting equilibrium states are characterized by representative statistical ensembles that, generally, retain information on initial conditions. Any system, to be observable, necessarily requires the presence of measurements, whose large number leads to the system equilibration and decoherence.     

Equilibration implies asymptotic stationarity for open quantum systems

We use the exact Nakajima–Zwanzig form of the master equation to show that open quantum systems which exhibit equilibration (or thermalization) by evolving to a time independent asymptotic state, have under certain conditions a reduced density matrix for the system which commutes with the effective system Hamiltonian. We also show that if the initial system–bath density matrix is of product form then the asymptotic reduced density matrix of the system depends only on the diagonal elements of the initial system density matrix in the eigenbasis of the effective Hamiltonian.     

High-frequency thermal processes in harmonic crystals

We consider two high frequency thermal processes in uniformly heated harmonic crystals relaxing towards equilibrium: (i) equilibration of kinetic and potential energies and (ii) redistribution of energy among spatial directions. Equation describing these processes with deterministic initial conditions is derived. Solution of the equation shows that characteristic time of these processes is of the order of ten periods of atomic vibrations. After that time the system practically reaches the stationary state. It is shown analytically that in harmonic crystals temperature tensor is not isotropic even in the stationary state. As an example, harmonic triangular lattice is considered. Simple formula relating the stationary value of the temperature tensor and initial conditions is derived. The function describing equilibration of kinetic and potential energies is obtained. It is shown that the difference between the energies (Lagrangian) oscillates around zero. Amplitude of these oscillations decays inversely proportional to time. Analytical results are in a good agreement with numerical simulations.     

Nonergodic Brownian Motion

The long-time behavior of a system is suggested to confirm nonergodicity of non-Markovian Brownian dynamics, namely, whether the stationary probability density function （PDF） of the system characterized mainly by low moments of variables depends on the initial preparation. Thus we classify nonergodic Brownian motion into two classes： the class-I is that the PDF of a force-free particle depends on the initial velocity and the equilibration can be recovered through a bounded potential; while the PDF in the class-H depends on the initial coordinate and the equilibration can not be approached by introducing any potential. We also compare our result with the conditions of three kinds for ergodicity.     

Quantum state reconstruction via continuous measurement

We present a new procedure for quantum state reconstruction based on weak continuous measurement of an ensemble average. By applying controlled evolution to the initial state, new information is continually mapped onto the measured observable. A Bayesian filter is then used to update the state estimate in accordance with the measurement record. This generalizes the standard paradigm for quantum tomography based on strong, destructive measurements on separate ensembles. This approach to state estimation induces minimal perturbation of the measured system, giving information about observables whose evolution cannot be described classically in real time and opening the door to new types of quantum feedback control.     

Dynamics of Entropy Production Rate in Two Coupled Bosonic Modes Interacting with a Thermal Reservoir

The Markovian time evolution of the entropy production rate is studied as a measure of irreversibility generated in a bipartite quantum system consisting of two coupled bosonic modes immersed in a common thermal environment. The dynamics of the system is described in the framework of the formalism of the theory of open quantum systems based on completely positive quantum dynamical semigroups, for initial two-mode squeezed thermal states, squeezed vacuum states, thermal states and coherent states. We show that the rate of the entropy production of the initial state and nonequilibrium stationary state, and the time evolution of the rate of entropy production, strongly depend on the parameters of the initial Gaussian state (squeezing parameter and average thermal photon numbers), frequencies of modes, parameters characterising the thermal environment (temperature and dissipation coefficient), and the strength of coupling between the two modes. We also provide a comparison of the behaviour of entropy production rate and Rényi-2 mutual information present in the considered system.     

多光子Jaynes-Cummings模型中与Glauber-Lachs态相互作用原子的熵压缩

利用全量子理论,研究了多光子Jaynes-Cummings模型中与Glauber-Lachs态相互作用的混合态原子的信息熵压缩。讨论了相干平均光子数、热平均光子数、跃迁光子数、原子初态参量对原子信息熵压缩的影响。结果表明原子信息熵 分量没有熵压缩性质;相干平均光子数取值适当时,原子信息熵 分量呈现熵压缩效应;热平均光子数、跃迁光子数会破坏原子信息熵 分量的熵压缩效应;原子初态参量对原子信息熵 分量能否呈现熵压缩效应没有决定性作用;伴随双光子跃迁时,原子的熵压缩因子的时间演化曲线呈现周期性。     

On the unique mapping relationship between initial and final quantum states

In its standard formulation, quantum mechanics presents a very serious inconvenience: given a quantum system, there is no possibility at all to unambiguously (causally) connect a particular feature of its final state with some specific section of its initial state. This constitutes a practical limitation, for example, in numerical analyses of quantum systems, which often make necessary the use of some extra assistance from classical methodologies. Here it is shown how the Bohmian formulation of quantum mechanics removes the ambiguity of quantum mechanics, providing a consistent and clear answer to such a question without abandoning the quantum framework. More specifically, this formulation allows to define probability tubes, along which the enclosed probability keeps constant in time all the way through as the system evolves in configuration space. These tubes have the interesting property that once their boundary is defined at a given time, they are uniquely defined at any time. As a consequence, it is possible to determine final restricted (or partial) probabilities directly from localized sets of (Bohmian) initial conditions on the system initial state. Here, these facts are illustrated by means of two simple yet physically insightful numerical examples: tunneling transmission and grating diffraction.     

声子库的量子态对介观电路量子特性影响的研究

考虑电子与声子间相互作用,研究了两种声子库纯初始态(正则系综与粒子数态)下耗散介观电路的动力学特性.长时间极限下(t→∞)：当环境处于热平衡态时,电路系统中的电流和电荷的平均值只与电路所处初始量子态中的平均值有关,与环境无关;环境初态为粒子数态时,电荷与电流平均值随时间的演化特性与环境初始处于热平衡态下时完全一样,表明介观电路中的电荷与电流的平均值与环境量子态的某组占有数无关.电路中电流和电荷的量子涨落不仅与系统的初态有关,还与系统所处环境的量子态及温度有关.一般地说,电路系统与环境的纠缠会 关键词： 介观耗散电路 声子库 量子初态 量子态纯度     

Chemical diffusion in calcium titanate

This work reports the gas/solid equilibration kinetics for the O₂/CaTiO₃ system. The electrical conductivity measurement was applied for monitoring the kinetics in the ranges of temperature 973-1323 K and oxygen partial pressure 10 Pa-72 kPa. It was found that the gas/solid equilibration kinetics for the polycrystalline CaTiO₃ specimen in the above experimental conditions is determined by bulk diffusion rather than by grain boundary conditions. The obtained data of the electrical conductivity vs. time were used for the determination of the chemical diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature at low and high p(O₂), respectively:

(1)     

Information Entropy Squeezing of a Two-Level Atom Interacting with Two-Mode Coherent Fields

From a quantum information point of view we investigate the entropy squeezing properties for a two-level atom interacting with the two-mode coherent fields via the two-photon transition. We discuss the influences of the initial state of the system on the atomic information entropy squeezing. Our results show that the squeezed component number, squeezed direction, and time of the information entropy squeezing can be controlled by choosing atomic distribution angle, the relative phase between the atom and the two-mode field, and the difference of the average photon number of the two field modes, respectively. Quantum information entropy is a remarkable precision measure for the atomic squeezing.     

Information Entropy Squeezing of a Two-Level Atom Interacting with Two-Mode Coherent Fields

From a quantum information point of view we investigate the entropy squeezing properties for a two-level atom interacting with the two-mode coherent fields via the two-photon transition. We discuss the influences of the initial state of the system on the atomic information entropy squeezing. Our results show that the squeezed component number,squeezed direction, and time of the information entropy squeezing can be controlled by choosing atomic distribution angle,the relative phase between the atom and the two-mode field, and the difference of the average photon number of the two field modes, respectively. Quantum information entropy is a remarkable precision measure for the atomic squeezing.     

Exact relaxation in a class of nonequilibrium quantum lattice systems

A reasonable physical intuition in the study of interacting quantum systems says that, independent of the initial state, the system will tend to equilibrate. In this work we introduce an experimentally accessible setting where relaxation to a steady state is exact, namely, for the Bose-Hubbard model quenched from a Mott quantum phase to the free strong superfluid regime. We rigorously prove that the evolving state locally relaxes to a steady state with maximum entropy constrained by second moments--thus maximizing the entanglement. Remarkably, for this to be true, no time average is necessary. Our argument includes a central limit theorem and exploits the finite speed of information transfer. We also show that for all periodic initial configurations (charge density waves) the system relaxes locally, and identify experimentally accessible signatures in optical lattices as well as implications for the foundations of statistical mechanics.     

Study on charge equilibration time of highly charged ions in carbon foils

Charge state distribution of 0.8MeV/u uranium ions after transmission through a thin carbon foil has been studied. It is observed that the charge state distribution is equilibrated after the uranium ions have passed through a 15μg/cm^2 carbon foil. The equilibrated average charge state is 33.72 and the charge equilibration time of uranium ions in carbon foil is less than 5.4fs.     

Study on charge equilibration time of highly charged ions in carbon foils

Charge state distribution of 0.8MeV/u uranium ions after transmission through a thin carbon foil has been studied. It is observed that the charge state distribution is equilibrated after the uranium ions have passed through a 15 $\mu $g/cm$^{2}$ carbon foil. The equilibrated average charge state is 33.72 and the charge equilibration time of uranium ions in carbon foil is less than 5.4fs.     

Thermalization of gluons at RHIC: Dependence on initial conditions

We investigate how thermalization of gluons depends on the initial conditions assumed in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC. The study is based on simulations employing the pQCD inspired parton cascade solving the Boltzmann equation for gluons. We consider independently produced minijets with p _T > p ₀ = 1.3-2.0GeV and a color glass condensate as possible initial conditions for the freed gluons. It turns out that full kinetic equilibrium is achieved slightly sooner in denser systems and its timescale tends to saturate. Compared with the kinetic equilibration we find a stronger dependence of chemical equilibration on the initial conditions.     

Simultaneous minimum-uncertainty measurement of discrete-valued complementary observables

We have made the first experimental demonstration of the simultaneous minimum uncertainty product between two complementary observables for a two-state system (a qubit). A partially entangled two-photon state, where each of the photons carries (partial) information of the initial state, was used to perform such a measurement.     

The collapsing bubble in a liquid by molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations have been made of a collapsing bubble or cavity in a simple liquid. Simulations of a Lennard-Jones liquid reveal that the collapsing process takes place in a series of stages. First, the ‘hottest’ molecules from the high kinetic energy tail in the Maxwell—Boltzmann distribution diffuse into the empty cavity. This is followed by a gradual filling in of the cavity until the density in the centre is a little lower than that of the bulk liquid. The system eventually reaches a final new equilibrium liquid state through a subsequent slower equilibration phase. The bubble fills in an oscillatory manner, by partly filling in, and then partially emptying, and so on, with ever decreasing amplitude towards the final uniform liquid state. These density oscillations are more obvious in systems with a larger bubble. Similar oscillations are observed in the kinetic energy of the molecules at selected radii from the centre of the initial bubble. The maximum temperature occurs typically at the end of the initial fillingin stage during which the density of the core undergoes a vapour-to-liquid phase transition, the released latent heat probably contributing to the temperatures achieved in this region. The average maximum temperature found in the smallest system examined is about nine times the critical temperature, which is about 6000 K for water, thus suggesting a simple mechanism for producing molecules with the sorts of kinetic energies and lifetimes required for sonoluminescence.     

利用量子相干性判定开放二能级系统中非马尔可夫性

从量子相干性包括l₁ norm相干性和量子相对熵相干性的角度建立了判定开放量子系统中非马尔可夫过程的方法, 并给出了相应的判别条件. 作为它们的具体应用, 研究了一个两能级系统分别经历相位衰减通道、 随机幺正通道和振幅耗散通道作用时对应的非马尔可夫过程发生必须满足的条件. 对于三种通道模型, 得到了l₁ norm相干性对系统任意态非马尔可夫过程发生的判别条件, 并发现在相位衰减通道和振幅耗散通道中其非马尔可夫过程发生 的条件与用其他方式如信息回流、可分性和量子互熵给出的条件是相同的, 而在随机幺正通道中给出了一个新的且不完全等价于基于信息回流和可分性对应的条件. 至于量子相对熵相干性, 在相位衰减通道中得到了对系统任意态的非马尔可夫过程发生的具体条件, 并发现该条件也等同于基于信息回流、可分性和量子互熵给出的条件. 而在随机幺正通道和振幅耗散通道中得到了系统最大相干态对应的非马尔可夫过程发生的条件.     

Partial state feedback control of chaotic neural network and its application

The chaos control in the chaotic neural network is studied using the partial state feedback with a control signal from a few control neurons. The controlled CNN converges to one of the stored patterns with a period which depends on the initial conditions, i.e., the set of control neurons and other control parameters. We show that the controlled CNN can distinguish between two initial patterns even if they have a small difference. This implies that such a controlled CNN can be feasibly applied to information processing such as pattern recognition.