Non-Markovian dynamics of a qubit in a reservoir: different solutions of non-Markovian master equation

We present a non-Markovian master equation for a qubit interacting with a general reservoir, which is derived according to the Nakajima-Zwanzig and the time convolutionless projection operator technique. The non-Markovian solutions and Markovian solution of dynamical decay of a qubit are compared. The results indicate the validity of non-Markovian approach in different coupling regimes and also show that the Markovian master equation may not precisely describe the dynamics of an open quantum system in some situation. The non-Markovian solutions may be effective for many qubits independently interacting with the heated reservoirs.     

Dynamics and Protection of the Relative Entropy of Coherence via Additional Non-interacting Qubits

We analytically study the dynamical behavior of the quantum coherence of a single-qubit coupled to a bosonic reservoir at zero temperature via plugging additional non-interacting qubits into the reservoir in both Markovian and non-Markovian regimes. The influences of detuning, memory effects and number of additional qubits on the dynamics of the quantum coherence are considered. It is found that, via increasing the number of the additional qubits in the reservoir, the quantum coherence can be preserved. Moreover, the method based on the combination of larger effective detuning, the stronger non-Markovian effects and the more number of additional qubits, can more effectively prevent the loss of the quantum coherence.

     

Exact time evolution and second-order quantum master equations for two interacting qubits

Time evolution of two interacting qubits under the influence of thermal reservoirs is considered. When there is only one excitation in the whole system, an exact reduced dynamics can be obtained. The result is compared with those obtained by the time-convolutionless and time-convolution quantum master equations in the second order approximation.     

Nanoscale superconducting quantum bits

Various physical systems were proposed for quantum information processing. Among those nanoscale devices appear most promising for integration in electronic circuits and large-scale applications. We discuss Josephson junction circuits in two regimes where they can be used for quantum computing. These systems combine intrinsic coherence of the superconducting state with control possibilities of single-charge circuits. In the regime where the typical charging energy dominates over the Josephson coupling, the low-temperature dynamics is limited to two states differing by a Cooper-pair charge on a superconducting island. In the opposite regime of prevailing Josephson energy, the phase (or flux) degree of freedom can be used to store and process quantum information. Under suitable conditions the system reduces to two states with different flux configurations. Several qubits can be joined together into a register. The quantum state of a qubit register can be manipulated by voltage and magnetic field pulses. The qubits are inevitably coupled to the environment. However, estimates of the phase coherence time show that many elementary quantum logic operations can be performed before the phase coherence is lost. In addition to manipulations, the final state of the qubits has to be read out. This quantum measurement process can be accomplished using a single-electron transistor for charge Josephson qubits, and a d.c.-SQUID for flux qubits. Recent successful experiments with superconducting qubits demonstrate for the first time quantum coherence in macroscopic systems.     

Dynamics of a Fermi system with resonant dissipation and dynamical detailed balance

The dissipative dynamics of a system of Fermions is described in the framework of a resonance model—the quantum master equation describes two-body correlations of the system with the environment particles. This equation, with microscopic coefficients depending on the exactly known two-body potential between the system and the environment particles, is discussed in comparison with other master equations, obtained on axiomatic grounds, or derived from a coupling with an environment of harmonic oscillators without altering the quantum conditions. The asymptotic solution is in accordance with the detailed balance principle, and with other generally accepted conditions satisfied during the whole time-evolution: Pauli master equations for the diagonal elements of the density matrix, and damped Bloch–Feynman equations for the non-diagonal ones, that we call dynamical detailed balance. For a harmonic oscillator coupled with the electromagnetic field through dipole interaction, a master equation with transition operators between successive levels is obtained. As an application, the decay width of a quantum logic gate is calculated.     

耗散Jaynes-Cummings模型中微观与唯象学主方程方法的比较

在有耗散的Jaynes-Cummings模型中,对原子与腔复合系统初始处于贝尔态或是原子激发态而腔场为真空态时分别运用微观与唯象学主方程进行求解,并分析这两类主方程在不同耦合区域的区别．结果显示,在强耦合和大失谐情况下,微观主方程求解得到的原子基态的布居数呈线性增长,但唯象学主方程获得的结果却呈非线性增加．在弱耦合区域,这两类主方程求解得到的原子基态布居数都出现快速增加,但是用唯象学主方程要比用微观主方程得到的布居数增加得更快．通过分析与讨论,该结果可能对耗散的腔QED中更好的实现逻辑门提供理论参考．     

Controlling transfer of quantum correlations among bi-partitions of a composite quantum system by combining different noisy environments

The correlation dynamics are investigated for various bi-partitions of a composite quantum system consisting of two qubits and two independent and non-identical noisy environments. The two qubits have no direct interaction with each other and locally interact with their environments. Classical and quantum correlations including the entanglement are initially prepared only between the two qubits. We find that contrary to the identical noisy environment case, the quantum correlation transfer direction can be controlled by combining different noisy environments. The amplitude-damping environment determines whether there exists the entanglement transfer among bi-partitions of the system. When one qubit is coupled to an amplitude-damping environment and the other one to a bit-flip one, we find a very interesting result that all the quantum and the classical correlations, and even the entanglement, originally existing between the qubits, can be completely transferred without any loss to the qubit coupled to the bit-flit environment and the amplitude-damping environment. We also notice that it is possible to distinguish the quantum correlation from the classical correlation and the entanglement by combining different noisy environments.     

Decoherence of Two-qubits Coupled with Reservoirs Studied with New Ket-Bra Entangled State Method

For the first time we define a so-called Ket-Bra Entangled State (KBES) for two-qubits coupled with reservoirs by introduce an extra fictitious mode vector, and convert the corresponding master equation into Schrödinger-like equation by virtue of this state. Via this approach we concisely obtain the dynamic evolution of two uncoupled qubits each immersed in local thermal noise. Based on this, the decoherence evolution for the extended Werner-like states is derived and how purity and temperature influence the concurrence is analyzed. This KBES method may also be applied to tackling master equations of limited atomic level systems.     

Quantum dynamics of electric-dipole coupled defect centers in solids

We investigate the quantum dynamics of two defect centers in solids,which are coupled by vacuum-induced dipole-dipole interactions.When the interaction between defects and phonons is taken into account,the two coupled electron-phonon systems make up two equivalent multilevel atoms.By making Born-Markov and rotating wave approximations,we derive a master equation describing the dynamics of the coupled multilevel atoms.The results indicate the concepts of subradiant and superradiant states can be applied to these systems and the population transfer process presents different behaviors from those of the two dipolar-coupled two-level atoms due to the participation of phonons.     

Spectroscopy of a driven solid-state qubit coupled to a structured environment

We study the asymptotic dynamics of a driven spin-boson system where the environment is formed by a broadened localized mode. Upon exploiting an exact mapping, an equivalent formulation of the problem in terms of a quantum two-state system (qubit) coupled to a harmonic oscillator which is itself Ohmically damped, is found. We calculate the asymptotic population difference of the two states in two complementary parameter regimes. For weak damping and low temperature, a perturbative Floquet-Born-Markovian master equation for the qubit-oscillator system can be solved. We find multi-photon resonances corresponding to transitions in the coupled quantum system and calculate their line-shape analytically. In the complementary parameter regime of strong damping and/or high temperatures, non-perturbative real-time path integral techniques yield analytic results for the resonance line shape. In both regimes, we find very good agreement with exact results obtained from a numerical real-time path-integral approach. Finally, we show for the case of strong detuning between qubit and oscillator that the width of the n-photon resonance scales with the nth Bessel function of the driving strength in the weak-damping regime.     

Non-Markovian relaxation of a three-level system: quantum trajectory approach

The non-Markovian dynamics of a three-level quantum system coupled to a bosonic environment is a difficult problem due to the lack of an exact dynamic equation such as a master equation. We present for the first time an exact quantum trajectory approach to a dissipative three-level model. We have established a convolutionless stochastic Schr?dinger equation called the time-local quantum state diffusion (QSD) equation without any approximations, in particular, without Markov approximation. Our exact time-local QSD equation opens a new avenue for exploring quantum dynamics for a higher dimensional quantum system coupled to a non-Markovian environment.     

Perturbative Treatment for Stationary State of Local Master Equation

The local approach to construct master equation for a composite open system with a weak internal coupling is simple and seems reasonable. However, it is thermodynamic consistent only when the subsystems are resonantly coupled. Efforts are being made to understand the inconsistency and test the validity of the local master equation. We present a perturbative method to solve the steady-state solutions of linear local master equations, which are demonstrated by two simple models. The solving process shows the stationary state as the result of competition between incoherent operations and the unitary creating quantum coherence, and consequently relate quantum coherence with thermodynamic consistency.     

Perturbative Treatment for Stationary State of Local Master Equation

The local approach to construct master equation for a composite open system with a weak internal coupling is simple and seems reasonable. However, it is thermodynamic consistent only when the subsystems are resonantly coupled. Efforts are being made to understand the inconsistency and test the validity of the local master equation. We present a perturbative method to solve the steady-state solutions of linear local master equations, which are demonstrated by two simple models. The solving process shows the stationary state as the result of competition between incoherent operations and the unitary creating quantum coherence, and consequently relate quantum coherence with thermodynamic consistency.     

三量子比特系统中单个谐振子诱导的量子关联

我们考虑初始无关联并且与由一个谐振子构成的环境之间互相耦合的三量子比特系统。通过研究量子比特-环境的耦合强度以及量子比特初始态对量子关联的影响,我们发现环境可以诱导量子关联,提出并证明了四个命题阐述谐振子如何调控三个量子比特中量子关联的分布。给出了产生量子关联的条件。特别地,对于弱耦合,我们不但能够获得很多的量子关联,而且还使量子比特系统和环境始终处于分离态。一般地,量子关联动力学是很复杂 的,这是由于环境起着两个互相竞争的作用：一方面诱导出各个比特之间的量子关联;另一方面又使它们发生消相干,从而破坏量子关联。     

三量子比特系统中单个谐振子诱导的量子关联

我们考虑初始无关联并且与由一个谐振子构成的环境之间互相耦合的三量子比特系统。通过研究量子比特-环境的耦合强度以及量子比特初始态对量子关联的影响,我们发现环境可以诱导量子关联,提出并证明了四个命题阐述谐振子如何调控三个量子比特中量子关联的分布。给出了产生量子关联的条件。特别地,对于弱耦合,我们不但能够获得很多的量子关联,而且还使量子比特系统和环境始终处于分离态。一般地,量子关联动力学是很复杂 的,这是由于环境起着两个互相竞争的作用：一方面诱导出各个比特之间的量子关联;另一方面又使它们发生消相干,从而破坏量子关联。     

Evolution of entanglement between qubits ultra-strongly coupling to a quantum oscillator

We investigate the dynamics of two qubits coupled with a quantum oscillator by using the adiabatic approximation method. We take account of the interaction between the qubits and show how the entanglement is affected by the interaction parameter. The most interesting result is that we can prolong the entanglement time or improve the entanglement degree by using an appropriate interaction parameter. As the generation and preservation of entanglement of qubits are crucial for quantum information processing, our research will be useful.     

Quantum Discord of two Coupled Qubits with Initial System-reservoir Correlation

Recently, the effect of initial qubit-reservoir correlation for two qubits in a common reservoir on the entanglement dynamics has been studied by Yan and Xia (Acta Sinica Quantum Optica 20, 16 2014). We extend their results and investigate how the initial qubit-reservoir correlation and dipole-dipole interaction between two qubits effect on dynamics of quantum discord in Markovian and non-Markovian regimes, respectively. The results show that in general, the larger initial qubit-reservoir correlation and dipole-dipole interaction can retard the decay of quantum discord. Besides, a combination of relatively strong dipole-dipole interaction and non-Markovian effect can efficiently protect quantum discord. Finally,thecomparisonbetweenevolutionsofquantumdiscordandentanglementisalsoconsidered.     

Energy transfer in weakly coupled nonlinear oscillator chains: Transition from a wandering breather to nonlinear self-trapping

We present analytical and numerical studies of phase-coherent dynamics of intrinsically localized excitations (breathers) in a system of two weakly coupled nonlinear oscillator chains. We show that there are two qualitatively different dynamical regimes of the coupled breathers, either immovable or slowly moving: the periodic wandering of the low-amplitude breather between the chains, and the one-chain-localization of the high-amplitude breather. These two modes of coupled breathers can be mapped exactly onto two solutions of a pendulum equation, detached by a separatrix mode. We also show that these two regimes of the coupled breathers are similar, and are described by a similar pair of equations, to the two regimes in the nonlinear tunneling dynamics of two weakly coupled Bose-Einstein condensates. On the basis of this analogy, we predict a new tunneling mode of two weakly coupled Bose-Einstein condensates in which their relative phase oscillates around π/2 modulo π.     

Entanglement dynamics of qubits in a common environment

We use the quantum jump approach to study the entanglement dynamics of a quantum register, which is composed of two or three dipole-dipole coupled two-level atoms, interacting with a common environment. Our investigation of entanglement dynamics reflects that the environment has dual actions on the entanglement of the qubits in the model. While the environment destroys the entanglement induced by the coherent dipole-dipole interactions, it can produce stable entanglement between the qubits prepared initially in a separable state. The analysis shows that it is the entangled decoherence-free states contained as components in the initial state that contribute to the stable entanglement. Our study indicates how the environmental noise produces the entanglement and exposes the interplay of environmental noise and coherent interactions of qubits on the entanglement.