Quantum discord with weak measurements

Weak measurements cause small change to quantum states, thereby opening up the possibility of new ways of manipulating and controlling quantum systems. We ask, can weak measurements reveal more quantum correlation in a composite quantum state? We prove that the weak measurement induced quantum discord, called as the “super quantum discord”, is always larger than the quantum discord captured by the strong measurement. Moreover, we prove the monotonicity of the super quantum discord as a function of the measurement strength and in the limit of strong projective measurement the super quantum discord becomes the normal quantum discord. We find that unlike the normal discord, for pure entangled states, the super quantum discord can exceed the quantum entanglement. Our results provide new insights on the nature of quantum correlation and suggest that the notion of quantum correlation is not only observer dependent but also depends on how weakly one perturbs the composite system. We illustrate the key results for pure as well as mixed entangled states.     

Quantum and classical correlations for a two-qubit X structure density matrix

We derive explicit expressions for quantum discord and classical correlation for an X structure density matrix. Based on the characteristics of the expressions, the quantum discord and the classical correlation are easily obtained and compared under different initial conditions using a novel analytical method. We explain the relationships among quantum discord, classical correlation, and entanglement, and further find that the quantum discord is not always larger than the entanglement measured by concurrence in a general two-qubit X state. The new method, which is different from previous approaches, has certain guiding significance for analysing quantum discord and classical correlation of a two-qubit X state, such as a mixed state.     

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.     

Topological phase transition in the quasiperiodic disordered Su–Schriffer–Heeger chain

We study the stability of the topological phase in one-dimensional Su–Schrieffer–Heeger chain subject to the quasiperiodic hopping disorder. Two different hopping disorder configurations are investigated, one is the Aubry–André quasiperiodic disorder without mobility edges and the other is the slowly varying quasiperiodic disorder with mobility edges. Interestingly, we find topological phase transitions occur at the critical quasiperiodic disorder strengths which have an exact linear relation with the dimerization strengths for both disorder configurations. We further investigate the localized property of the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger chain with the slowly varying quasiperiodic disorder, and identify that there exist mobility edges in the spectrum when the dimerization strength is unequal to 1. These interesting features of models will shed light on the study of interplay between topological and disordered systems.     

Dynamics of quantum discord in a two-qubit system under classical noise

We study the quantum discord dynamics of two noninteracting qubits that are, respectively, subject to classical noise. The results show that the dynamics of quantum discord are dependent on both the coupling between the qubits and classical noise, and the average switching rate of the classical noise. In the weak-coupling Markovian region, quantum discord exhibits exponent decay without revival, and can be well protected by increasing the average classical noise switching rate. While in the strong-coupling non-Markovian region, quantum discord reveals slowly decayed oscillations with quick revival by decreasing the average switching rate of the classical noise. Thus, our results provide a new method of protecting quantum discord in a two-qubit system by controlling the coupling between the qubits and classical noise, and the average switching rate of the classical noise.     

Quantum correlation between two qubits induced by a common heat bath

In terms of geometric discord, we study quantum correlations between two qubits interacting with a common heat bath. A necessary and sufficient condition for zero discord for arbitrary two-qubit density matrix is derived. With this condition, we show that a common heat bath can always induce two-qubit quantum correlations if both qubits are initially prepared in arbitrary superposition of “pointer basis”.     

Quantum correlation in one-dimensional extended quantum compass model

We study the correlations in the one-dimensional extended quantum compass model in a transverse magnetic field. By exactly solving the Hamiltonian, we find that the quantum correlation of the ground state of one-dimensional quantum compass model is vanishing. We show that quantum discord can not only locate the quantum critical points, but also discern the orders of phase transitions. Furthermore, entanglement quantified by concurrence is also compared.     

Investigations on quantum correlation of coupled qubits in squeezed vacuum reservoir

In this paper, we investigate the quantum correlation of coupled qubits which are initially in maximally entangled mixed states in squeezed vacuum reservoir. We compare and analyse the effects of squeezed parameters on quantum discord and quantum concurrence. The results show that in squeezed vacuum reservoir, the quantum discord and quantum concurrence perform completely opposite behaviors to the change of squeezed parameters. Quantum discord survives longer with the increase of squeezed amplitude parameter, but entanglement death turns faster on the contrary. The results also indicate that the classical correlation of the system is smaller than quantum discord in vacuum reservoir, while it is bigger than quantum discord in squeezed vacuum reservoir. The quantum discord and classical correlation are more robust than quantum concurrence in the two reservoir environments, which indicates that the entanglement actually is easily affected by decoherence and quantum discord has stronger ability to avoid decoherence in squeezed vacuum reservoir.     

Action–angle variables,ladder operators and coherent states

This Letter is devoted to the building of coherent states from arguments based on classical action–angle variables. First, we show how these classical variables are associated to an algebraic structure in terms of Poisson brackets. In the quantum context these considerations are implemented by ladder type operators and a structure known as spectrum generating algebra. All this allows to generate coherent states and thereby the correspondence of classical–quantum properties by means of the aforementioned underlying structure. This approach is illustrated with the example of the one-dimensional Pöschl–Teller potential system.     

Overwriting information: Correlations,physical costs,and environment models

In this sequel to our previous study of the entropic and energetic costs of information erasure [N.G. Anderson, Phys. Lett. A 372 (2008) 5552], we consider direct overwriting of classical information encoded in a quantum-mechanical memory system interacting with a heat bath. Lower bounds on physical costs of overwriting – in both “single-shot” and “sequential” overwriting scenarios – are obtained from globally unitary quantum dynamics and entropic inequalities alone, all within a referential approach that grounds information content in correlations between physical system states. A heterogeneous environment model, required for consistent treatment of sequential overwriting, is introduced and used to establish and relate bounds for various cases.     

Investigations into quantum correlation of coupled qubits in a squeezed vacuum reservoir

In this paper,we investigate the quantum correlation of coupled qubits which are initially in maximally entangled mixed states in a squeezed vacuum reservoir.We compare and analyze the effects of squeezed parameters on quantum discord and quantum concurrence.The results show that in a squeezed vacuum reservoir,the quantum discord and quantum concurrence perform with completely opposite behaviors with the change of squeezed parameters.Quantum discord survives longer with the increase of squeezed amplitude parameter,but entanglement death is faster on the contrary.The results also indicate that the classical correlation of the system is smaller than quantum discord in a vacuum reservoir,while it is bigger than quantum discord in a squeezed vacuum reservoir.The quantum discord and classical correlation are more robust than quantum concurrence in the two reservoir environments,which indicates that the entanglement actually is easily affected by decoherence and quantum discord has a stronger ability to avoid decoherence in a squeezed vacuum reservoir.     

Self-organization of five species in a cyclic competition game

Cyclic competition game models, particularly the “rock–paper–scissors” model, play important roles in exploring the problem of multi-species coexistence in spatially ecological systems. We propose an extended “rock–paper–scissors” game to model cyclic interactions among five species, and find that two of the five can coexistent when biodiversity disappears, which is different from the “rock–paper–scissors” game. As the number of fingers is five, we named the new model the “fingers” game, where the thumb, forefinger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger cyclically dominate their subsequent species and are dominated by their former species. We investigate the “fingers” model in two ways: direct simulations and nonlinear partial differential equations. An important finding is that the number of species in a cyclic competition game has an influence on the emergence of biodiversity. To be specific, the “rock–paper–scissors” model is in favor of maintaining biodiversity in comparison with the “fingers” model when the variables (population size, reproduction rate, selection rate, and migration rate) are the same. It is also shown that the mobility and reproduction rate can promote or jeopardize biodiversity.     

Classical systems can be contextual too: Analogue of the Mermin–Peres square

Contextuality lays at the heart of quantum mechanics. In the prevailing opinion it is considered as a signature of “quantumness” that classical theories lack. However, this assertion is only partially justified. Although contextuality is certainly true of quantum mechanics, it cannot be taken by itself as discriminating against classical theories. Here we consider a representative example of contextual behaviour, the so-called Mermin–Peres square, and present a discrete toy model of a bipartite system which reproduces the pattern of quantum predictions that leads to contradiction with the assumption of non-contextuality. This illustrates that quantum-like contextual effects have their analogues within classical models with epistemic constraints such as limited information gain and measurement disturbance.     

Quantum and Classical Correlations in Isotropic XY Chain with Three-Site Interaction

The quantum phase transition in the isotropic XY chain with three-site interaction has been studied by calculating the quantum discord, classical correlation, and concurrence measuring entanglement. It is found that the quantum discord is a better choice than concurrence to signal the presence of the quantum phase transition in this model, since that for next-nearest neighbor spins the derivative of the quantum discord still exhibits singularity at the critical point while there is no more entanglement.     

Color Glass Condensate in Schwinger–Keldysh QCD

Within the Schwinger–Keldysh representation of many-body QCD, it is shown that the leading quantum corrections to the strong classical color field are “classical” in the sense that the fluctuation field still obeys the classical Jacobi-field equation, while the quantum effects solely reside in the fluctuations of the initial field configurations. Within this context, a systematic derivation of the JIMWLK renormalization group equation is presented. A clear identification of the correct form of gauge transformation rules and the correct form of the matter-field Lagrangian in the Schwinger–Keldysh QCD is also presented.     

Induced fractional zero-point angular momentum for charged particles of the Bohm–Aharonov system by means of a “spectator” magnetic field

An induced fractional zero-point angular momentum of charged particles by the Bohm–Aharonov (BA) vector potential is realized via a modified combined trap. It explores a “spectator” mechanism in this type of quantum effects: In the limit of the kinetic energy approaching one of its eigenvalues the BA vector potential alone cannot induce a fractional zero-point angular momentum at quantum mechanical level in the BA magnetic field-free region; But when there is a “spectator” magnetic field the BA vector potential induces a fractional zero-point angular momentum. The “spectator” does not contribute to such a fractional angular momentum, but plays essential role in guaranteeing non-trivial dynamics at quantum mechanical level in the required limit. This “spectator” mechanism is significant in investigating the BA effects and related topics in both aspects of theory and experiment.     

Non-zero total correlation means non-zero quantum correlation

We investigated the super quantum discord based on weak measurements. The super quantum discord is an extension of the standard quantum discord defined by projective measurements and also describes the quantumness of correlations. We provide some equivalent conditions for zero super quantum discord by using quantum discord, classical correlation and mutual information. In particular, we find that the super quantum discord is zero only for product states, which have zero mutual information. This result suggests that non-zero correlations can always be detected using the quantum correlation with weak measurements. As an example, we present the assisted state-discrimination method.     

Entanglement,superselection rules and supersymmetric quantum mechanics

In this paper we show that the energy eigenstates of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) with non-definite “fermion” number are entangled states. They are “physical states” of the model provided that observables with odd number of spin variables are allowed in the theory like it happens in the Jaynes–Cummings model. Those states generalize the so-called “spin-spring” states of the Jaynes–Cummings model which have played an important role in the study of entanglement.     

Dissipative Bohmian mechanics within the Caldirola–Kanai framework: A trajectory analysis of wave-packet dynamics in viscid media

Classical viscid media are quite common in our everyday life. However, we are not used to find such media in quantum mechanics, and much less to analyze their effects on the dynamics of quantum systems. In this regard, the Caldirola–Kanai time-dependent Hamiltonian constitutes an appealing model, accounting for friction without including environmental fluctuations (as it happens, for example, with quantum Brownian motion). Here, a Bohmian analysis of the associated friction dynamics is provided in order to understand how a hypothetical, purely quantum viscid medium would act on a wave packet from a (quantum) hydrodynamic viewpoint. To this purpose, a series of paradigmatic contexts have been chosen, such as the free particle, the motion under the action of a linear potential, the harmonic oscillator, or the superposition of two coherent wave packets. Apart from their analyticity, these examples illustrate interesting emerging behaviors, such as localization by “quantum freezing” or a particular type of quantum–classical correspondence. The reliability of the results analytically determined has been checked by means of numerical simulations, which has served to investigate other problems lacking of such analyticity (e.g., the coherent superpositions).     

Classical Correlation and Quantum Discord in a Two Qubit System Under Dissipation Environments

We study the dynamics of classical correlation and quantum discord of two-qubit system interacted with the thermal reservoir. Special attention is paid to the difference between the entanglement and quantum discord when considering the influences of the nonzero mean photon number and quantum fluctuation of the vacuum. It is shown that in the same range of the physical parameters, the factors leading to the entanglement sudden death only accelerates the decay of quantum discord, and the quantum discord can last for an infinite period when the entanglement disappears. So the quantum discord is more robust than entanglement under this decoherence environment, and quantum discord is a more general measure of quantum correlation than entanglement.