A Necessary Condition for Quantum Adiabaticity Applied to the Adiabatic Grover Search

Numerous sufficient conditions for adiabaticity of the evolution of a driven quantum system have been known for quite a long time. In contrast, necessary adiabatic conditions are scarce. Recently a practicable necessary condition well suited for many-body systems has been proved. Here we tailor this condition for estimating run times of adiabatic quantum algorithms. As an illustration, the condition is applied to the adiabatic algorithm for searching in an unstructured database (adiabatic Grover search algorithm). We find that the thus obtained lower bound on the run time of this algorithm reproduces \( \sqrt{N} \) scaling (with N being the number of database entries) of the explicitly known optimum run time. This is in contrast to the poor performance of the known sufficient adiabatic conditions, which guarantee adiabaticity only for a run time on the order of O(N), which does not constitute any speedup over the classical database search. This observation highlights the merits of the new adiabatic condition and its potential relevance to adiabatic quantum computing.     

μ → <Emphasis Type="Italic">e</Emphasis>γ decay versus the μ → <Emphasis Type="Italic">eee</Emphasis> bound and lepton flavor violating processes in supernova

Even tiny lepton flavor violation (LFV) due to some New Physics is able to alter the conditions inside a collapsing supernova core and probably to facilitate the explosion. LFV emerges naturally in a see-saw type-II model of neutrino mass generation. Experimentally, the LFV beyond the Standard Model is constrained by rare lepton decay searches. In particular, strong bounds are imposed on the μ → eee branching ratio and on the μ-e conversion in muonic gold. Currently, the μ→eγ is under investigation in the MEG experiment that aims at a dramatic increase in sensitivity in the next three years. We seek a see-saw type-II LFV pattern that fits all the experimental constraints, leads to Br(μ →eγ) ≳ Br(μμ →eee), and ensures a rate of LFV processes in supernova high enough to modify the supernova physics. These requirements are sufficient to eliminate almost all freedom in the model. In particular, they lead to the prediction 0.4 × 10⁻¹² ≲ Br(μ → eγ) ≲ 6 × 10⁻¹², which will be testable by MEG in the nearest future. The considered scenario also constrains the neutrino mass-mixing pattern and provides lower and upper bounds on τ-lepton LFV decays. We also briefly discuss a model with a single bilepton in which the μ → eee decay is absent at the tree level.     

On the Merit of a Central Limit Theorem-based Approximation in Statistical Physics

The applicability conditions of a recently reported Central Limit Theorem-based approximation method in statistical physics are investigated and rigorously determined. The failure of this method at low and intermediate temperature is proved as well as its inadequacy to disclose quantum criticalities at fixed temperatures. Its high temperature predictions are in addition shown to coincide with those stemming from straightforward appropriate expansions up to (k _B T)⁻². Our results are clearly illustrated by comparing the exact and approximate temperature dependence of the free energy of some exemplary physical system.     

Neutrino oscillations: Deriving the plane-wave approximation in the wave-packet approach

The plane-wave approximation is widely used in the practical calculations conserning neutrino oscillations. A simple derivation of this approximation starting from the neutrino wave-packet framework is presented.     

A Remark on the Notion of Independence of Quantum Integrals of Motion in the Thermodynamic Limit

Studies of integrable quantum many-body systems have a long history with an impressive record of success. However, surprisingly enough, an unambiguous definition of quantum integrability remains a matter of an ongoing debate. We contribute to this debate by dwelling upon an important aspect of quantum integrability—the notion of independence of quantum integrals of motion (QIMs). We point out that a widely accepted definition of functional independence of QIMs is flawed, and suggest a new definition. Our study is motivated by the PXP model—a model of N spins 1/2 possessing an extensive number of binary QIMs. The number of QIMs which are independent according to the common definition turns out to be equal to the number of spins, N. A common wisdom would then suggest that the system is completely integrable, which is not the case. We discuss the origin of this conundrum and demonstrate how it is resolved when a new definition of independence of QIMs is employed.

     

TeV-scale bileptons, see-saw type II and lepton flavor violation in core-collapse supernova

Electrons and electron neutrinos in the inner core of the core-collapse supernova are highly degenerate and therefore numerous during a few seconds of explosion. In contrast, leptons of other flavors are non-degenerate and therefore relatively scarce. This is due to lepton flavor conservation. If this conservation law is broken by some non-standard interactions, ν _e are converted to ν _μ , ν _τ , and e are converted to μ. This affects the supernova dynamics and the supernova neutrino signal. We consider lepton flavor violating interactions mediated by scalar bileptons, i.e. heavy scalars with lepton number 2. It is shown that in case of TeV-mass bileptons the electron Fermi gas is equilibrated with non-electron species inside the inner supernova core at a time scale ～(1–100) ms. In particular, a scalar triplet which generates neutrino masses through the see-saw type II mechanism is considered. It is found that the supernova core is sensitive to yet unprobed values of masses and couplings of the triplet.     

Neutrino wave function and oscillation suppression

We consider a thought experiment, in which a neutrino is produced by an electron on a nucleus in a crystal. The wave function of the oscillating neutrino is calculated assuming that the electron is described by a wave packet. If the electron is relativistic and the spatial size of its wave packet is much larger than the size of the crystal cell, then the wave packet of the produced neutrino has essentially the same size as the wave packet of the electron. We investigate the suppression of neutrino oscillations at large distances caused by two mechanisms: (1) spatial separation of wave packets corresponding to different neutrino masses; (2) neutrino energy dispersion for given neutrino mass eigenstates. We resolve the contributions of these two mechanisms. Received: 26 July 2005, Published online: 6 October 2005     

Spin flip of neutrinos with magnetic moment in core-collapse supernova

Neutrinos with magnetic moment experience chirality flips while scattering off charged particles. It is known that if neutrino is a Dirac fermion, then such chirality flips lead to the production of sterile right-handed neutrinos inside the core of a star during the stellar collapse, which may facilitate the supernova explosion and modify the supernova neutrino signal. In the present paper we reexamine the production of right-handed neutrinos during the collapse using a dynamical model of the collapse. We refine the estimates of the values of the Dirac magnetic moment which are necessary to substantially alter the supernova dynamics and neutrno signal. It is argued in particular that Super-Kamiokande will be sensitive at least to μ _{ν Dirac} = 10⁻¹³μ_B in case of a galactic supernova explosion. Also we briefly discuss the case of Majorana neutrino magnetic moment. It is pointed out that in the inner supernova core spin flips may quickly equilibrate electron neutrinos with nonelectron antineutrinos if μ _{ν Majorana} ≳ 10⁻¹²μ_B. This may lead to various consequences for supernova physics.     

Entanglement and relaxation in exactly solvable models

A system put in contact with a large heat bath normally thermalizes. This means that the state of the system ρ^ℐ(t) approaches an equilibrium state ρ_eq^ℐ, the latter depending only on macroscopic characteristics of the bath (e.g. temperature), but not on the initial state of the system. The above statement is the cornerstone of the equilibrium statistical mechanics; its validity and its domain of applicability are central questions in the studies of the foundations of statistical mechanics. In the present contribution we discuss the recently proven general theorems about thermalization and demonstrate how they work in exactly solvable models. In particular, we review a necessary condition for the system initial state independence (ISI) of ρ_eq^ℐ, which was proven in our previous work, and apply it for two exactly solvable models, the XX spin chain and a central spin model with a special interaction with the environment. In the latter case we are able to prove the absence of the system ISI. Also the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis is discussed. It is pointed out that although it is supposed to be generically true in essentially not-integrable (chaotic) quantum systems, it is how-ever also valid in the integrable XX model.