A transverse Hamiltonian variational technique for open quantum stochastic systems and its application to coherent quantum control

This paper is concerned with variational methods for nonlinear open quantum systems with Markovian dynamics governed by Hudson-Parthasarathy quantum stochastic differential equations. The latter are driven by quantum Wiener processes of the external boson fields and are specified by the system Hamiltonian and system-field coupling operators. We consider the system response to perturbations of these energy operators and introduce a transverse Hamiltonian which encodes the propagation of the perturbations through the unitary system-field evolution. This provides a tool for the infinitesimal perturbation analysis and development of optimality conditions for coherent quantum control problems. We apply the transverse Hamiltonian variational technique to a mean square optimal coherent quantum filtering problem for a measurement-free cascade connection of quantum systems.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. A brief version of this paper will appear in the proceedings of the IEEE Multi-Conference on Systems and Control, 21-23 September 2015, Sydney, Australi

Stochastic semiclassical gravity

In the first part of this paper, we show that the semiclassical Einstein-Langevin equation, introduced in the framework of a stochastic generalization of semiclassical gravity to describe the back reaction of matter stress-energy fluctuations, can be formally derived from a functional method based on the influence functional of Feynman and Vernon. In the second part, we derive a number of results for background solutions of semiclassical gravity consisting of stationary and conformally stationary spacetimes and scalar fields in thermal equilibrium states. For these cases, fluctuation-dissipation relations are derived. We also show that particle creation is related to the vacuum stress-energy fluctuations and that it is enhanced by the presence of stochastic metric fluctuations.Comment: 26 pages, RevTeX, no figure

Cosmological consequences of Quantum Gravity proposals

In this thesis, we study the implications of Quantum Gravity models for the dynamics of spacetime and the ensuing departures from classical General Relativity. The main focus is on cosmological applications, particularly the impact of quantum gravitational effects on the dynamics of a homogenous and isotropic cosmological background. Our interest lies in the consequences for the evolution of the early universe and singularity resolution, as well as in the possibility of providing an alternative explanation for dark matter and dark energy in the late universe. The thesis is divided into two main parts, dedicated to alternative (and complementary) ways of tackling the problem of Quantum Gravity. The first part is concerned with cosmological applications of background independent approaches to Quantum Gravity, both in the context of loop quantisation and in quantum geometrodynamics. Particularly relevant in this work is the Group Field Theory approach, which we use to study the effective dynamics of the emergent universe from a full theory of Quantum Gravity (i.e. without symmetry reduction). In the second part, modified gravity theories are introduced as tools to provide an effective description of quantum gravitational effects, e.g. by introducing new degrees of freedom and symmetries. Particularly relevant in this respect is local conformal invariance, which finds a natural realisation in the framework of Weyl geometry. We build a modified theory of gravity based on such symmetry principle, and argue that new fields in the extended gravitational sector may play the role of dark matter. New degrees of freedom are also natural in models with varying fundamental `constants', which we examine critically. Finally, we discuss prospects for future work and point at directions for the derivation of realistic cosmological models from Quantum Gravity candidates.Comment: PhD thesis, King's College London (supervisor: Mairi Sakellariadou), 282 pages, 20 figures; submitted in September 201

Covariance Dynamics and Entanglement in Translation Invariant Linear Quantum Stochastic Networks

This paper is concerned with a translation invariant network of identical quantum stochastic systems subjected to external quantum noise. Each node of the network is directly coupled to a finite number of its neighbours. This network is modelled as an open quantum harmonic oscillator and is governed by a set of linear quantum stochastic differential equations. The dynamic variables of the network satisfy the canonical commutation relations. Similar large-scale networks can be found, for example, in quantum metamaterials and optical lattices. Using spatial Fourier transform techniques, we obtain a sufficient condition for stability of the network in the case of finite interaction range, and consider a mean square performance index for the stable network in the thermodynamic limit. The Peres-Horodecki-Simon separability criterion is employed in order to obtain sufficient and necessary conditions for quantum entanglement of bipartite systems of nodes of the network in the Gaussian invariant state. The results on stability and entanglement are extended to the infinite chain of the linear quantum systems by letting the number of nodes go to infinity. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the results.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submitted to the 54th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, December 15-18, 2015, Osaka, Japa

Covariant Quantum Dynamical Semigroups: Unbounded generators

A survey of the probabilistic approaches to quantum dynamical semigroups with unbounded generators is given. An emphasis is made upon recent advances in the structural theory of covariant Markovian master equations. The relations with the classical Levy-Khinchin formula are elucidated. As an example, a complete characterizations of the Galilean covariant irreversible quantum Markovian evolutions is given in terms of the corresponding quantum master and Langevin equations. Important topics for future investigation are outlined.Comment: 14 pages,Latex, no figures, submitted to the Semigroup Volume, Group 21, Goslar 199