Quantum-limited metrology with product states

We study the performance of initial product states of n-body systems in generalized quantum metrology protocols that involve estimating an unknown coupling constant in a nonlinear k-body (k << n) Hamiltonian. We obtain the theoretical lower bound on the uncertainty in the estimate of the parameter. For arbitrary initial states, the lower bound scales as 1/n^k, and for initial product states, it scales as 1/n^(k-1/2). We show that the latter scaling can be achieved using simple, separable measurements. We analyze in detail the case of a quadratic Hamiltonian (k = 2), implementable with Bose-Einstein condensates. We formulate a simple model, based on the evolution of angular-momentum coherent states, which explains the O(n^(-3/2)) scaling for k = 2; the model shows that the entanglement generated by the quadratic Hamiltonian does not play a role in the enhanced sensitivity scaling. We show that phase decoherence does not affect the O(n^(-3/2)) sensitivity scaling for initial product states.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Nonlinear Lattice Waves in Random Potentials

Localization of waves by disorder is a fundamental physical problem encompassing a diverse spectrum of theoretical, experimental and numerical studies in the context of metal-insulator transition, quantum Hall effect, light propagation in photonic crystals, and dynamics of ultra-cold atoms in optical arrays. Large intensity light can induce nonlinear response, ultracold atomic gases can be tuned into an interacting regime, which leads again to nonlinear wave equations on a mean field level. The interplay between disorder and nonlinearity, their localizing and delocalizing effects is currently an intriguing and challenging issue in the field. We will discuss recent advances in the dynamics of nonlinear lattice waves in random potentials. In the absence of nonlinear terms in the wave equations, Anderson localization is leading to a halt of wave packet spreading. Nonlinearity couples localized eigenstates and, potentially, enables spreading and destruction of Anderson localization due to nonintegrability, chaos and decoherence. The spreading process is characterized by universal subdiffusive laws due to nonlinear diffusion. We review extensive computational studies for one- and two-dimensional systems with tunable nonlinearity power. We also briefly discuss extensions to other cases where the linear wave equation features localization: Aubry-Andre localization with quasiperiodic potentials, Wannier-Stark localization with dc fields, and dynamical localization in momentum space with kicked rotors.Comment: 45 pages, 19 figure

Parallel Self-Consistent-Field Calculations via Chebyshev-Filtered Subspace Acceleration

Solving the Kohn-Sham eigenvalue problem constitutes the most computationally expensive part in self-consistent density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In a previous paper, we have proposed a nonlinear Chebyshev-filtered subspace iteration method, which avoids computing explicit eigenvectors except at the first SCF iteration. The method may be viewed as an approach to solve the original nonlinear Kohn-Sham equation by a nonlinear subspace iteration technique, without emphasizing the intermediate linearized Kohn-Sham eigenvalue problem. It reaches self-consistency within a similar number of SCF iterations as eigensolver-based approaches. However, replacing the standard diagonalization at each SCF iteration by a Chebyshev subspace filtering step results in a significant speedup over methods based on standard diagonalization. Here, we discuss an approach for implementing this method in multi-processor, parallel environment. Numerical results are presented to show that the method enables to perform a class of highly challenging DFT calculations that were not feasible before

Quasi-periodic motions in dynamical systems. Review of a renormalisation group approach

Power series expansions naturally arise whenever solutions of ordinary differential equations are studied in the regime of perturbation theory. In the case of quasi-periodic solutions the issue of convergence of the series is plagued of the so-called small divisor problem. In this paper we review a method recently introduced to deal with such a problem, based on renormalisation group ideas and multiscale techniques. Applications to both quasi-integrable Hamiltonian systems (KAM theory) and non-Hamiltonian dissipative systems are discussed. The method is also suited to situations in which the perturbation series diverges and a resummation procedure can be envisaged, leading to a solution which is not analytic in the perturbation parameter: we consider explicitly examples of solutions which are only infinitely differentiable in the perturbation parameter, or even defined on a Cantor set.Comment: 36 pages, 8 figures, review articl

Renormalization Group and the Melnikov Problem for PDE's

We give a new proof of persistence of quasi-periodic, low dimensional elliptic tori in infinite dimensional systems. The proof is based on a renormalization group iteration that was developed recently in [BGK] to address the standard KAM problem, namely, persistence of invariant tori of maximal dimension in finite dimensional, near integrable systems. Our result covers situations in which the so called normal frequencies are multiple. In particular, it provides a new proof of the existence of small-amplitude, quasi-periodic solutions of nonlinear wave equations with periodic boundary conditions.Comment: 44 pages, plain Te