Scattering fidelity in elastodynamics

The recent introduction of the concept of scattering fidelity, causes us to revisit the experiment by Lobkis and Weaver [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 254302 (2003)]. There, the ``distortion'' of the coda of an acoustic signal is measured under temperature changes. This quantity is in fact the negative logarithm of scattering fidelity. We re-analyse their experimental data for two samples, and we find good agreement with random matrix predictions for the standard fidelity. Usually, one may expect such an agreement for chaotic systems only. While the first sample, may indeed be assumed chaotic, for the second sample, a perfect cuboid, such an agreement is more surprising. For the first sample, the random matrix analysis yields a perturbation strength compatible with semiclassical predictions. For the cuboid the measured perturbation strength is much larger than expected, but with the fitted values for this strength, the experimental data are well reproduced.Comment: 4 page

A Bell pair in a generic random matrix environment

Two non-interacting qubits are coupled to an environment. Both coupling and environment are represented by random matrix ensembles. The initial state of the pair is a Bell state, though we also consider arbitrary pure states. Decoherence of the pair is evaluated analytically in terms of purity; Monte Carlo calculations confirm these results and also yield the concurrence of the pair. Entanglement within the pair accelerates decoherence. Numerics display the relation between concurrence and purity known for Werner states, allowing us to give a formula for concurrence decay.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

A random matrix approach to decoherence

In order to analyze the effect of chaos or order on the rate of decoherence in a subsystem, we aim to distinguish effects of the two types of dynamics by choosing initial states as random product states from two factor spaces representing two subsystems. We introduce a random matrix model that permits to vary the coupling strength between the subsystems. The case of strong coupling is analyzed in detail, and we find no significant differences except for very low-dimensional spaces.Comment: 11 pages, 5 eps-figure

Decoherence of an nn-qubit quantum memory

We analyze decoherence of a quantum register in the absence of non-local operations i.e. of $n$ non-interacting qubits coupled to an environment. The problem is solved in terms of a sum rule which implies linear scaling in the number of qubits. Each term involves a single qubit and its entanglement with the remaining ones. Two conditions are essential: first decoherence must be small and second the coupling of different qubits must be uncorrelated in the interaction picture. We apply the result to a random matrix model, and illustrate its reach considering a GHZ state coupled to a spin bath.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Correlations between spectra with different symmetry: any chance to be observed?

A standard assumption in quantum chaology is the absence of correlation between spectra pertaining to different symmetries. Doubts were raised about this statement for several reasons, in particular, because in semiclassics spectra of different symmetry are expressed in terms of the same set of periodic orbits. We reexamine this question and find absence of correlation in the universal regime. In the case of continuous symmetry the problem is reduced to parametric correlation, and we expect correlations to be present up to a certain time which is essentially classical but larger than the ballistic time

Anomalous slow fidelity decay for symmetry breaking perturbations

Symmetries as well as other special conditions can cause anomalous slowing down of fidelity decay. These situations will be characterized, and a family of random matrix models to emulate them generically presented. An analytic solution based on exponentiated linear response will be given. For one representative case the exact solution is obtained from a supersymmetric calculation. The results agree well with dynamical calculations for a kicked top.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure