Equilibrium entanglement vanishes at finite temperature

We show that the equilibrium entanglement of a bipartite system having a finite number of quantum states vanishes at finite temperature, for arbitrary interactions between its constituents and with the environment.Comment: 2 pages, no figures, first submitted on July 22, 200

Smooth optimal control with Floquet theory

This paper describes an approach to construct temporally shaped control pulses that drive a quantum system towards desired properties. A parametrization in terms of periodic functions with pre-defined frequencies permits to realize a smooth, typically simple shape of the pulses; their optimization can be performed based on a variational analysis with Floquet theory. As we show with selected specific examples, this approach permits to control the dynamics of interacting spins, such that gate operations and entanglement dynamics can be implemented with very high accuracy

Enhanced energy transfer to an optomechanical piston from indistinguishable photons

Thought experiments involving gases and pistons, such as Maxwell’s demon and Gibbs’ mixing, are central to our understanding of thermodynamics. Here we present a quantum thermodynamic thought experiment in which the energy transfer from two photonic gases to a piston membrane grows quadratically with the number of photons for indistinguishable gases, while linearly for distinguishable gases. This signature of Bosonic bunching may be observed in optomechanical experiments, highlighting the potential of these systems for the realization of thermodynamic thought experiments in the quantum realm

Quantifying athermality and quantum induced deviations from classical fluctuation relations

In recent years a quantum information theoretic framework has emerged for incorporating non-classical phenomena into fluctuation relations. Here we elucidate this framework by exploring deviations from classical fluctuation relations resulting from the athermality of the initial thermal system and quantum coherence of the system's energy supply. In particular we develop Crooks-like equalities for an oscillator system which is prepared either in photon added or photon subtracted thermal states and derive a Jarzynski-like equality for average work extraction. We use these equalities to discuss the extent to which adding or subtracting a photon increases the informational content of a state thereby amplifying the suppression of free energy increasing process. We go on to derive a Crooks-like equality for an energy supply that is prepared in a pure binomial state, leading to a non-trivial contribution from energy and coherence on the resultant irreversibility. We show how the binomial state equality fits in relation to a previously derived coherent state equality and offers a richer feature-set

Structure-dynamics relationship in coherent transport through disordered systems

Quantum transport is strongly influenced by interference with phase relations that depend sensitively on the scattering medium. Since even small changes in the geometry of the medium can turn constructive interference to destructive, a clear relation between structure and fast, efficient transport is difficult to identify. Here we present a complex network analysis of quantum transport through disordered systems to elucidate the relationship between transport efficiency and structural organization. Evidence is provided for the emergence of structural classes with different geometries but similar high efficiency. Specifically, a structural motif characterised by pair sites which are not actively participating to the dynamics renders transport properties robust against perturbations. Our results pave the way for a systematic rationalization of the design principles behind highly efficient transport which is of paramount importance for technological applications as well as to address transport robustness in natural light harvesting complexes.Comment: 5 pages (main text), 11 figures. Accepted in date July, 11th 2013 by Nature Com

Localization persisting under aperiodic driving

Localization may survive in periodically driven (Floquet) quantum systems, but is generally unstable for aperiodic drives. In this Letter, we identify a hidden conservation law originating from a chiral symmetry in a disordered spin-21 XX chain. This protects indefinitely long-lived localization for general-even aperiodic-drives. Therefore, rather counterintuitively, adding further potential disorder which spoils the conservation law delocalizes the system, via a controllable parametrically long-lived prethermal regime. This provides an example of persistent single-particle "localization without eigenstates.

Preparation of ordered states in ultra–cold gases using Bayesian optimization

Ultra-cold atomic gases are unique in terms of the degree of controllability, both for internal and external degrees of freedom. This makes it possible to use them for the study of complex quantum many-body phenomena. However in many scenarios, the prerequisite condition of faithfully preparing a desired quantum state despite decoherence and system imperfections is not always adequately met. To path the way to a specific target state, we explore quantum optimal control framework based on Bayesian optimization. The probabilistic modeling and broad exploration aspects of Bayesian optimization is particularly suitable for quantum experiments where data acquisition can be expensive. Using numerical simulations for the superfluid to Mott- insulator transition for bosons in a lattice as well for the formation of Rydberg crystals as explicit examples, we demonstrate that Bayesian optimization is capable of finding better control solutions with regards to finite and noisy data compared to existing methods of optimal control

Quantum Simulation of Three-Body Interactions in Weakly Driven Quantum Systems

The realization of effective Hamiltonians featuring many-body interactions beyond pairwise coupling would enable the quantum simulation of central models underpinning topological physics and quantum computation. We overcome crucial limitations of perturbative Floquet engineering and discuss the highly accurate realization of a purely three-body Hamiltonian in superconducting circuits and molecular nanomagnets