3,047 research outputs found
Optimal purification of a generic n-qudit state
We propose a quantum algorithm for the purification of a generic mixed state
of a -qudit system by using an ancillary -qudit system. The
algorithm is optimal in that (i) the number of ancillary qudits cannot be
reduced, (ii) the number of parameters which determine the purification state
exactly equals the number of degrees of freedom of , and (iii)
is easily determined from the density matrix . Moreover, we
introduce a quantum circuit in which the quantum gates are unitary
transformations acting on a -qudit system. These transformations are
determined by parameters that can be tuned to generate, once the ancillary
qudits are disregarded, any given mixed -qudit state.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, remarks adde
Translationally invariant conservation laws of local Lindblad equations
We study the conditions under which one can conserve local translationally
invariant operators by local translationally invariant Lindblad equations in
one-dimensional rings of spin-1/2 particles. We prove that for any 1-local
operator (e.g., particle density) there exist Lindblad dissipators that
conserve that operator, while on the other hand we prove that among 2-local
operators (e.g., energy density) only trivial ones of the Ising type can be
conserved, while all the other cannot be conserved, neither locally nor
globally, by any 2- or 3-local translationally invariant Lindblad equation. Our
statements hold for rings of any finite length larger than some minimal length
determined by the locality of Lindblad equation. These results show in
particular that conservation of energy density in interacting systems is
fundamentally more difficult than conservation of 1-local quantities.Comment: 15 pages, no fig
Conservative chaotic map as a model of quantum many-body environment
We study the dynamics of the entanglement between two qubits coupled to a
common chaotic environment, described by the quantum kicked rotator model. We
show that the kicked rotator, which is a single-particle deterministic
dynamical system, can reproduce the effects of a pure dephasing many-body bath.
Indeed, in the semiclassical limit the interaction with the kicked rotator can
be described as a random phase-kick, so that decoherence is induced in the
two-qubit system. We also show that our model can efficiently simulate
non-Markovian environments.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Pairing of Cooper pairs in a Josephson junction network containing an impurity
We show how to induce pairing of Cooper pairs (and, thus,
superconductivity) as a result of local embedding of a quantum impurity in a
Josephson network fabricable with conventional junctions. We find that a
boundary double Sine-Gordon model provides an accurate description of the dc
Josephson current patterns, as well as of the stable phases accessible to the
network. We point out that tunneling of pairs of Cooper pairs is robust against
quantum fluctuations, as a consequence of the time reversal invariance, arising
when the central region of the network is pierced by a dimensionless magnetic
flux . We find that, for , a stable attractive finite
coupling fixed point emerges and point out its relevance for engineering a two
level quantum system with enhanced coherence.Comment: 5 Pages, 5 Figures. Small modifications, ref.[11] added. To appear in
EP
Teleportation in a noisy environment: a quantum trajectories approach
We study the fidelity of quantum teleportation for the situation in which
quantum logic gates are used to provide the long distance entanglement required
in the protocol, and where the effect of a noisy environment is modeled by
means of a generalized amplitude damping channel. Our results demonstrate the
effectiveness of the quantum trajectories approach, which allows the simulation
of open systems with a large number of qubits (up to 24). This shows that the
method is suitable for modeling quantum information protocols in realistic
environments.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure
Frustration of decoherence in -shaped superconducting Josephson networks
We examine the possibility that pertinent impurities in a condensed matter
system may help in designing quantum devices with enhanced coherent behaviors.
For this purpose, we analyze a field theory model describing Y- shaped
superconducting Josephson networks. We show that a new finite coupling stable
infrared fixed point emerges in its phase diagram; we then explicitly evidence
that, when engineered to operate near by this new fixed point, Y-shaped
networks support two-level quantum systems, for which the entanglement with the
environment is frustrated. We briefly address the potential relevance of this
result for engineering finite-size superconducting devices with enhanced
quantum coherence. Our approach uses boundary conformal field theory since it
naturally allows for a field-theoretical treatment of the phase slips
(instantons), describing the quantum tunneling between degenerate levels.Comment: 11 pages, 5 .eps figures; several changes in the presentation and in
the figures, upgraded reference
Persistent and transient productive inefficiency in a regulated industry: electricity distribution in New Zealand
The productive efficiency of a firm can be decomposed into two parts, one persistent and one transient. So far, most of the cost efficiency studies estimated frontier models that provide either the transient or the persistent part of productive efficiency. This distinction seems to be appealing also for regulators. During the last decades, public utilities such as water and electricity have witnessed a wave of regulatory reforms aimed at improving efficiency through incentive regulation. Most of these regulation schemes use benchmarking, namely measuring companies' efficiency and rewarding them accordingly. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of persistent and transient efficiency in an electricity sector and to investigate their implications under price cap regulation. Using a theoretical model, we show that an imperfectly informed regulator may not disentangle the two parts of the cost efficiency; therefore, they may fail in setting optimal efficiency targets. The introduction of minimum quality standards may not offer a valid solution. To provide evidence we use data on 28 New Zealand electricity distribution companies between 1996 and 2011. We estimate a total cost function using three stochastic frontier models for panel data. We start with the random effects model (RE) proposed by Pitt and Lee (1981) that provides information on the persistent part of the cost effciency. Then, we apply the true random effects model (TRE) proposed by Greene (2005a, 2005b) that provides information on the transient part. Finally, we use the generalized true random effects model (GTRE) that allows for the simultaneous estimation of both transient and persistent efficiency. We find weak evidence that persistent efficiency is associated to higher quality, and wrong efficiency targets are associated to lower quality compliance
Thermodynamic Bounds on Efficiency for Systems with Broken Time-reversal Symmetry
We show that for systems with broken time-reversal symmetry the maximum
efficiency and the efficiency at maximum power are both determined by two
parameters: a "figure of merit" and an asymmetry parameter. In contrast to the
time-symmetric case, the figure of merit is bounded from above; nevertheless
the Carnot efficiency can be reached at lower and lower values of the figure of
merit and far from the so-called strong coupling condition as the asymmetry
parameter increases. Moreover, the Curzon-Ahlborn limit for efficiency at
maximum power can be overcome within linear response. Finally, always within
linear response, it is allowed to have simultaneously Carnot efficiency and
non-zero power.Comment: Final version, 4 pages, 3 figure
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