Bounds for Non-Locality Distillation Protocols

Non-locality can be quantified by the violation of a Bell inequality. Since this violation may be amplified by local operations an alternative measure has been proposed - distillable non-locality. The alternative measure is difficult to calculate exactly due to the double exponential growth of the parameter space. In this article we give a way to bound the distillable non-locality of a resource by the solutions to a related optimization problem. Our upper bounds are exponentially easier to compute than the exact value and are shown to be meaningful in general and tight in some cases.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; small changes in introduction and application section due to the exact verification of distillation bounds using a symbolic computation package (Maple 14); added journal re

Levy--Brownian motion on finite intervals: Mean first passage time analysis

We present the analysis of the first passage time problem on a finite interval for the generalized Wiener process that is driven by L\'evy stable noises. The complexity of the first passage time statistics (mean first passage time, cumulative first passage time distribution) is elucidated together with a discussion of the proper setup of corresponding boundary conditions that correctly yield the statistics of first passages for these non-Gaussian noises. The validity of the method is tested numerically and compared against analytical formulae when the stability index $\alpha$ approaches 2, recovering in this limit the standard results for the Fokker-Planck dynamics driven by Gaussian white noise.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figure

Use and Abuse of a Fractional Fokker-Planck Dynamics for Time-Dependent Driving

We investigate a subdiffusive, fractional Fokker-Planck dynamics occurring in time-varying potential landscapes and thereby disclose the failure of the fractional Fokker-Planck equation (FFPE) in its commonly used form when generalized in an {\it ad hoc} manner to time-dependent forces. A modified FFPE (MFFPE) is rigorously derived, being valid for a family of dichotomously alternating force-fields. This MFFPE is numerically validated for a rectangular time-dependent force with zero average bias. For this case subdiffusion is shown to become enhanced as compared to the force free case. We question, however, the existence of any physically valid FFPE for arbitrary varying time-dependent fields that differ from this dichotomous varying family.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Transient currents in a molecular photo-diode

Light-induced charge transmission through a molecular junction (molecular diode) is studied in the framework of a HOMO-LUMO model and in using a kinetic description. Expressions are presented for the sequential (hopping) and direct (tunneling) transient current components together with kinetic equations governing the time-dependent populations of the neutral and charged molecular states which participate in the current formation. Resonant and off-resonant charge transmission processes are analyzed in detail. It is demonstrated that the transient currents are associated with a molecular charging process which is initiated by photo excitation of the molecule. If the coupling of the molecule to the electrodes is strongly asymmetric the transient currents can significantly exceed the steady state current.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Chemical Physic

Thermodynamics and Fluctuation Theorems for a Strongly Coupled Open Quantum System: An Exactly Solvable Case

We illustrate recent results concerning the validity of the work fluctuation theorem in open quantum systems [M. Campisi, P. Talkner, and P. H\"{a}nggi, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 102}, 210401 (2009)], by applying them to a solvable model of an open quantum system. The central role played by the thermodynamic partition function of the open quantum system, -- a two level fluctuator with a strong quantum nondemolition coupling to a harmonic oscillator --, is elucidated. The corresponding quantum Hamiltonian of mean force is evaluated explicitly. We study the thermodynamic entropy and the corresponding specific heat of this open system as a function of temperature and coupling strength and show that both may assume negative values at nonzero low temperatures.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Electromagnetic field induced suppression of transport through nn-pp junctions in graphene

We study quasi-particle transmission through an $n$-$p$ junction in a graphene irradiated by an electromagnetic field (EF). In the absence of EF the electronic spectrum of undoped graphene is gapless, and one may expect the perfect transmission of quasi-particles flowing perpendicular to the junction. We demonstrate that the resonant interaction of propagating quasi-particles with the component of EF parallel to the junction induces a \textit{non-equilibrium dynamic gap} $(2\Delta_R)$ between electron and hole bands in the quasi-particle spectrum of graphene. In this case the strongly suppressed quasi-particle transmission is only possible due to interband tunnelling. The effect may be used for controlling transport properties of diverse structures in graphene, like, e.g., $n$-$p$-$n$ transistors, single electron transistors, quantum dots, etc., by variation of the intensity $S$ and frequency $\omega$ of the external radiation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Directed transport in periodically rocked random sawtooth potentials

We study directed transport of overdamped particles in a periodically rocked random sawtooth potential. Two transport regimes can be identified which are characterized by a nonzero value of the average velocity of particles and a zero value, respectively. The properties of directed transport in these regimes are investigated both analytically and numerically in terms of a random sawtooth potential and a periodically varying driving force. Precise conditions for the occurrence of transition between these two transport regimes are derived and analyzed in detail.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Fractional diffusion in periodic potentials

Fractional, anomalous diffusion in space-periodic potentials is investigated. The analytical solution for the effective, fractional diffusion coefficient in an arbitrary periodic potential is obtained in closed form in terms of two quadratures. This theoretical result is corroborated by numerical simulations for different shapes of the periodic potential. Normal and fractional spreading processes are contrasted via their time evolution of the corresponding probability densities in state space. While there are distinct differences occurring at small evolution times, a re-scaling of time yields a mutual matching between the long-time behaviors of normal and fractional diffusion

Quantum ratchet transport with minimal dispersion rate

We analyze the performance of quantum ratchets by considering the dynamics of an initially localized wave packet loaded into a flashing periodic potential. The directed center-of-mass motion can be initiated by the uniform modulation of the potential height, provided that the modulation protocol breaks all relevant time- and spatial reflection symmetries. A poor performance of quantum ratchet transport is characterized by a slow net motion and a fast diffusive spreading of the wave packet, while the desirable optimal performance is the contrary. By invoking a quantum analog of the classical P\'eclet number, namely the quotient of the group velocity and the dispersion of the propagating wave packet, we calibrate the transport properties of flashing quantum ratchets and discuss the mechanisms that yield low-dispersive directed transport.Comment: 6 pages; 3 figures; 1 tabl

Capacitance fluctuations causing channel noise reduction in stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley systems

Voltage-dependent ion channels determine the electric properties of axonal cell membranes. They not only allow the passage of ions through the cell membrane but also contribute to an additional charging of the cell membrane resulting in the so-called capacitance loading. The switching of the channel gates between an open and a closed configuration is intrinsically related to the movement of gating charge within the cell membrane. At the beginning of an action potential the transient gating current is opposite to the direction of the current of sodium ions through the membrane. Therefore, the excitability is expected to become reduced due to the influence of a gating current. Our stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley like modeling takes into account both the channel noise -- i.e. the fluctuations of the number of open ion channels -- and the capacitance fluctuations that result from the dynamics of the gating charge. We investigate the spiking dynamics of membrane patches of variable size and analyze the statistics of the spontaneous spiking. As a main result, we find that the gating currents yield a drastic reduction of the spontaneous spiking rate for sufficiently large ion channel clusters. Consequently, this demonstrates a prominent mechanism for channel noise reduction.Comment: 18 page