Prime decomposition and correlation measure of finite quantum systems

Under the name prime decomposition (pd), a unique decomposition of an arbitrary $N$-dimensional density matrix $\rho$ into a sum of seperable density matrices with dimensions given by the coprime factors of $N$ is introduced. For a class of density matrices a complete tensor product factorization is achieved. The construction is based on the Chinese Remainder Theorem and the projective unitary representation of $Z_N$ by the discrete Heisenberg group $H_N$. The pd isomorphism is unitarily implemented and it is shown to be coassociative and to act on $H_N$ as comultiplication. Density matrices with complete pd are interpreted as grouplike elements of $H_N$. To quantify the distance of $\rho$ from its pd a trace-norm correlation index $\cal E$ is introduced and its invariance groups are determined.Comment: 9 pages LaTeX. Revised version: changes in the terminology, updates in ref

Phase-space-region operators and the Wigner function: Geometric constructions and tomography

Quasiprobability measures on a canonical phase space give rise through the action of Weyl's quantization map to operator-valued measures and, in particular, to region operators. Spectral properties, transformations, and general construction methods of such operators are investigated. Geometric trace-increasing maps of density operators are introduced for the construction of region operators associated with one-dimensional domains, as well as with two-dimensional shapes (segments, canonical polygons, lattices, etc.). Operational methods are developed that implement such maps in terms of unitary operations by introducing extensions of the original quantum system with ancillary spaces (qubits). Tomographic methods of reconstruction of the Wigner function based on the radon transform technique are derived by the construction methods for region operators. A Hamiltonian realization of the region operator associated with the radon transform is provided, together with physical interpretations

Geometric phase in open systems

We calculate the geometric phase associated to the evolution of a system subjected to decoherence through a quantum-jump approach. The method is general and can be applied to many different physical systems. As examples, two main source of decoherence are considered: dephasing and spontaneous decay. We show that the geometric phase is completely insensitive to the former, i.e. it is independent of the number of jumps determined by the dephasing operator.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, RevTe

Group Theory and Quasiprobability Integrals of Wigner Functions

The integral of the Wigner function of a quantum mechanical system over a region or its boundary in the classical phase plane, is called a quasiprobability integral. Unlike a true probability integral, its value may lie outside the interval [0,1]. It is characterized by a corresponding selfadjoint operator, to be called a region or contour operator as appropriate, which is determined by the characteristic function of that region or contour. The spectral problem is studied for commuting families of region and contour operators associated with concentric disks and circles of given radius a. Their respective eigenvalues are determined as functions of a, in terms of the Gauss-Laguerre polynomials. These polynomials provide a basis of vectors in Hilbert space carrying the positive discrete series representations of the algebra su(1,1)or so(2,1). The explicit relation between the spectra of operators associated with disks and circles with proportional radii, is given in terms of the dicrete variable Meixner polynomials.Comment: 11 pages, latex fil

Semiclassical dynamics of a spin-1/2 in an arbitrary magnetic field

The spin coherent state path integral describing the dynamics of a spin-1/2-system in a magnetic field of arbitrary time-dependence is considered. Defining the path integral as the limit of a Wiener regularized expression, the semiclassical approximation leads to a continuous minimal action path with jumps at the endpoints. The resulting semiclassical propagator is shown to coincide with the exact quantum mechanical propagator. A non-linear transformation of the angle variables allows for a determination of the semiclassical path and the jumps without solving a boundary-value problem. The semiclassical spin dynamics is thus readily amenable to numerical methods.Comment: 16 pages, submitted to Journal of Physics

An expectation value expansion of Hermitian operators in a discrete Hilbert space

We discuss a real-valued expansion of any Hermitian operator defined in a Hilbert space of finite dimension N, where N is a prime number, or an integer power of a prime. The expansion has a direct interpretation in terms of the operator expectation values for a set of complementary bases. The expansion can be said to be the complement of the discrete Wigner function. We expect the expansion to be of use in quantum information applications since qubits typically are represented by a discrete, and finite-dimensional physical system of dimension N=2^p, where p is the number of qubits involved. As a particular example we use the expansion to prove that an intermediate measurement basis (a Breidbart basis) cannot be found if the Hilbert space dimension is 3 or 4.Comment: A mild update. In particular, I. D. Ivanovic's earlier derivation of the expansion is properly acknowledged. 16 pages, one PS figure, 1 table, written in RevTe

Factorizations and Physical Representations

A Hilbert space in M dimensions is shown explicitly to accommodate representations that reflect the prime numbers decomposition of M. Representations that exhibit the factorization of M into two relatively prime numbers: the kq representation (J. Zak, Phys. Today, {\bf 23} (2), 51 (1970)), and related representations termed $q_{1}q_{2}$ representations (together with their conjugates) are analysed, as well as a representation that exhibits the complete factorization of M. In this latter representation each quantum number varies in a subspace that is associated with one of the prime numbers that make up M

Linear canonical transformations and quantum phase:a unified canonical and algebraic approach

The algebra of generalized linear quantum canonical transformations is examined in the prespective of Schwinger's unitary-canonical basis. Formulation of the quantum phase problem within the theory of quantum canonical transformations and in particular with the generalized quantum action-angle phase space formalism is established and it is shown that the conceptual foundation of the quantum phase problem lies within the algebraic properties of the quantum canonical transformations in the quantum phase space. The representations of the Wigner function in the generalized action-angle unitary operator pair for certain Hamiltonian systems with the dynamical symmetry are examined. This generalized canonical formalism is applied to the quantum harmonic oscillator to examine the properties of the unitary quantum phase operator as well as the action-angle Wigner function.Comment: 19 pages, no figure

Non-adiabatic geometrical quantum gates in semiconductor quantum dots

In this paper we study the implementation of non-adiabatic geometrical quantum gates with in semiconductor quantum dots. Different quantum information enconding/manipulation schemes exploiting excitonic degrees of freedom are discussed. By means of the Aharanov-Anandan geometrical phase one can avoid the limitations of adiabatic schemes relying on adiabatic Berry phase; fast geometrical quantum gates can be in principle implementedComment: 5 Pages LaTeX, 10 Figures include

Generally Deformed Oscillator, Isospectral Oscillator System and Hermitian Phase Operator

The generally deformed oscillator (GDO) and its multiphoton realization as well as the coherent and squeezed vacuum states are studied. We discuss, in particular, the GDO depending on a complex parameter q (therefore we call it q-GDO) together with the finite dimensional cyclic representations. As a realistic physical system of GDO the isospectral oscillator system is studied and it is found that its coherent and squeezed vacuum states are closely related to those of the oscillator. It is pointed out that starting from the q-GDO with q root of unity one can define the hermitian phase operators in quantum optics consistently and algebraically. The new creation and annihilation operators of the Pegg-Barnett type phase operator theory are defined by using the cyclic representations and these operators degenerate to those of the ordinary oscillator in the classical limit q->1.Comment: 21 pages, latex, no figure