Hidden parameters in open-system evolution unveiled by geometric phase

We find a class of open-system models in which individual quantum trajectories may depend on parameters that are undetermined by the full open-system evolution. This dependence is imprinted in the geometric phase associated with such trajectories and persists after averaging. Our findings indicate a potential source of ambiguity in the quantum trajectory approach to open quantum systems.Comment: QSD analysis added; several stylistic changes; journal reference adde

Non-Abelian quantum holonomy of hydrogen-like atoms

We study the Uhlmann holonomy [Rep. Math. Phys. 24, 229 (1986)] of quantum states for hydrogen-like atoms where the intrinsic spin and orbital angular momentum are coupled by the spin-orbit interaction and subject to a slowly varying magnetic field. We show that the holonomy for the orbital angular momentum and spin subsystems is non-Abelian, while the holonomy of the whole system is Abelian. Quantum entanglement in the states of the whole system is crucially related to the non-Abelian gauge structure of the subsystems. We analyze the phase of the Wilson loop variable associated with the Uhlmann holonomy, and find a relation between the phase of the whole system with corresponding marginal phases. Based on the result for the model system we provide evidence that the phase of the Wilson loop variable and the mixed-state geometric phase [E. Sj\"oqvist {\it et al.} Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2845 (2000)] are in general inequivalent.Comment: Shortened version; journal reference adde

Non-Abelian off-diagonal geometric phases in nano-engineered four-qubit systems

The concept of off-diagonal geometric phase (GP) has been introduced in order to recover interference information about the geometry of quantal evolution where the standard GPs are not well-defined. In this Letter, we propose a physical setting for realizing non-Abelian off-diagonal GPs. The proposed non-Abelian off-diagonal GPs can be implemented in a cyclic chain of four qubits with controllable nearest-neighbor interactions. Our proposal seems to be within reach in various nano-engineered systems and therefore opens up for first experimental test of the non-Abelian off-diagonal GP.Comment: Some changes, journal reference adde

Geometric Phases for Mixed States during Cyclic Evolutions

The geometric phases of cyclic evolutions for mixed states are discussed in the framework of unitary evolution. A canonical one-form is defined whose line integral gives the geometric phase which is gauge invariant. It reduces to the Aharonov and Anandan phase in the pure state case. Our definition is consistent with the phase shift in the proposed experiment [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{85}, 2845 (2000)] for a cyclic evolution if the unitary transformation satisfies the parallel transport condition. A comprehensive geometric interpretation is also given. It shows that the geometric phases for mixed states share the same geometric sense with the pure states.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Non-adiabatic holonomic quantum computation

We develop a non-adiabatic generalization of holonomic quantum computation in which high-speed universal quantum gates can be realized by using non-Abelian geometric phases. We show how a set of non-adiabatic holonomic one- and two-qubit gates can be implemented by utilizing optical transitions in a generic three-level $\Lambda$ configuration. Our scheme opens up for universal holonomic quantum computation on qubits characterized by short coherence times.Comment: Some changes, journal reference adde