944 research outputs found
The Generalized Hartle-Hawking Initial State: Quantum Field Theory on Einstein Conifolds
Recent arguments have indicated that the sum over histories formulation of
quantum amplitudes for gravity should include sums over conifolds, a set of
histories with more general topology than that of manifolds. This paper
addresses the consequences of conifold histories in gravitational functional
integrals that also include scalar fields. This study will be carried out
explicitly for the generalized Hartle-Hawking initial state, that is the
Hartle-Hawking initial state generalized to a sum over conifolds. In the
perturbative limit of the semiclassical approximation to the generalized
Hartle-Hawking state, one finds that quantum field theory on Einstein conifolds
is recovered. In particular, the quantum field theory of a scalar field on de
Sitter spacetime with spatial topology is derived from the generalized
Hartle-Hawking initial state in this approximation. This derivation is carried
out for a scalar field of arbitrary mass and scalar curvature coupling.
Additionally, the generalized Hartle-Hawking boundary condition produces a
state that is not identical to but corresponds to the Bunch-Davies vacuum on
de Sitter spacetime. This result cannot be obtained from the original
Hartle-Hawking state formulated as a sum over manifolds as there is no Einstein
manifold with round boundary.Comment: Revtex 3, 31 pages, 4 epsf figure
Rate analysis for a hybrid quantum repeater
We present a detailed rate analysis for a hybrid quantum repeater assuming
perfect memories and using optimal probabilistic entanglement generation and
deterministic swapping routines. The hybrid quantum repeater protocol is based
on atomic qubit-entanglement distribution through optical coherent-state
communication. An exact, analytical formula for the rates of entanglement
generation in quantum repeaters is derived, including a study on the impacts of
entanglement purification and multiplexing strategies. More specifically, we
consider scenarios with as little purification as possible and we show that for
sufficiently low local losses, such purifications are still more powerful than
multiplexing. In a possible experimental scenario, our hybrid system can create
near-maximally entangled (F = 0.98) pairs over a distance of 1280 km at rates
of the order of 100 Hz
Wigner function and Schroedinger equation in phase space representation
We discuss a family of quasi-distributions (s-ordered Wigner functions of
Agarwal and Wolf) and its connection to the so called phase space
representation of the Schroedinger equation. It turns out that although Wigner
functions satisfy the Schroedinger equation in phase space they have completely
different interpretation.Comment: 6 page
Dropping cold quantum gases on Earth over long times and large distances
We describe the non-relativistic time evolution of an ultra-cold degenerate
quantum gas (bosons/fermions) falling in Earth's gravity during long times (10
sec) and over large distances (100 m). This models a drop tower experiment that
is currently performed by the QUANTUS collaboration at ZARM (Bremen, Germany).
Starting from the classical mechanics of the drop capsule and a single particle
trapped within, we develop the quantum field theoretical description for this
experimental situation in an inertial frame, the corotating frame of the Earth,
as well as the comoving frame of the drop capsule. Suitable transformations
eliminate non-inertial forces, provided all external potentials (trap, gravity)
can be approximated with a second order Taylor expansion around the
instantaneous trap center. This is an excellent assumption and the harmonic
potential theorem applies. As an application, we study the quantum dynamics of
a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate in the Gross-Pitaevskii mean-field
approximation. Due to the instantaneous transformation to the rest-frame of the
superfluid wave packet, the long-distance drop (100m) can be studied easily on
a numerical grid.Comment: 18 pages latex, 5 eps figures, submitte
Factorization of Numbers with the temporal Talbot effect: Optical implementation by a sequence of shaped ultrashort pulses
We report on the successful operation of an analogue computer designed to
factor numbers. Our device relies solely on the interference of classical light
and brings together the field of ultrashort laser pulses with number theory.
Indeed, the frequency component of the electric field corresponding to a
sequence of appropriately shaped femtosecond pulses is determined by a Gauss
sum which allows us to find the factors of a number
Generation of a superposition of multiple mesoscopic states of radiation in a resonant cavity
Using resonant interaction between atoms and the field in a high quality
cavity, we show how to generate a superposition of many mesoscopic states of
the field. We study the quasi-probability distributions and demonstrate the
nonclassicality of the superposition in terms of the zeroes of the Q-function
as well as the negativity of the Wigner function. We discuss the decoherence of
the generated superposition state. We propose homodyne techniques of the type
developed by Auffeves et al [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 230405 (2003)] to monitor the
superposition of many mesoscopic states.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.
Kerr nonlinearities and nonclassical states with superconducting qubits and nanomechanical resonators
We propose the use of a superconducting charge qubit capacitively coupled to
two resonant nanomechanical resonators to generate Yurke-Stoler states, i.e.
quantum superpositions of pairs of distinguishable coherent states 180
out of phase with each other. This is achieved by effectively implementing Kerr
nonlinearities induced through application of a strong external driving field
in one of the resonators. A simple study of the effect of dissipation on our
scheme is also presented, and lower bounds of fidelity and purity of the
generated state are calculated. Our procedure to implement a Kerr nonlinearity
in this system may be used for high precision measurements in nanomechanical
resonators.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, fixed typo
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