Determination of ground state properties in quantum spin systems by single qubit unitary operations and entanglement excitation energies

We introduce a method for analyzing ground state properties of quantum many body systems, based on the characterization of separability and entanglement by single subsystem unitary operations. We apply the method to the study of the ground state structure of several interacting spin-1/2 models, described by Hamiltonians with different degrees of symmetry. We show that the approach based on single qubit unitary operations allows to introduce {\it ``entanglement excitation energies''}, a set of observables that can characterize ground state properties, including the quantification of single-site entanglement and the determination of quantum critical points. The formalism allows to identify the existence and location of factorization points, and a purely quantum {\it ``transition of entanglement''} that occurs at the approach of factorization. This kind of quantum transition is characterized by a diverging ratio of excitation energies associated to single-qubit unitary operations.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.

Influence of trapping potentials on the phase diagram of bosonic atoms in optical lattices

We study the effect of external trapping potentials on the phase diagram of bosonic atoms in optical lattices. We introduce a generalized Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian that includes the structure of the energy levels of the trapping potential, and show that these levels are in general populated both at finite and zero temperature. We characterize the properties of the superfluid transition for this situation and compare them with those of the standard Bose-Hubbard description. We briefly discuss similar behaviors for fermionic systems.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; final version, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Engineering massive quantum memories by topologically time-modulated spin rings

We introduce a general scheme to realize perfect storage of quantum information in systems of interacting qubits. This novel approach is based on {\it global} external controls of the Hamiltonian, that yield time-periodic inversions in the dynamical evolution, allowing a perfect periodic quantum state recontruction. We illustrate the method in the particularly interesting and simple case of spin systems affected by XY residual interactions with or without static imperfections. The global control is achieved by step time-inversions of an overall topological phase of the Aharonov-Bohm type. Such a scheme holds both at finite size and in the thermodynamic limit, thus enabling the massive storage of arbitrarily large numbers of local states, and is stable against several realistic sources of noise and imperfections.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Geometric Effects and Computation in Spin Networks

When initially introduced, a Hamiltonian that realises perfect transfer of a quantum state was found to be analogous to an x-rotation of a large spin. In this paper we extend the analogy further to demonstrate geometric effects by performing rotations on the spin. Such effects can be used to determine properties of the chain, such as its length, in a robust manner. Alternatively, they can form the basis of a spin network quantum computer. We demonstrate a universal set of gates in such a system by both dynamical and geometrical means