Natural FLRW metrics on the Lie group of nonzero quaternions

It is shown that the Lie group of invertible elements of the quaternion algebra carries a family of natural closed Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metrics.Comment: A slightly more technical version of "Natural geometry of nonzero quaternions" IJTP 46 (2) (2007) 251-25

Barut-Girardello coherent states for u(p,q) and sp(N,R) and their macroscopic superpositions

The Barut-Girardello coherent states (BG CS) representation is extended to the noncompact algebras u(p,q) and sp(N,R) in (reducible) quadratic boson realizations. The sp(N,R) BG CS take the form of multimode ordinary Schr\"odinger cat states. Macroscopic superpositions of 2^{n-1} sp(N,R) CS (2^n canonical CS, n=1,2,...) are pointed out which are overcomplete in the N-mode Hilbert space and the relation between the canonical CS and the u(p,q) BG-type CS representations is established. The sets of u(p,q) and sp(N,R) BG CS and their discrete superpositions contain many states studied in quantum optics (even and odd N-mode CS, pair CS) and provide an approach to quadrature squeezing, alternative to that of intelligent states. New subsets of weakly and strongly nonclassical states are pointed out and their statistical properties (first- and second-order squeezing, photon number distributions) are discussed. For specific values of the angle parameters and small amplitude of the canonical CS components these states approaches multimode Fock states with one, two or three bosons/photons. It is shown that eigenstates of a squared non-Hermitian operator A^2 (generalized cat states) can exhibit squeezing of the quadratures of A.Comment: 29 pages, LaTex, 5 figures. Improvements in text, corrections in some formulas. To appear in J. Phys. A, v. 3

Uncertainty Relations in Deformation Quantization

Robertson and Hadamard-Robertson theorems on non-negative definite hermitian forms are generalized to an arbitrary ordered field. These results are then applied to the case of formal power series fields, and the Heisenberg-Robertson, Robertson-Schr\"odinger and trace uncertainty relations in deformation quantization are found. Some conditions under which the uncertainty relations are minimized are also given.Comment: 28+1 pages, harvmac file, no figures, typos correcte

Sequence Effects on DNA Entropic Elasticity

DNA stretching experiments are usually interpreted using the worm-like chain model; the persistence length A appearing in the model is then interpreted as the elastic stiffness of the double helix. In fact the persistence length obtained by this method is a combination of bend stiffness and intrinsic bend effects reflecting sequence information, just as at zero stretching force. This observation resolves the discrepancy between the value of A measured in these experiments and the larger ``dynamic persistence length'' measured by other means. On the other hand, the twist persistence length deduced from torsionally-constrained stretching experiments suffers no such correction. Our calculation is very simple and analytic; it applies to DNA and other polymers with weak intrinsic disorder.Comment: LaTeX; postscript available at http://dept.physics.upenn.edu/~nelson/index.shtm

Purity-bounded uncertainty relations in multidimensional space -- generalized purity

Uncertainty relations for mixed quantum states (precisely, purity-bounded position-momentum relations, developed by Bastiaans and then by Man'ko and Dodonov) are studied in general multi-dimensional case. An expression for family of mixed states at the lower bound of uncertainty relation is obtained. It is shown, that in case of entropy-bounded uncertainty relations, lower-bound state is thermal, and a transition from one-dimensional problem to multi-dimensional one is trivial. Results of numerical calculation of the relation lower bound for different types of generalized purity are presented. Analytical expressions for general purity-bounded relations for highly mixed states are obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. draft version, to appear in J. Phys. A Partially based on a poster "Multidimensional uncertainty relations for states with given generalized purity" presented on X Intl. Conf. on Quantum Optics'2004 (Minsk, Belarus, May 30 -- June 3, 2004) More actual report is to be presented on ICSSUR-2005, Besan\c{c}on, France and on EQEC'05, Munich. V. 5: amended article after referees' remark

Robertson Intelligent States

Diagonalization of uncertainty matrix and minimization of Robertson inequality for n observables are considered. It is proved that for even n this relation is minimized in states which are eigenstates of n/2 independent complex linear combinations of the observables. In case of canonical observables this eigenvalue condition is also necessary. Such minimizing states are called Robertson intelligent states (RIS). The group related coherent states (CS) with maximal symmetry (for semisimple Lie groups) are particular case of RIS for the quadratures of Weyl generators. Explicit constructions of RIS are considered for operators of su(1,1), su(2), h_N and sp(N,R) algebras. Unlike the group related CS, RIS can exhibit strong squeezing of group generators. Multimode squared amplitude squeezed states are naturally introduced as sp(N,R) RIS. It is shown that the uncertainty matrices for quadratures of q-deformed boson operators a_{q,j} (q > 0) and of any k power of a_j = a_{1,j} are positive definite and can be diagonalized by symplectic linear transformations. PACS numbers: 03.65.Fd, 42.50.DvComment: 23 pages, LaTex. Minor changes in text and references. Accepted in J. Phys.

Entangled-State Lithography: Tailoring any Pattern with a Single State

We demonstrate a systematic approach to Heisenberg-limited lithographic image formation using four-mode reciprocal binominal states. By controlling the exposure pattern with a simple bank of birefringent plates, any pixel pattern on a $(N+1) \times (N+1)$ grid, occupying a square with the side half a wavelength long, can be generated from a $2 N$-photon state.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Quantum entanglement between an optical photon and a solid-state spin qubit

Quantum entanglement is among the most fascinating aspects of quantum theory. Entangled optical photons are now widely used for fundamental tests of quantum mechanics and applications such as quantum cryptography. Several recent experiments demonstrated entanglement of optical photons with trapped ions, atoms and atomic ensembles, which are then used to connect remote long-term memory nodes in distributed quantum networks. Here we realize quantum entanglement between the polarization of a single optical photon and a solid-state qubit associated with the single electronic spin of a nitrogen vacancy centre in diamond. Our experimental entanglement verification uses the quantum eraser technique, and demonstrates that a high degree of control over interactions between a solid-state qubit and the quantum light field can be achieved. The reported entanglement source can be used in studies of fundamental quantum phenomena and provides a key building block for the solid-state realization of quantum optical networks