Robust quantum repeater with atomic ensembles and single-photon sources

We present a quantum repeater protocol using atomic ensembles, linear optics and single-photon sources. Two local 'polarization' entangled states of atomic ensembles $u$ and $d$ are generated by absorbing a single photon emitted by an on-demand single-photon sources, based on which high-fidelity local entanglement between four ensembles can be established efficiently through Bell-state measurement. Entanglement in basic links and entanglement connection between links are carried out by the use of two-photon interference. In addition to being robust against phase fluctuations in the quantum channels, this scheme may speed up quantum communication with higher fidelity by about 2 orders of magnitude for 1280 km compared with the partial read (PR) protocol (Sangouard {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. A {\bf77}, 062301 (2008)) which may generate entanglement most quickly among the previous schemes with the same ingredients.Comment: 5 pages 4 figure

Large-field CO(1--0) observations toward the Galactic historical supernova remnants: a large cavity around Tycho's supernova remnant

The investigation of the interaction between the supernova remnants (SNRs) and interstellar gas is not only necessary to improve our knowledge of SNRs, but also to understand the nature of the progenitor systems. As a part of the Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting CO line survey (MWISP), we study the interstellar gas surrounding the Galactic historical SNRs, using the PMO 13.7-meter telescope. In this work, we present large-field (3$^\circ$$\times$2$^\circ$) and high-sensitivity CO(1-0) molecular line observations toward Tycho's SNR. The CO observations reveal, from the outside in, large molecular clouds, stream-like structures, and an inner rim around Tycho's SNR. We derived the basic properties (column density, mass, and kinematics) of these objects based on the CO observations. The large molecular clouds individually show an arc toward the remnant center, outlining a large cavity with radii of $\sim$0.3$^\circ$$\times$0.6$^\circ$ (or 13 pc $\times$27 pc at a distance of 2.5 kpc) around the remnant. The CO line broadenings and asymmetries detected in the surrounding clouds, the observed expansion of the cavity, in concert with enhanced $^{12}$CO(2-1)/(1-0) intensity ratio detected in previous studies, suggest the interaction of the large cavity with a wind in the region. After excluding the scenario of a large bubble produced by bright massive stars, we suggest that the large cavity could be explained by accretion wind from the progenitor system of Tycho's supernova. Nevertheless, the possibility of the random distribution of a large cavity around Tycho's SNR cannot be ruled out thus far. Further observations are needed to confirm the physical association of the large cavity with Tycho's SNR.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, updated according to the A&A proo

Van der Waals phase transition in the framework of holography

Phase structure of the quintessence Reissner-Nordstr\"{o}m-AdS black hole is probed with the nonlocal observables such as holographic entanglement entropy and two point correlation function. Our result shows that, as the case of the thermal entropy, both the observables exhibit the similar Van der Waals-like phase transition. To reinforce the conclusion, we further check the equal area law for the first order phase transition and critical exponent of the heat capacity for the second order phase transition. We also discuss the effect of the state parameter on the phase structure of the nonlocal observables.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1511.0038

Holographic Van der Waals-like phase transition in the Gauss-Bonnet gravity

The Van der Waals-like phase transition is observed in temperature-thermal entropy plane in spherically symmetric charged Gauss-Bonnet-AdS black hole background. In terms of AdS/CFT, the non-local observables such as holographic entanglement entropy, Wilson loop, and two point correlation function of very heavy operators in the field theory dual to spherically symmetric charged Gauss-Bonnet-AdS black hole have been investigated. All of them exhibit the Van der Waals-like phase transition for a fixed charge parameter or Gauss-Bonnet parameter in such gravity background. Further, with choosing various values of charge or Gauss-Bonnet parameter, the equal area law and the critical exponent of the heat capacity are found to be consistent with phase structures in temperature-thermal entropy plane.Comment: Some statements about the analogy between the black hole phase transition in $T-S$ plane and Van der Waals-like phase transition in $P-V$ plane are added. This is the published versio

Phase transition of holographic entanglement entropy in massive gravity

The phase structure of holographic entanglement entropy is studied in massive gravity for the quantum systems with finite and infinite volumes, which in the bulk is dual to calculate the minimal surface area for a black hole and black brane respectively. In the entanglement entropy$-$temperature plane, we find for both the black hole and black brane there is a Van der Waals-like phase transition as the case in thermal entropy$-$temperature plane. That is, there is a first order phase transition for the small charge and a second order phase transition at the critical charge. For the first order phase transition, the equal area law is checked and for the second order phase transition, the critical exponent of the heat capacity is obtained. All the results show that the phase structure of holographic entanglement entropy is the same as that of thermal entropy regardless of the volume of the spacetime on the boundary.Comment: 15 pages, many figures, some statments are adde