Finite size scaling in three-dimensional bootstrap percolation

We consider the problem of bootstrap percolation on a three dimensional lattice and we study its finite size scaling behavior. Bootstrap percolation is an example of Cellular Automata defined on the $d$-dimensional lattice $\{1,2,...,L\}^d$ in which each site can be empty or occupied by a single particle; in the starting configuration each site is occupied with probability $p$, occupied sites remain occupied for ever, while empty sites are occupied by a particle if at least $\ell$ among their $2d$ nearest neighbor sites are occupied. When $d$ is fixed, the most interesting case is the one $\ell=d$: this is a sort of threshold, in the sense that the critical probability $p_c$ for the dynamics on the infinite lattice ${\Bbb Z}^d$ switches from zero to one when this limit is crossed. Finite size effects in the three-dimensional case are already known in the cases $\ell\le 2$: in this paper we discuss the case $\ell=3$ and we show that the finite size scaling function for this problem is of the form $f(L)={\mathrm{const}}/\ln\ln L$. We prove a conjecture proposed by A.C.D. van Enter.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX file, no figur

Extremal quantum cloning machines

We investigate the problem of cloning a set of states that is invariant under the action of an irreducible group representation. We then characterize the cloners that are "extremal" in the convex set of group covariant cloning machines, among which one can restrict the search for optimal cloners. For a set of states that is invariant under the discrete Weyl-Heisenberg group, we show that all extremal cloners can be unitarily realized using the so-called "double-Bell states", whence providing a general proof of the popular ansatz used in the literature for finding optimal cloners in a variety of settings. Our result can also be generalized to continuous-variable optimal cloning in infinite dimensions, where the covariance group is the customary Weyl-Heisenberg group of displacements.Comment: revised version accepted for publicatio

Internal dissipation of a polymer

The dynamics of flexible polymer molecules are often assumed to be governed by hydrodynamics of the solvent. However there is considerable evidence that internal dissipation of a polymer contributes as well. Here we investigate the dynamics of a single chain in the absence of solvent to characterize the nature of this internal friction. We model the chains as freely hinged but with localized bond angles and 3-fold symmetric dihedral angles. We show that the damping is close but not identical to Kelvin damping, which depends on the first temporal and second spatial derivative of monomer position. With no internal potential between monomers, the magnitude of the damping is small for long wavelengths and weakly damped oscillatory time dependent behavior is seen for a large range of spatial modes. When the size of the internal potential is increased, such oscillations persist, but the damping becomes larger. However underdamped motion is present even with quite strong dihedral barriers for long enough wavelengths.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figure

Multipartite Asymmetric Quantum Cloning

We investigate the optimal distribution of quantum information over multipartite systems in asymmetric settings. We introduce cloning transformations that take $N$ identical replicas of a pure state in any dimension as input, and yield a collection of clones with non-identical fidelities. As an example, if the clones are partitioned into a set of $M_A$ clones with fidelity $F^A$ and another set of $M_B$ clones with fidelity $F^B$, the trade-off between these fidelities is analyzed, and particular cases of optimal $N \to M_A+M_B$ cloning machines are exhibited. We also present an optimal $1 \to 1+1+1$ cloning machine, which is the first known example of a tripartite fully asymmetric cloner. Finally, it is shown how these cloning machines can be optically realized.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Reduction criterion for separability

We introduce a separability criterion based on the positive map Γ:ρ→(Tr ρ)-ρ, where ρ is a trace-class Hermitian operator. Any separable state is mapped by the tensor product of Γ and the identity into a non-negative operator, which provides a simple necessary condition for separability. This condition is generally not sufficient because it is vulnerable to the dilution of entanglement. In the special case where one subsystem is a quantum bit, Γ reduces to time reversal, so that this separability condition is equivalent to partial transposition. It is therefore also sufficient for 2×2 and 2×3 systems. Finally, a simple connection between this map for two qubits and complex conjugation in the “magic” basis [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 5022 (1997)] is displayed

Cloning the entanglement of a pair of quantum bits

It is shown that any quantum operation that perfectly clones the entanglement of all maximally-entangled qubit pairs cannot preserve separability. This ``entanglement no-cloning'' principle naturally suggests that some approximate cloning of entanglement is nevertheless allowed by quantum mechanics. We investigate a separability-preserving optimal cloning machine that duplicates all maximally-entangled states of two qubits, resulting in 0.285 bits of entanglement per clone, while a local cloning machine only yields 0.060 bits of entanglement per clone.Comment: 4 pages Revtex, 2 encapsulated Postscript figures, one added autho

Quantum conditional operator and a criterion for separability

We analyze the properties of the conditional amplitude operator, the quantum analog of the conditional probability which has been introduced in [quant-ph/9512022]. The spectrum of the conditional operator characterizing a quantum bipartite system is invariant under local unitary transformations and reflects its inseparability. More specifically, it is shown that the conditional amplitude operator of a separable state cannot have an eigenvalue exceeding 1, which results in a necessary condition for separability. This leads us to consider a related separability criterion based on the positive map $\Gamma:\rho \to (Tr \rho) - \rho$, where $\rho$ is an Hermitian operator. Any separable state is mapped by the tensor product of this map and the identity into a non-negative operator, which provides a simple necessary condition for separability. In the special case where one subsystem is a quantum bit, $\Gamma$ reduces to time-reversal, so that this separability condition is equivalent to partial transposition. It is therefore also sufficient for $2\times 2$ and $2\times 3$ systems. Finally, a simple connection between this map and complex conjugation in the "magic" basis is displayed.Comment: 19 pages, RevTe

Quantum Cloning of Mixed States in Symmetric Subspace

Quantum cloning machine for arbitrary mixed states in symmetric subspace is proposed. This quantum cloning machine can be used to copy part of the output state of another quantum cloning machine and is useful in quantum computation and quantum information. The shrinking factor of this quantum cloning achieves the well-known upper bound. When the input is identical pure states, two different fidelities of this cloning machine are optimal.Comment: Revtex, 4 page

Phase-Conjugated Inputs Quantum Cloning Machines

A quantum cloning machine is introduced that yields $M$ identical optimal clones from $N$ replicas of a coherent state and $N'$ replicas of its phase conjugate. It also optimally produces $M'=M+N'-N$ phase-conjugated clones at no cost. For well chosen input asymmetries $N'/(N+N')$, this machine is shown to provide better cloning fidelities than the standard $(N+N') \to M$ cloner. The special cases of the optimal balanced cloner ($N=N'$) and the optimal measurement ($M=\infty$) are investigated.Comment: 4 pages (RevTex), 2 figure