Quantum Interpretations

Difficulties and discomfort with the interpretation of quantum mechanics are due to differences in language between it and classical physics. Analogies to The Special Theory of Relativity, which also required changes in the basic worldview and language of non-relativistic classical mechanics, may help in absorbing the changes called for by quantum physics. There is no need to invoke extravagances such as the many worlds interpretation or specify a central role for consciousness or neural microstructures. The simple, but basic, acceptance that what is meant by the state of a physical system is different in quantum physics from what it is in classical physics goes a long way in explaining its seeming peculiarities.Comment: 13 page

1, 2, and 6 qubits, and the Ramanujan-Nagell theorem

A conjecture of Ramanujan that was later proved by Nagell is used to show on the basis of matching dimensions that only three $n$-qubit systems, for $n=1, 2, 6$, can share an isomorphism of their symmetry groups with the rotation group of corresponding dimensions $3, 6, 91$. Topological analysis, however, rules out the last possibility

Complete time-dependent treatment of a three-level system

Both unitary evolution and the effects of dissipation and decoherence for a general three-level system are of widespread interest in quantum optics, molecular physics, and elsewhere. A previous paper presented a technique for solving the time-dependent operator equations involved but under certain restrictive conditions. We now extend our results to a general three-level system with arbitrary time-dependent Hamiltonians and Lindblad operators. Analytical handling of the SU(3) algebra of the eight operators involved leaves behind a set of coupled first-order differential equations for classical functions. Solution of this set gives a complete solution of the quantum problem, without having to invoke rotating-wave or other approximations. Numerical illustrations are given.Comment: 1 tar.gz file containing a Tex and four eps figure files; unzip with command gunzip RZPRA05.tar.g

Sudden change in dynamics of genuine multipartite entanglement of cavity-reservoir qubits

We study the dynamics of genuine multipartite entanglement for a system of four qubits. Using a computable entanglement monotone for multipartite systems, we investigate the as yet unexplored aspects of a cavity-reservoir system of qubits. For one specific initial state, we observe a sudden transition in the dynamics of genuine entanglement for the four qubits. This sudden change occurs only during a time window where neither cavity-cavity qubits nor reservoir-reservoir qubits are entangled. We show that this sudden change in dynamics of this specific state is extremely sensitive to white noise.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figure

Generalized X states of N qubits and their symmetries

Several families of states such as Werner states, Bell-diagonal states and Dicke states are useful to understand multipartite entanglement. Here we present a [2^(N+1)-1]-parameter family of N-qubit "X states" that embrace all those families, generalizing previously defined states for two qubits. We also present the algebra of the operators that characterize the states and an iterative construction for this algebra, a sub-algebra of su(2^(N)). We show how a variety of entanglement witnesses can detect entanglement in such states. Connections are also made to structures in projective geometry.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure