Identifying non-Markovianity with non-divisibility, we propose a measure for non-Markovinity of quantum process. Three examples are presented to illustrate the non-Markovianity, measure for non-Markovianity is calculated and discussed. Comparison with other measures of non-Markovianity is made. Our non-Markovianity measure has the merit that no optimization procedure is required and it is finite for any quantum process, which greatly enhances the practical relevance of the proposed measure.
In the classical domain, it is well-known that divisibility does not imply that a stochastic process is Markovian. However, for quantum processes, divisibility is often considered to be synonymous with Markovianity. We show that completely positive (CP) divisible quantum processes can still involve non-Markovian temporal correlations, that we then fully classify using the recently developed process tensor formalism, which generalizes the theory of stochastic processes to the quantum domain.
We construct a dynamical map which is not positive divisible and does not present information backflow either (as measured by trace norm quantifiers). It is formulated for a qutrit system undergoing noninvertible dynamics. This provides an evidence that the two definitions of quantum Markovianity based on absence of information backflow and positive divisibility are nonequivalent for general noninvertible dynamical maps
In recent years, much effort has been devoted to the construction of a proper measure of quantum non-Markovianity. However, those proposed measures are shown to be at variance with different situations. In this work, we utilize the theory of $k$-positive maps to generalize a hierarchy of $k$-divisibility and develop a powerful tool, called $k$-divisibility phase diagram, which can provide a further insight into the nature of quantum non-Markovianity. By exploring the phase diagram with several paradigms, we can explain the origin of the discrepancy between two frequently used measures and find…
We present a general framework for the information backflow (IB) approach of Markovianity that not only includes a large number, if not all, of IB prescriptions proposed so far but also is equivalent to completely positive divisibility for invertible evolutions. Following the common approach of IB, where monotonic decay of some physical property or some information quantifier is seen as the definition of Markovianity, we propose in our framework a general description of what should be called a proper `physicality quantifier' to define Markovianity. We elucidate different properties of our fram…
We derive an upper bound for the distinguishability-based non-Markovianity measure of a two-level system and prove that for certain master equations the exact value of the measure achieves this bound. Furthermore, we obtain an easily calculable lower bound for the divisibility-based non-Markovianity measure of an $n$-level system. We illustrate the calculation of these bounds through examples, considering in detail the spin-boson model. We show that the differences between the two measures in the spin-boson model are caused by the drift vector that is also responsible for the non-unitality of …
We analyze two recently proposed measures of non-Markovianity: one based on the concept of divisibility of the dynamical map and the other one based on distinguishability of quantum states. We provide a toy model to show that these two measures need not agree. In addition, we discuss possible generalizations and intricate relations between these measures.
The quantum speed limit (QSL) is the theoretical lower limit of the time for a quantum system to evolve from a given state to another one. Interestingly, it has been shown that non-Markovianity can be used to speed-up the dynamics and to lower the QSL time, although this behavior is not universal. In this paper we further carry on the investigation on the connection between QSL and non-Markovianity by looking at the effects of P- and CP-divisibility of the dynamical map to the quantum speed limit. We show that the speed-up can also be observed under P- and CP-divisible dynamics, and that the s…
We establish a direct connection of quantum Markovianity of an open quantum system to its classical counterpart by generalizing the criterion based on the information flow. Here, the flow is characterized by the time evolution of Helstrom matrices, given by the weighted difference of statistical operators, under the action of the quantum dynamical evolution. It turns out that the introduced criterion is equivalent to P-divisibility of a quantum process, namely divisibility in terms of positive maps, which provides a direct connection to classical Markovian stochastic processes. Moreover, it is…
Based on the nonincreasing property of quantum coherence via skew information under incoherent completely positive and trace-preserving maps, we propose a non-Markovianity measure for open quantum processes. As applications, by applying the proposed measure to some typical noisy channels, we find that it is equivalent to the three previous measures of non-Markovianity for phase damping and amplitude damping channels, i.e., the measures based on the quantum trace distance, dynamical divisibility, and quantum mutual information. For the random unitary channel, it is equivalent to the non-Markovi…
We analyze the relation between CP-divisibility and the lack of information backflow for an arbitrary -- not necessarily invertible -- dynamical map. It is well known that CP-divisibility always implies lack of information backflow. Moreover, these two notions are equivalent for invertible maps. In this letter it is shown that for a map which is not invertible the lack of information backflow always implies the existence of completely positive (CP) propagator which, however, needs not be trace-preserving. Interestingly, for a {\em wide class of image non-increasing dynamical maps} this propaga…
Divisibility of dynamical maps: Schrödinger vs. Heisenberg picture
University of Turku（图尔库大学）；Università degli Studi di Milano（米兰大学）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano（意大利国家核物理研究所米兰分部）；Nicolaus Copernicus University（尼古拉·哥白尼大学）
We study a stochastic Schroedinger equation that generates a family of Gaussian dynamical maps in one dimension permitting a detailed exam of two different definitions of non-Markovianity: one related to the explicit dependence of the generator on the starting time, the other to the non-divisibility of the time-evolution maps. The model shows instances where one has non-Markovianity in both senses and cases when one has Markovianity in the second sense but not in the first one.
We show that Breuer-Laine-Piilo (BLP) non-Markovianity cannot capture the dynamical information in the non-unital aspect of the quantum dynamics. Moreover, we provide a measure on the effect of the non-unitality of quantum processes on the infinitesimal non-divisibility. This measure can be used as a supplement to BLP non-Markovianity for non-unital quantum processes. A measure on the degree of the non-unital behavior of quantum processes is also given in this paper.
The problem of defining quantum non-Markovianity has proven elusive, with various in-equivalent criteria put forth to address it. The concept of CP-indivisibility and the hierarchy of stronger divisibility criteria going up to P-indivisibility, capture a fundamental aspect of memory in quantum non-Markovianity. In practice, however, there can be a memory-like influence associated with divisible channels in the form of weakening, if not reversing, the effects of decoherence. Arguably, such a facet of memory relates to CP-indivisibility as quantum discord relates to entanglement. We concretize t…
We present a comprehensive and up to date review on the concept of quantum non-Markovianity, a central theme in the theory of open quantum systems. We introduce the concept of quantum Markovian process as a generalization of the classical definition of Markovianity via the so-called divisibility property and relate this notion to the intuitive idea that links non-Markovianity with the persistence of memory effects. A detailed comparison with other definitions presented in the literature is provided. We then discuss several existing proposals to quantify the degree of non-Markovianity of quantu…
Markovianity of the quantum open system processes is a topic of the considerable current interest. Typically, invertibility is assumed to be non-essential for Markovianity of the open-quantum-system dynamical maps. Nevertheless, in this paper we distinguish a class of physically important dynamical maps (processes) for which invertibility is a necessary condition for Markovianity. Since every quantum-state tomography directly provides information on invertibility of the map, no optimization procedure is necessary for determining non-Markovianity regarding the considered class of dynamical proc…
An easily solvable quantum master equation has long been sought that takes into account memory effects induced on the system by the bath, i.e., non-Markovian effects. We briefly review the Post-Markovian master equation (PMME), which is relatively easy to solve, and analyze a simple example where solutions obtained exhibit non-Markovianity. We apply the distinguishability measure introduced by Breuer et al., and we also explicitly analyze the divisibility of the associated quantum dynamical maps. We give a mathematical condition on the memory kernel used in the PMME that guarantees non-CP-divi…
We study non-Markovianity as backflow of information in two-qubit systems. We consider a setting where, by changing the distance between the qubits, one can interpolate between independent reservoir and common reservoir scenarios. We demonstrate that non-Markovianity can be induced by the common reservoir and single out the physical origin of this phenomenon. We show that two-qubit non-Markovianity coincides with instances of non-divisibility of the corresponding dynamical map, and we discuss the pair of states maximizing information flowback. We also discuss the issue of additivity for the me…
We present a formalism for detection of non-Markovianity through uncertainty relations. We show that when there is an information back-flow to the system from its environment through CP-divisibility breaking, the Choi-states corresponding to the reduced system evolution contain at least one negative eigenvalue. The consequent break down of uncertainty relations for such states can be used to witness non-Markovian dynamics. We present some relevant examples of the phenomenon for qubit channels. We further prove that square of the variance of a suitable hermitian operator can act as a non-linear…
We study the behavior of non-Markovianity with respect to the localization of the initial environmental state. The "amount" of non-Markovianity is measured using divisibility and distinguishability as indicators, employing several schemes to construct the measures. The system used is a qubit coupled to an environment modeled by an Ising spin chain kicked by ultra-short pulses of a magnetic field. In the integrable regime, non-Markovianity and localization do not have a simple relation, but as the chaotic regime is approached, simple relations emerge, which we explore in detail. We also study t…
Divisibility of dynamical maps turns out to be a fundamental notion in characterising Markovianity of quantum evolution, although the decision problem for divisibility itself is computationally intractable. In this work, we propose the operational characterisation of divisibility of dynamical maps by exploiting distinguishability of quantum channels. We prove that distinguishability for any pair of quantum channels does not increase under divisible maps, and then, in terms of channel distinguishability with entanglement between system and $k$-dimensional ancillas, provide the operational chara…
Quantum dynamical maps provide suitable mathematical representation of quantum evolutions. It is the very notion of complete positivity which provides a proper mathematical representation of quantum evolution and gives rise to the powerful generalization of unitary evolution of closed Hamiltonian systems. A prominent example of quantum evolution of an open system is a Markovian semigroup. In what follows, we analyze both the semigroups of positive and completely positive maps. In the latter case the dynamics is governed by the celebrated Gorini-Kossakowski-Lindblad-Sudarshan (GKLS) Master Equa…
We connect two key concepts in quantum information: compatibility and divisibility of quantum channels. Two channels are compatible if they can be both obtained via marginalization from a third channel. A channel divides another channel if it reproduces its action by sequential composition with a third channel. (In)compatibility is of central importance for studying the difference between classical and quantum dynamics. The relevance of divisibility stands in its close relationship with the onset of Markovianity. We emphasize the simulability character of compatibility and divisibility, and, d…
We establish a connection between non-Markovianity and negative entropy production rate for various classes of quantum operations. We analyse several aspects of unital and thermal operations in connection with resource theories of purity and thermodynamics. We fully characterize Lindblad operators corresponding to unital operations. We also characterize the Lindblad dynamics for a large class of thermal operations. We next generalize the definition of the entropy production rate for the non-equilibrium case to connect it with the rate of change of free energy of the system, and establish compl…
We introduce a method to construct non-Markovian variants of completely positive (CP) dynamical maps, particularly, qubit Pauli channels. We identify non-Markovianity with the breakdown in CP-divisibility of the map, i.e., appearance of a not-completely-positive (NCP) intermediate map. In particular, we consider the case of non-Markovian dephasing in detail. The eigenvalues of the Choi matrix of the intermediate map crossover at a point which corresponds to a singularity in the canonical decoherence rate of the corresponding master equation, and thus to a momentary non-invertibility of the map…
Although a number of measures for quantum non-Markovianity have been proposed recently, it is still an open question whether these measures directly characterize the memory effect of the environment, i.e., the dependence of a quantum state on its past in a time evolution. In this paper, we present a criterion and propose a measure for non-Markovianity with clear physical interpretations of the memory effect. The non-Markovianity is defined by the inequality $T(t_2,t_0)\neq T(t_2,t_1)T(t_1,t_0)$ in terms of memoryless dynamical map $T$ introduced in this paper. This definition is conceptually d…
We study quantum processes, as one parameter families of differentiable completely positive and trace preserving (CPTP) maps. Using different representations of the generator, and the Sylvester criterion for positive semi-definite matrices, we obtain conditions for the divisibility of the process into completely positive (CP-divisibility) and positive (P-divisibility) infinitesimal maps. Both concepts are directly related to the definition of quantum non-Markovianity. For the single qubit case we show that CP- and P-divisibility only depend on the dissipation matrix in the master equation form…
The dynamics of open quantum systems and manipulation of quantum resources are both of fundamental interest in quantum physics. Here, we investigate the relation between quantum Markovianity and coherence, providing an effective way for detecting non-Markovianity based on the \textit{quantum-incoherent relative entropy of coherence} ($\mathcal{QI}$ REC). We theoretically show the relation between completely positive (CP) divisibility and the monotonic behavior of the $\mathcal{QI}$ REC. Also we implement an all-optical experiment to demonstrate that the behavior of the $\mathcal{QI}$ REC is co…
Markovian approximation is a widely-employed idea in descriptions of the dynamics of open quantum systems (OQSs). Although it is usually claimed to be a concept inspired by classical Markovianity, the term quantum Markovianity is used inconsistently and often unrigorously in the literature. In this report we compare the descriptions of classical stochastic processes and quantum stochastic processes (as arising in OQSs), and show that there are inherent differences that lead to the non-trivial problem of characterizing quantum non-Markovianity. Rather than proposing a single definition of quant…
The spin-boson model describes a qubit coupled to a bosonic bath in thermal equilibrium, and is applicable to a wide range of physical contexts. We show that two weak conditions for the qubit evolution to be Markovian (decreasing system distinguishability and divisibility) are violated at all times t>0, except for a measure-zero set of model parameters. Thus, the recently identified phenomenon of `eternal non-Markovianity' is generic for the spin-boson model. Moreover, there can never be more than one strictly positive decoherence rate, even in the Markovian regime. The main result relies on a…
We analyze the connections between the non-Markovianity degree of the most general phase-damping qubit maps and their legitimate mixtures. Using the results for image non-increasing dynamical maps, we formulate the necessary and sufficient conditions for the Pauli maps to satisfy specific divisibility criteria. Next, we examine how the non-Markovianity properties for (in general noninvertible) Pauli dynamical maps influence the properties of their convex combinations. Our results are illustrated with instructive examples. For P-divisible maps, we propose a legitimate time-local generator whose…
We introduce a necessary and sufficient criterion for the non-Markovianity of Gaussian quantum dynamical maps based on the violation of divisibility. The criterion is derived by defining a general vectorial representation of the covariance matrix which is then exploited to determine the condition for the complete positivity of partial maps associated to arbitrary time intervals. Such construction does not rely on the Choi-Jamiolkowski representation and does not require optimization over states.
Quantum resource theory formulations of thermodynamics offer a versatile tool for the study of fundamental limitations to the efficiency of physical processes, independently of the microscopic details governing their dynamics. Despite the ubiquitous presence of non-Markovian dynamics in open quantum systems at the nanoscale, rigorous proofs of their beneficial effects on the efficiency of quantum dynamical processes at the bio-molecular level have not been reported yet. Here we combine the resource theory of athermality with concepts from the theory of divisibility classes for quantum channels…
Non-Markovian evolution in open quantum systems is often characterized in terms of the backflow of information from environment to system and is thus an important facet in investigating the performance and robustness of quantum information protocols. In this work, we explore non-Markovianity through the breakdown of monotonicity of a metrological figure of merit, called the quantum interferometric power, which is based on the minimal quantum Fisher information obtained by local unitary evolution of one part of the system, and can be interpreted as a quantifier of quantum correlations beyond en…
We address the dynamics of quantum correlations for a bipartite continuous-variable quantum system interacting with its fluctuating environment. In particular, we consider two independent quantum oscillators initially prepared in a Gaussian state, e.g. a squeezed thermal state, and compare the dynamics resulting from local noise, i.e. oscillators coupled to two independent external fields, to that originating from common noise, i.e. oscillators interacting with a single common field. We prove non-Markovianity (non-divisibility) of the dynamics in both regimes and analyze the connections betwee…
Non-homogeneous chain environments (e.g. segmented ion traps) are investigated through an exact diagonalization approach. Different spectral densities, including band-gaps, can be engineered to separately assess memory effects. Environment non-Markovianity is quantified with recently introduced measures of information flow-back and non-divisibility of the system dynamical map. By sweeping the bath spectrum via tuning of the system frequency we show strongest memory effect at band-gap edges and provide an interpretation based on energy flow between system and environment. A system weakly couple…
An exact canonical master equation of the Lindblad form is derived for a central spin interacting uniformly with a sea of completely unpolarized spins. The Kraus operators for the dynamical map are also derived. The non-Markovianity of the dynamics in terms of the divisibility breaking of the dynamical map and increase of the trace distance fidelity between quantum states is shown. Moreover, it is observed that the irreversible entropy production rate is always negative (for a fixed initial state) whenever the dynamics exhibits non-Markovian behavior. In continuation with the study of witnessi…
Nonclassical energy-change distribution as a witness of non-Markovian quantum dynamics
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR-INO)（意大利国家光学研究所）；Centro de Física e Engenharia de Materiais Avançados (CeFEMA), Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emerging Technologies (LaPMET), and PQI – Portuguese Quantum Institute, Portugal（葡萄牙高级材料与工程物理中心、材料与技术新兴物理实验室及葡萄牙量子研究所）；Física Teòrica: Informació i Fenòmens Quàntics, Departament de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain（巴塞罗那自治大学物理系理论物理：信息与量子现象部门）；Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica – Emilio Segrè, via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo, Italy（巴勒莫大学埃米利奥·塞格雷物理化学系）；European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, Università di Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy（佛罗伦萨大学欧洲非线性光谱学实验室）
We investigate the relation between two approaches to the characterisation of quantum Markovianity, divisibility and lack of information backflow. We show that a bijective dynamical map is completely-positive-divisible if and only if a monotonic non-increase of distinguishability is observed for two equiprobable states of the evolving system and an ancilla. Moreover our proof is constructive: given any such map that is not completely-positive-divisible, we give an explicit construction of two states that, when taken with the same a priori probability, exhibit information back-flow. Finally, wh…
We discuss the conceptually different definitions used for the non-Markovianity of classical and quantum processes. The well-established definition for non-Markovianity of a classical stochastic process represents a condition on the Kolmogorov hierarchy of the n-point joint probability distributions. Since this definition cannot be transferred to the quantum regime, quantum non-Markovianity has recently been defined and quantified in terms of the underlying quantum dynamical map, using either its divisibility properties or the behavior of the trace distance between pairs of initial states. Her…
We investigate the smallest set of requirements for inducing non-Markovian dynamics in a collisional model of open quantum systems. This is done by introducing correlations in the state of the environment and analyzing the divisibility of the quantum maps from consecutive time steps. Our model and results serve as a platform for the microscopic study of non-Markovian behavior as well as an example of a simple scenario of non-Markovianity with purely contractive maps, i.e. with no back-flow of information between system and environment.
Recently, a measure for the non-Markovian behavior of quantum processes in open systems has been developed which is based on the quantification of the flow of information between the open system and its environment [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 210401 (2009)]. The information flow is connected to the rate of change of the trace distance between quantum states which can be interpreted in terms of the distinguishability of these states. Here, we elaborate the mathematical details of this theory, present applications to specific physical models, and discuss further theoretical and experimental implicati…
To extend the classical concept of Markovianity to an open quantum system, different notions of the divisibility of its dynamics have been introduced. Here we analyze this issue by five complementary approaches: equations of motion, real-time diagrammatics, Kraus-operator sums, as well as time-local (TCL) and nonlocal (Nakajima-Zwanzig) quantum master equations. As a case study featuring several types of divisible dynamics, we examine in detail an exactly solvable noninteracting fermionic resonant level coupled arbitrarily strongly to a fermionic bath at arbitrary temperature in the wideband l…
We calculate in an exact way the conditional past-future correlation for the decay dynamics of a two-level system in a bosonic bath. Different measurement processes are considered. In contrast to quantum memory measures based solely on system propagator properties, here memory effects are related to a convolution structure involving two system propagators and the environment correlation. This structure allows to detect memory effects even close to the validity of the Born-Markov approximation. An alternative operational-based definition of environment-to-system backflow of information follows …
We employ frames consisting of rank-one projectors (i.e. pure quantum states) and their induced informationally complete quantum measurements (IC-POVMs) to represent generally mixed quantum states by quasi-probability distributions. In the case of discrete frames on finite dimensional systems this results in a vector like representation by quasi-probability vectors, while for the continuous frame of coherent states in continuous variable (CV) systems the approach directly leads to the celebrated representation by Glauber-Sudarshan P-functions and Husimi Q-functions. We explain that the Kolmogo…
Memory effects play a fundamental role in the study of the dynamics of open quantum systems. There exist two conceptually distinct notions of memory discussed for quantum channels in the literature. In quantum information theory quantum channels with memory are characterised by the existence of correlations between successive applications of the channel on a sequence of quantum systems. In open quantum systems theory memory effects arise dynamically during the time evolution of quantum systems, and define non-Markovian dynamics. Here we relate and combine these two different concepts of memory…
Characterizing those quantum channels that correspond to Markovian time evolutions is an open problem in quantum information theory, even different notions of quantum Markovianity exist. One such notion is that of infinitesimal Markovian divisibility for quantum channels introduced in arXiv:math-ph/0611057. Whereas there is a complete characterization for infinitesimal Markovian divisible qubit channels, no necessary or sufficient criteria are known for higher dimensions, except for necessity of non-negativity of the determinant. We describe how to extend the notion of infinitesimal Markovian …
We investigate the Markovian and non-Markovian dynamics of Gaussian quantum channels, exploiting a recently introduced necessary and sufficient criterion and the ensuing measure of non-Markovianity based on the violation of the divisibility property of the dynamical map. We compare the paradigmatic instances of Quantum Brownian motion (QBM) and Pure Damping (PD) channels, and for the former we find that the exact dynamical evolution is always non-Markovian in the finite-time as well as in the asymptotic regimes, for any nonvanishing value of the non-Markovianity parameter. If one resorts to th…
