In its original formulation, quantum backflow (QB) is an interference effect that manifests itself as a negative probability transfer for free-particle states comprised of plane waves with only positive momenta. Quantum reentry (QR) is another interference effect in which a wave packet expanding from a spatial region of its initial confinement partially returns to the region in the absence of any external forces. Here we show that both QB and QR are special cases of a more general classically-forbidden probability flow for quantum states with certain position-momentum correlations. We further demonstrate that it is possible to construct correlated quantum states for which the amount of probability transferred in the "wrong" (classically impossible) direction exceeds the least upper bound on the corresponding probability transfer in the QB and QR problems, known as the Bracken-Melloy constant.
Quantum backflow is an interference effect in which a matter-wave packet comprised of only plane waves with non-negative momenta exhibits negative probability flux. Here we show that this effect is mathematically equivalent to the appearance of classically-forbidden probability flux when a matter-wave packet, initially confined to a semi-infinite line, expands in free space.
It is known that for a non-relativistic quantum particle traveling freely on the $x$-axis, the positional probability can flow in the opposite direction to the particle's velocity. The maximum possible amount of such backflow that can occur over any time interval has been determined previously as the largest positive eigenvalue of a certain hermitian observable, with the value $0.0384517\dots$, or about $4\%$ of the total probability on the line. The eigenvalue problem is now considered numerically in the more general case of states with momentum restricted to the range $p_0<p<\infty$, for any…
The quantum backflow effect is a counterintuitive behavior of the probability current of a free particle, which may be negative even for states with vanishing negative momentum component. Here we address the notion of nonclassicality arising from the backflow effect, i.e. from the negativity of the probability current, and analyze its relationships with the notion of nonclassicality based on the negativity of the Wigner function. Our results suggest that backflow is linked to a different, and in fact more restrictive, notion of nonclassicality, the negativity of the Wigner function being only …
Quantum backflow is usually understood as a quantum interference phenomenon where probability current of a quantum particle points in the opposite direction to particle's momentum. Here, we quantify the amount of quantum backflow for arbitrary momentum distributions, paving the way towards its experimental verification. We give examples of backflow in gravitational and harmonic potential, and discuss experimental procedures required for the demonstration using atomic gravimeters. Such an experiment would show that the probability of finding a free falling particle above initial level could gro…
We derive some rigorous results concerning the backflow operator introduced by Bracken and Melloy. We show that it is linear bounded, self adjoint, and not compact. Thus the question is underlined whether the backflow constant is an eigenvalue of the backflow operator. From the position representation of the backflow operator we obtain a more efficient method to determine the backflow constant. Finally, detailed position probability flow properties of a numerical approximation to the (perhaps improper) wave function of maximal backflow are displayed.
Magnetic tuning of quantum backflow: Schrödinger vs Pauli system
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, College of Sciences, Institute of Physical Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw（华沙卡罗尔·斯特凡·维希尼茨基大学理学院自然科学系物理科学研究所）
The decay of quasi-stable quantum system involves primarily an outgoing probability current density. However, during the transition from exponential to inverse-power-law decay there are time intervals during which this current, although small, is inward. In this paper this inward flow is associated with quantum backflow. Furthermore substantial backflow exists for time-evolving free wave packets which are initially confined in space.
Free motion of a quantum particle with the wave function entirely comprised of plane waves with non-negative momenta may be accompanied by negative probability current, an effect called quantum backflow. The effect is weak and fragile, and has not yet been observed experimentally. Here we show that quantum backflow becomes significantly more pronounced and more amenable to experimental observation if, instead of letting the particle move along a straight line, one forces it to move in a circular ring.
The arrival time problem for the free particle in one dimension may be formulated as the problem of determining a joint probability for the particle being found on opposite sides of the $x$-axis at two different times. We explore this problem using a two-time quasi-probability linear in the projection operators, a natural counterpart of the corresponding classical problem. We show that it can be measured either indirectly, by measuring its moments in different experiments, or directly, in a single experiment using a pair of sequential measurements in which the first measurement is weak (or mor…
Quantum backflow is the classically-forbidden effect pertaining to the fact that a particle with a positive momentum may exhibit a negative probability current at some space-time point. We investigate how this peculiar phenomenon extends to many-particle systems. We give a general formulation of quantum backflow for systems formed of $N$ free nonrelativistic structureless particles, either identical or distinguishable. Restricting our attention to bosonic systems where the $N$ identical bosons are in the same one-particle state allows us in particular to analytically show that the maximum achi…
We study the quantum backflow problem in the noncommutative plane. In particular, we have considered a charged particle with and without an oscillator interaction with noncommuting momentum operators and examined angular momentum backflow in each case and how they differ from each other. We also propose a probability associated with the occurence of angular momentum backflow and investigate whether or not the probability depends on a physical parameter, namely the magnetic field.
In its standard formulation, quantum backflow is a classically impossible phenomenon in which a free quantum particle in a positive-momentum state exhibits a negative probability current. Recently, Miller et al. [Quantum 5, 379 (2021)] have put forward a new, "experiment-friendly" formulation of quantum backflow that aims at extending the notion of quantum backflow to situations in which the particle's state may have both positive and negative momenta. Here, we investigate how the experiment-friendly formulation of quantum backflow compares to the standard one when applied to a free particle i…
Measurable quantities that have positive values in classical dynamical systems need not to be positive in quantum theory. For example, consider a free quantum mechanical particle in one dimension. There are quantum states in which the particle's velocity is positive with probability 1, but where the probability flux for its position is locally negative; that is, while its velocity points to the right, the particle travels to the left. These effects are however small and limited in space and time by certain lower bounds, which are called "quantum inequalities". Similar effects also appear for a…
We explore the behavior in time of the energy exchange between a system of interest and its environment, together with its relationship to the non-Markovianity of the system dynamics. In order to evaluate the energy exchange we rely on the full counting statistics formalism, which we use to evaluate the first moment of its probability distribution. We focus in particular on the energy backflow from environment to system, to which we associate a suitable condition and quantifier, which enables us to draw a connection with a recently introduced notion of non-Markovianity based on information bac…
It was known that a free, nonrelativistic particle in a superposition of positive momenta can, in certain cases, bear a negative probability current --- hence termed quantum backflow. Here, it is shown that more variations can be brought about for a free Dirac particle, particularly when negative-energy solutions are taken into account. Since any Dirac particle can be understood as an antiparticle that acts oppositely (and vice versa), quantum backflow is found to arise in the superposition (i) of a well-defined momentum but different signs of energies, or more remarkably (ii) of different sig…
We present an exhaustive class of states with quantum backflow -- the phenomenon in which a state consisting entirely of positive momenta may have negative current and the probability flows in the opposite direction to the momentum. They are characterized by a general function of momenta subject to very weak conditions. Such a family of states is of interest in the light of a recent experimental proposal to measure backflow. We find one particularly simple state which has surprisingly large backflow -- about 41 percent of the lower bound on flux derived by Bracken and Melloy. We study the eige…
We present an introduction to the backflow effect in quantum mechanics -- the phenomenon in which a state consisting entirely of positive momenta may have negative current and the probability flows in the opposite direction to the momentum. We show that the effect is present even for simple states consisting of superpositions of gaussian wave packets, although the size of the effect is small. Inspired by the numerical results of Penz et al, we present a wave function whose current at any time may be computed analytically and which has periods of significant backflow, with a backwards flux equa…
We investigate the backflow effect in elementary quantum mechanics - the phenomenon in which a state consisting entirely of positive momenta may have negative current and the probability flows in the opposite direction to the momentum. We compute the current and flux for states consisting of superpositions of gaussian wave packets. These are experimentally realizable but the amount of backflow is small. Inspired by the numerical results of Penz et al (M.Penz, G.Grübl, S.Kreidl and P.Wagner, J.Phys. A39, 423 (2006)), we find two non-trivial wave functions whose current at any time may be comput…
Transient energy backflow enhanced ergotropy in an open qubit quantum battery assisted by an auxiliary oscillator
Center for Quantum Materials and Computational Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Science, Kunming University of Science and Technology（昆明理工大学理学院量子材料与计算凝聚态物理中心）
By taking inspiration from the backflow transformation for correlated systems, we introduce a novel tensor network ansatz which extend the well-established Matrix Product State representation of a quantum-many body wave function. This new structure provides enough resources to ensure that states in dimension larger or equal than one obey an area law for entanglement. It can be efficiently manipulated to address the ground-state search problem by means of an optimization scheme which mixes tensor-network and variational Monte-Carlo algorithms. We benchmark the new ansatz against spin models bot…
Neural Network Backflow with Low-Rank Multi-Determinant Updates
Yale University（耶鲁大学）；Energy Sciences Institute, Yale University（耶鲁大学能源科学研究所）；Department of Applied Physics, Yale University（耶鲁大学应用物理系）；Department of Physics, Yale University（耶鲁大学物理系）
Backflow is the phenomenon that the probability current of a quantum particle on the line can flow in the direction opposite to its momentum. In this article, previous investigations of backflow, pertaining to interaction-free dynamics or purely kinematical aspects, are extended to scattering situations in short-range potentials. It is shown that backflow is a universal quantum effect which exists in any such potential, and is always of bounded spatial extent in a specific sense. The effects of reflection and transmission processes on backflow are investigated, both analytically for general po…
Backflow, or retro-propagation, is a counterintuitive phenomenon where for a forward-propagating wave the energy or probability density locally propagates backward. In this study the energy backflow has been examined in connection with relatively simple causal unidirectional finite-energy solutions of the wave equation which are derived from a factorization of the so-called basic splash mode. Specific results are given for the energy backflow arising in known azimuthally symmetric unidirectional wavepackets, as well as in novel azimuthally asymmetric extensions. Using the Bateman-Whittaker tec…
Spin-induced and orbital quantum backflow in Pauli theory
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, College of Sciences, Institute of Physical Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw（华沙卡罗尔·斯特凡·维希尼茨基大学理学院自然科学系物理科学研究所）
Quantum Back Flow (QBF), discovered quite a few years back, is a generic purely quantum phenomenon, in which the probability of finding a particle in a direction is non-zero (and increasing for a certain period of time) even when the particle has with certainty a velocity in the opposite direction. In this paper, we study QBF of a quantum particle across the event horizon of a Schwarzschild Black Hole. In a toy model approach, we consider a superposition of two ingoing solutions and observe the probability density and probability current. We explicitly demonstrate a non-vanishing quantum backf…
We study the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) and quantum anti-Zeno effect (QAZE) of the multimode quantum Rabi model(MQRM). We derive an analytic expression for the decay rate of the survival probability where cavity modes are initially prepared as thermal equilibrium states. A crossover from QZE to QAZE is observed due to the energy backflow induced by high frequency cavity modes. In addition, we apply a numerically exact method based on the thermofield dynamics(TFD) theory and the matrix product states(MPS) to study the effect of squeezing of the cavity modes on the QZE of the MQRM. The influence …
Forty-five years after the discovery of the peculiar quantum effect known as `probability backflow', and twenty years after the greatest possible size of the effect was characterized, an experiment has been proposed recently to observe the effect in a Bose-Einstein condensate. Here the history is described in non-technical terms.
In the fluorescence light of a single atom, the probability for emission of a photon with certain polarization depends on the polarization of the photon emitted immediately before it. Here correlations of such kind are investigated with a single trapped calcium ion by means of second order correlation functions. A theoretical model is developed and fitted to the experimental data, which show 91% probability for the emission of polarization-correlated photon pairs within 24 ns.
We study the performance of common quantum stabilizer codes in the presence of asymmetric and correlated errors. Specifically, we consider the depolarizing noisy quantum memory channel and perform quantum error correction via the five and seven-qubit stabilizer codes. We characterize these codes by means of the entanglement fidelity as function of the error probability and the degree of memory. We show that their performances are lowered by the presence of correlations and we compute the error probability threshold values for codes effectiveness. Furthermore, we uncover that the asymmetry in t…
We study the transport of few-photon states in an open disordered nonlinear photonic lattice. More specifically, we consider a waveguide quantum electrodynamics (QED) setup where photons are scattered from a chain of nonlinear resonators with onsite Bose-Hubbard interaction in the presence of an incommensurate potential. Applying our recently developed diagrammatic technique that represents scattering matrix (S-matrix) with scattering diagrams and associated propagators, we compute the two-photon transmission probability and show that it carries signatures of the underlying many-body localizat…
We examine energy transport in an ensemble of closed quantum systems driven by stochastic perturbations. One can show that the probability and energy fluxes can be described in terms of quantum advection modes (QAM) associated with the off-diagonal elements of the density matrix. These QAM play the role of Landauer channels in a system with discrete energy spectrum and the eigenfunctions that cannot be described as plane waves. In order to determine the type of correlations that exist between the direction and magnitudes of each QAM and the average direction of energy and probability fluxes we…
Completely positive trace preserving maps are essential for the formulation of the second law of thermodynamics. The dynamics of quantum systems, correlated with their environments, are in general not described by such maps. We explore how this issue can be fixed by describing the classical analogue of this problem. We consider correlated probability distributions, whose subsequent system dynamics is ill-described by stochastic maps, and prescribe the correct way to describe the dynamics. We use this prescription to discuss the classical version of the second law, valid for correlated probabil…
