We investigate quantum dynamical systems defined on a finite dimensional Hilbert space and subjected to an interaction with an environment. The rate of decoherence of initially pure states, measured by the increase of their von Neumann entropy, averaged over an ensemble of random pure states, is proved to be bounded from above by the partial entropy used to define the ALF dynamical entropy. The rate of decoherence induced by the sequence of the von Neumann projectors measurements is shown to be maximal, if the measurements are performed in a randomly chosen basis. The numerically observed linear increase of entropies is attributed to free-independence of the measured observable and the unitary dynamical map.
We examine the dynamics of entanglement entropy of all parts in an open system consisting of a two-level dimer interacting with an environment of oscillators. The dimer-environment interaction is almost energy conserving. We find the precise link between decoherence and production of entanglement entropy. We show that not all environment oscillators carry significant entanglement entropy and we identify the oscillator frequency regions which contribute to the production of entanglement entropy. Our results hold for arbitrary strengths of the dimer-environment interaction, and they are mathemat…
I investigate quantum decoherence in a one-body density matrix of a composite particle consisting of two correlated particles. Because of a two-body correlation in the composite particle, quantum decoherence occurs in the one-body density matrix that has been reduced from the two-body density matrix. As the delocalization of the distribution of the composite particle grows, the entanglement entropy increases, and the system can be well-described by a semi-classical approximation, wherein the center position of the composite particle can be regarded as a classical coordinate. I connect the quan…
The decoherence matrix studied by Gudder and Sorkin (2011) can be considered as a map from the set of all the pairs of $n$-length paths to complex numbers, which is induced by the discrete-time quantum walk. The decoherence matrix is one of the decoherence functionals which present their historical quantum measure theory. In this paper, we compute the von Neumann entropy of the decoherence matrix. To do so, we use the result that the eigensystem of the decoherence matrix can be expressed by a corresponding correlated random walk.
We formulate a novel approach to decoherence based on neglecting observationally inaccessible correlators. We apply our formalism to a renormalised interacting quantum field theoretical model. Using out-of-equilibrium field theory techniques we show that the Gaussian von Neumann entropy for a pure quantum state increases to the interacting thermal entropy. This quantifies decoherence and thus measures how classical our pure state has become. The decoherence rate is equal to the single particle decay rate in our model. We also compare our approach to existing approaches to decoherence in a simp…
In standard quantum theory, the ideas of information-entropy and of pure states are closely linked. States are represented by density matrices $ρ$ on a Hilbert space and the information-entropy $-tr(ρ\logρ)$ is minimised on pure states (pure states are the vertices of the boundary of the convex set of states). The space of decoherence functions in the consistent histories approach to generalised quantum theory is also a convex set. However, by showing that every decoherence function can be written as a convex combination of two other decoherence functions we demonstrate that there are no `pure…
We take up the question why the initial entropy in the universe was small, in the context of evolution of the entropy of a classical system. We note that coarse-graining is a an important aspect of entropy evaluation which can reverse the direction of the increase in entropy, i.e., the direction of thermodynamic arrow of time. Then we investigate the role of decoherence in the selection of coarse-graining and explain how to compute entropy for a decohered classical system. Finally, we argue that the requirement of low initial entropy imposes constraints on the decoherence process.
We show that the coarse-grained quantum baker's map exhibits a linear entropy increase at an asymptotic rate given by the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy of the classical chaotic baker's map. The starting point of our analysis is a symbolic representation of the map on a string of $N$ qubits, i.e., an $N$-bit register of a quantum computer. To coarse-grain the quantum evolution, we make use of the decoherent histories formalism. As a byproduct, we show that the condition of medium decoherence holds asymptotically for the coarse-grained quantum baker's map.
We analyze the coherence properties of polarized neutrons, after they have interacted with a magnetic field or a phase shifter undergoing different kinds of statistical fluctuations. We endeavor to probe the degree of disorder of the distribution of the phase shifts by means of the loss of quantum mechanical coherence of the neutron. We find that the notion of entropy of the shifts and that of decoherence of the neutron do not necessarily agree. In some cases the neutron wave function is more coherent, even though it has interacted with a more disordered medium.
The loss of contrast in double-slit electron-diffraction due to dephasing and decoherence processes is studied. It is shown that the spatial correlation function of diffraction patterns can be used to distinguish between dephasing and decoherence. This establishes a measure of time-reversibility that does not require the determination of coherence terms of the density matrix, while von Neumann entropy, another measure of time-reversibility, does require coherence terms. This technique is exciting in view of the need to understand and control the detrimental experimental effects of contrast los…
Consider a discrete-time quantum walk on the $N$-cycle governed by the following condition: at every time step of the walk, the option persists, with probability $p$, of exercising a projective measurement on the coin degree of freedom. For a bipartite quantum system of this kind, we prove that the von Neumann entropy of the total density operator converges to its maximum value. Thus, when influenced by decoherence, the mutual information between the two subsystems, corresponding respectively to the space of the coin and the space of the walker, eventually must diminish to zero. To put it plai…
We show that for an open quantum system which is classically chaotic (a quartic double well with harmonic driving coupled to a sea of harmonic oscillators) the rate of entropy production has, as a function of time, two relevant regimes: For short times it is proportional to the diffusion coefficient (fixed by the system--environment coupling strength). For longer times (but before equilibration) there is a regime where the entropy production rate is fixed by the Lyapunov exponent. The nature of the transition time between both regimes is investigated.
We study the decoherence of a renormalised quantum field theoretical system. We consider our novel correlator approach to decoherence where entropy is generated by neglecting observationally inaccessible correlators. Using out-of-equilibrium field theory techniques at finite temperatures, we show that the Gaussian von Neumann entropy for a pure quantum state asymptotes to the interacting thermal entropy. The decoherence rate can be well described by the single particle decay rate in our model. Connecting to electroweak baryogenesis scenarios, we moreover study the effects on the entropy of a c…
In the framework of the Lindblad theory for open quantum systems, expressions for the density operator, von Neumann entropy and effective temperature of the damped harmonic oscillator are obtained. The entropy for a state characterized by a Wigner distribution function which is Gaussian in form is found to depend only on the variance of the distribution function. We give a series of inequalities, relating uncertainty to von Neumann entropy and linear entropy. We analyze the conditions for purity of states and show that for a special choice of the diffusion coefficients, the correlated coherent…
We study the quantum dynamics of relaxation, decoherence and entropy of a qubit embedded in an anisotropic photonic crystal (PhC) through fractional calculus. These quantum measurements are investigated by analytically solving the fractional Langevin equation. The qubit with frequency lying inside the photonic band gap (PBG) exhibits the preserving behavior of energy, coherence and information amount through the steady values of excited-state probability, polarization oscillation and von Neumann entropy. This preservation does not exist in the Markovian system with qubit frequency lying outsid…
I investigate the decoherence of two-mode squeezed vacuum states by analyzing the relative entropy of entanglement. I consider two sources of decoherence: (i) the phase damping and (ii) the amplitude damping due to the coupling to the thermal environment. In particular, I give the exact value of the relative entropy of entanglement for the phase damping model. For the amplitude damping model, I give an upper bound for the relative entropy of entanglement, which turns out to be a good approximation for the entanglement measure in usual experimental situations.
A possible solution of the information paradox can be sought in quantum information scrambling. In this paradigm, it is postulated that all information entering a black hole is rapidly and chaotically distributed across the event horizon making it impossible to reconstruct the information by means of any local measurement. However, in this scenario the effects of decoherence are typically ignored, which may render information scrambling moot in cosmological settings. In this work, we develop key steps towards a thermodynamic description of information scrambling in open quantum systems. In par…
We study the decoherence process for an open quantum system which is classically chaotic (a quartic double well with harmonic driving coupled to a sea of harmonic oscillators). We analyze the time dependence of the rate of entropy production showing that it has two relevant regimes: For short times it is proportional to the diffusion coefficient (fixed by the system--environment coupling strength). For longer times (but before equilibration) it is fixed by dynamical properties of the system (and is related to the Lyapunov exponent). The nature of the transition time between both regimes is inv…
A multi-particle extension of the Arnol'd Cat Hamiltonian system is defined and examined. We propose to compute its Alicki-Fannes quantum dynamical entropy, to validate (or disprove) the validity of the decoherence approach to quantum chaos. A first set of numerical experiments is presented and discussed.
We investigate a two-level spin system based anti-parity-time (anti-$\mathcal{PT}$)-symmetric qubit and study its decoherence as well as entanglement entropy properties. We compare our findings with that of the corresponding $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric and Hermitian qubits. First we consider the time-dependent Dyson map to find the exact analytical dynamics for a general non-Hermitian qubit system coupled with a bath, then we specialize it to the case of the anti-$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric qubit. We find that the decoherence function for the anti-$\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric qubit decays slower than th…
The current stage of quantum computing technology, called noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) technology, is characterized by large errors that prohibit it from being used for real applications. In these devices, decoherence, one of the main sources of error, is generally modeled by Markovian master equations such as the Lindblad master equation. In this work, the decoherence phenomena are addressed from the perspective of the steepest-entropy-ascent quantum thermodynamics (SEAQT) framework in which the noise is in part seen as internal to the system. The framework is as well used to descr…
Two manifestations of decoherence, called instantaneous and dynamical, are investigated. The former reflects the suppression of the interference between the components of the current state while the latter reflects that within the initial state. These types of decoherence are computed in the case of the Brownian motion and the harmonic and anharmonic oscillators within the semiclassical approximation. A remarkable phenomenon, namely the opposite orientation of the time arrow of the dynamical variables compared to that of the quantum fluctuations generates a double exponential time dependence o…
We prove a quantum version of the second law of thermodynamics: the (quantum) Boltzmann entropy increases if the initial (zero time) density matrix decoheres, a condition generally satisfied in Nature. It is illustrated by a model of wave-packet reduction, the Coleman-Hepp model, along the framework introduced by Sewell in his approach to the quantum measurement problem. Further models illustrate the monotonic-versus-non-monotonic behavior of the quantum Boltzmann entropy in time. As a last closely related topic, decoherence, which was shown by Narnhofer and Thirring to enforce macroscopic pur…
We study the dynamics of a quantum spin ensemble controlled by trains of ultrashort pulses. To model disturbances of the kicks, we consider that the spins are submitted to different kick trains which follow regular, random, stochastic or chaotic dynamical processes. These are described by dynamical systems on a torus. We study the quantum decoherence and the population relaxation of the spin ensemble induced by these classical dynamical processes disturbing the kick trains. For chaotic kick trains we show that the decoherence and the relaxation processes exhibit a signature of chaos directly r…
The control of thermal decoherence via dynamical decoupling and via the quantum Zeno effect (Zeno control) is investigated for a model of trapped ion, where the dynamics of two low lying hyperfine states undergoes decoherence due to the thermal interaction with an excited state. Dynamical decoupling is a procedure that consists in periodically driving the excited state, while the Zeno control consists in frequently measuring it. When the control frequency is high enough, decoherence is shown to be suppressed. Otherwise, both controls may accelerate decoherence.
In this study, we examine decoherence of qubits system coupled independently by using influence functional. We especially concentrated on the effect of qubit flip process. We examine the zero-dimensional qubit and one-dimensional qubits system coupled with multi-band one-dimensional system. The qubit flip process leads to oscillation and self-excitation. We also obtained the time evolution of von Neumann entropy.The pure dephasing channel indicates entropy. These results show quantum brown motion. We present the numerical calculation of the entropy for random telegraph noise. This indicates th…
A theory of dynamical control by modulation for optimal decoherence reduction is developed. It is based on the non-Markovian Euler-Lagrange equation for the energy-constrained field that minimizes the average dephasing rate of a qubit for any given dephasing spectrum.
We study decoherence in a simple quantum mechanical model using two approaches. Firstly, we follow the conventional approach to decoherence where one is interested in solving the reduced density matrix from the perturbative master equation. Secondly, we consider our novel correlator approach to decoherence where entropy is generated by neglecting observationally inaccessible correlators. We show that both methods can accurately predict decoherence time scales. However, the perturbative master equation generically suffers from instabilities which prevents us to reliably calculate the system's t…
Using the concept of von Neumann entropy, we quantify the information content of the various components of the quantum walk system, including the mutual information between its subsystems (coin and position) and use it to give a precise formulation of the measure of entanglement between subsystems.
We have studied the decoherence mechanism in a fermion and scalar quantum field theory with the Yukawa interaction in the Minkowski spacetime, using the non-equilibrium effective field theory formalism appropriate for open systems. The scalar field is treated as the system whereas the fermions as the environment. As the simplest realistic scenario, we assume that an observer measures only the Gaussian 2-point correlator for the scalar field. The cause of decoherence and the subsequent entropy generation is the ignorance of information stored in higher-order correlators, Gaussian and non-Gaussi…
We consider the effect of broadband decoherence on the performance of refocusing sequences, having in mind applications of dynamical decoupling in concatenation with quantum error correcting codes as the first stage of coherence protection. Specifically, we construct cumulant expansions of effective decoherence operators for a qubit driven by a pulse of a generic symmetric shape, and for several sequences of $π$- and $π/2$-pulses. While, in general, the performance of soft pulses in decoupling sequences in the presence of Markovian decoherence is worse than that of the ideal $δ$-pulses, it can…
In this article we develop, step by step, the framework for universal dynamical control of two-level systems (TLS) or qubits experiencing amplitude- or phase-noise (AN or PN) due to coupling to a thermal bath. A comprehensive arsenal of modulation schemes is introduced and applied to either AN or PN, resulting in completely analogous formulae for the decoherence rates, thus underscoring the unified nature of this universal formalism. We then address the extension of this formalism to multipartite decoherence control, where symmetries are exploited to overcome decoherence.
By means of two simple examples: phase and amplitude damping, the impact of decoherence on the dynamical Casimir effect is investigated. Even without dissipating energy (i.e., pure phase damping), the amount of created particles can be diminished significantly via the coupling to the environment (reservoir theory) inducing decoherence. For a simple microscopic model, it is demonstrated that spontaneous decays within the medium generate those problems -- Rabi oscillations are far more advantageous in that respect. These findings are particularly relevant in view of a recently proposed experimen…
Statistical mechanics explains thermodynamics in terms of (quantum) mechanics by equating the entropy of a microstate of a closed system with the logarithm of the number of microstates in the macrostate to which it belongs, but the question `what is a macrostate?' has never been answered except in a vague, subjective, way. However Hawking's discovery of black hole evaporation led to a formula for black hole entropy with no subjective element. In this letter, we argue from this result, together with the assumption that `black hole thermodynamics is just ordinary thermodynamics applied to black …
If we reduce coherence in a given quantum system, the result is an increase in entropy. Does this necessarily convert this quantum system into a classical system? The answer to this question is No. The decrease of coherence means more uncertainty. This does not seem to make the system closer to classical system where there are no uncertainties. We examine the problem using two coupled harmonic oscillators where we make observations on one of them while the other oscillator is assumed to be unobservable or to be in Feynman's rest of the universe. Our ignorance about the rest of the universe cau…
A scheme to implement a quantum computer subjected to decoherence and governed by an untunable qubit-qubit interaction is presented. By concatenating dynamical decoupling through bang-bang (BB) pulse with decoherence-free subspaces (DFSs) encoding, we protect the quantum computer from environment-induced decoherence that results in quantum information dissipating into the environment. For the inherent qubit-qubit interaction that is untunable in the quantum system, BB control plus DFSs encoding will eliminate its undesired effect which spoils quantum information in qubits. We show how this qua…
We theoretically study the decoherence and the dynamical decoupling control of nitrogen-vacancy center electron spins in high-purity diamond, where the hyperfine interaction with $^{13}$C nuclear spins is the dominating decoherence mechanism. The decoherence is formulated as the entanglement between the electron spin and the nuclear spins, which is induced by nuclear spin bath evolution conditioned on the electron spin state. The nuclear spin bath evolution is driven by elementary processes such as single spin precession and pairwise flip-flops. The importance of different elementary processes…
We prove a generalization of the classic Groenewold-Lindblad entropy inequality, combining decoherence and the quantum Bayes theorem into a simple unified picture where decoherence increases entropy while observation decreases it. This provides a rigorous quantum-mechanical version of the second law of thermodynamics, governing how the entropy of a system (the entropy of its density matrix, partial-traced over the environment and conditioned on what is known) evolves under general decoherence and observation. The powerful tool of spectral majorization enables both simple alternative proofs of …
Entropy production in quantum (field) systems requiring environment-induced decoherence is described in a Gaussian variational approximation. The new phenomenon of Semiquantum Chaos is reported. (Presented at the International Conference on Nonlinear Dynamics, Chaotic and Complex Systems, Zakopane (Poland), 7-12.11.95.)
We derive a master equation for a mirror interacting with the vacuum field via radiation pressure. The dynamical Casimir effect leads to decoherence of a 'Schroedinger cat' state in a time scale that depends on the degree of 'macroscopicity' of the state components, and which may be much shorter than the relaxation time scale. Coherent states are selected by the interaction as pointer states.
A unified theory is given of dynamically modified decay and decoherence of field-driven multilevel multipartite entangled states that are weakly coupled to zero-temperature baths or undergo random phase fluctuations. The theory allows for arbitrary local differences in their coupling to the environment. Due to such differences, the optimal driving-field modulation to ensure maximal fidelity is found to substantially differ from conventional ``Bang-Bang'' or $π$-phase flips of the single-qubit evolution.
An alternative approach to decoherence, named non-dynamical decoherence is developed and used to resolve the quantum measurement problem. According to decoherence, the observed system is open to a macroscopic apparatus(together with a possible added environment) in a quantum measurement process. We show that this open system can be well described by an "almost" quotient Hilbert space formed phenomenally according to some stability conditions. A group of random phase unitary operators is introduced further to obtain an exact quotient space for the observed system. In this quotient space, a dens…
A longstanding challenge in the foundations of quantum mechanics is the verification of alternative collapse theories despite their mathematical similarity to decoherence. To this end, we suggest a novel method based on dynamical decoupling. Experimental observation of nonzero saturation of the decoupling error in the limit of fast decoupling operations can provide evidence for alternative quantum theories. As part of the analysis we prove that unbounded Hamiltonians can always be decoupled, and provide novel dilations of Lindbladians.
The decay of the overlap between a wave packet evolved with a Hamiltonian H and the same state evolved with H}+$Σ$ serves as a measure of the decoherence time $τ_ϕ$. Recent experimental and analytical evidence on classically chaotic systems suggest that, under certain conditions, $τ_ϕ$ depends on H but not on $Σ$. By solving numerically a Hamiltonian model we find evidence of that property provided that the system shows a Wigner-Dyson spectrum (which defines quantum chaos) and the perturbation exceeds a crytical value defined by the parametric correlations of the spectra.
Quantum information requires protection from the adverse affects of decoherence and noise. This review provides an introduction to the theory of decoherence-free subspaces, noiseless subsystems, and dynamical decoupling. It addresses quantum information preservation as well protected computation.
We discuss a few mathematical aspects of random dynamical decoupling, a key tool procedure in quantum information theory. In particular, we place it in the context of discrete stochastic processes, limit theorems and CPT semigroups on matrix algebras. We obtain precise analytical expressions for expectation and variance of the density matrix and fidelity over time in the continuum-time limit depending on the system Lindbladian, which then lead to rough short-time estimates depending only on certain coupling strengths. We prove that dynamical decoupling does not work in the case of intrinsic (i…
We study a simplified Heisenberg spin model in order to clarify the idea of decoherence in closed quantum systems. For this purpose, we define a new concept: the decoherence function Ξ(t), which describes the dynamics of decoherence in the whole system, and which is linked with the total (von Neumann) entropy of all particles. As expected, decoherence is understood both as a statistical process that is caused by the dynamics of the system, and also as a matter of entropy. Moreover, the concept of decoherence time is applicable in closed systems and we have solved its behaviour in the Heisenber…
In the propagation of optical pulses through dispersive media, the frequency degree of freedom acts as an effective decohering environment on the polarization state of the pulse. Here we discuss the application of open-loop dynamical-decoupling techniques for suppressing such a polarization decoherence in one-way communication channels. We describe in detail the experimental proof of principle of the "bang-bang" protection technique recently applied to flying qubits in [Damodarakurup et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 040502]. Bang-bang operations are implemented through appropriately oriented wave…
The conceptual and dynamical aspects of decoherence are analyzed, while their consequences are discussed for several fundamental applications. This mechanism, which is based on a universal Schrödinger equation, is furthermore compared with the phenomenological description of open systems in terms of `quantum dynamical maps'.
In the framework of Lindblad theory for open quantum systems, we calculate the entropy of a damped quantum harmonic oscillator which is initially in a quasi-free state. The maximally predictable states are identified as those states producing the minimum entropy increase after a long enough time. In general, the states with a squeezing parameter depending on the environment's diffusion coefficients and friction constant are singled out, but if the friction constant is much smaller than the oscillator's frequency, coherent states (or thermalized coherent states) are obtained as the preferred cl…
For the prototypical example of the Ising chain in a transverse field, we study the impact of decoherence on the sweep through a second-order quantum phase transition. Apart from the advance in the general understanding of the dynamics of quantum phase transitions, these findings are relevant for adiabatic quantum algorithms due to the similarities between them. It turns out that (in contrast to first-order transitions studied previously) the impact of decoherence caused by a weak coupling to a rather general environment increases with system size (i.e., number of spins/qubits), which might li…
The dynamics of a decohering two-level system driven by a suitable control Hamiltonian is studied. The control procedure is implemented as a sequence of radiofrequency pulses that repetitively flip the state of the system, a technique that can be termed quantum "bang-bang" control after its classical analog. Decoherence introduced by the system's interaction with a quantum environment is shown to be washed out completely in the limit of continuous flipping and greatly suppressed provided the interval between the pulses is made comparable to the correlation time of the environment. The model su…
We apply the decoherence formalism to an interacting scalar field theory. In the spirit of the decoherence literature, we consider a "system field" and an "environment field" that interact via a cubic coupling. We solve for the propagator of the system field, where we include the self-energy corrections due to the interaction with the environment field. In this paper, we consider an environment in the vacuum state (T=0). We show that neglecting inaccessible non-Gaussian correlators increases the entropy of the system as perceived by the observer. Moreover, we consider the effect of a changing …
The main obstacles to the realization of high-fidelity quantum gates are the control errors arising from inaccurate manipulation of a quantum system and the decoherence caused by the interaction between the quantum system and its environment. Nonadiabatic holonomic quantum computation allows for high-speed implementation of whole-geometric quantum gates, making quantum computation robust against control errors. Dynamical decoupling provides an effective method to protect quantum gates against environment-induced decoherence, regardless of collective decoherence or independent decoherence. In t…
Zurek, Habib and Paz [W. H. Zurek, S. Habib and J. P. Paz, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 70} (1993)\ 1187] have characterized the set of states of maximal stability defined as the set of states having minimum entropy increase due to interaction with an environment, and shown that coherent states are maximal for the particular environment model examined. To generalize these results, I consider entropy production within the Lindblad theory of open systems, treating environment effects perturbatively. I characterize the maximally predicitive states which emerge from several forms of effective dynamics, i…
In the last years noncommutative quantum mechanics has been investigated intensively. We consider the influence of magnetic field on decoherence of a system in the noncommutative quantum plane. Particularly, we point out a model in which the magnetic field allows {\it in situ} dynamical control of decoherence as well as, in principle, observation of noncommutativity.
Motivated by the similarity between adiabatic quantum algorithms and quantum phase transitions, we study the impact of decoherence on the sweep through a second-order quantum phase transition for the prototypical example of the Ising chain in a transverse field and compare it to the adiabatic version of Grovers search algorithm, which displays a first order quantum phase transition. For site-independent and site-dependent coupling strengths as well as different operator couplings, the results show that (in contrast to first-order transitions) the impact of decoherence caused by a weak coupling…
In idealized models of a quantum register and its environment, quantum information can be stored indefinitely by encoding it into a decoherence-free subspace (DFS). Nevertheless, perturbations to the idealized register-environment coupling will cause decoherence in any realistic setting. Expanding a measure for state preservation, the dynamical fidelity, in powers of the strength of the perturbations, we prove stability to linear order is a generic property of quantum state evolution. The effect of noise perturbation is quantified by a concise expression for the strength of the quadratic, lead…
