arXiv subjects

A. Sanpera

Publications and source records attributed to A. Sanpera.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Double barrier potentials for matter-wave gap solitons

We investigate collisions of solitons of the gap type, supported by a lattice potential in repulsive Bose-Einstein condensates, with an effective double-barrier potential that resembles a Fabry-Perot cavity. We identify conditions under which the trapping of the entire incident soliton in the cavity is possible. Collisions of the incident soliton with an earlier trapped one are considered too. In the latter case, many outcomes of the collisions are identified, including merging, release of the trapped soliton with or without being replaced by the incoming one, and trapping of both solitons.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Operational Quantification of Continuous Variable Correlations

We quantify correlations (quantum and/or classical) between two continuous variable modes in terms of how many correlated bits can be extracted by measuring the sign of two local quadratures. On Gaussian states, such `bit quadrature correlations' majorize entanglement, reducing to an entanglement monotone for pure states. For non-Gaussian states, such as photonic Bell states, ideal and real de-Gaussified photon-subtracted states, and mixtures of pure Gaussian states, the bit correlations are shown to be a {\em monotonic} function of the negativity. This yields a feasible, operational way to quantitatively measure non-Gaussian entanglement in current experiments by means of direct homodyne detection, without a full tomographical reconstruction of the Wigner function.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Predicting spinor condensate dynamics from simple principles

We study the spin dynamics of quasi-one-dimensional F=1 condensates both at zero and finite temperatures for arbitrary initial spin configurations. The rich dynamical evolution exhibited by these non-linear systems is explained by surprisingly simple principles: minimization of energy at zero temperature, and maximization of entropy at high temperature. Our analytical results for the homogeneous case are corroborated by numerical simulations for confined condensates in a wide variety of initial conditions. These predictions compare qualitatively well with recent experimental observations and can, therefore, serve as a guidance for on-going experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Quantum State Transfer in Spin-1 Chains

We study the transfer of quantum information through a Heisenberg spin-1 chain prepared in its ground state. We measure the efficiency of such a quantum channel {\em via} the fidelity of retrieving an arbitrarily prepared state and {\em via} the transfer of quantum entanglement. The Heisenberg spin-1 chain has a very rich quantum phase diagram. We show that the phase boundaries are reflected in sharp variations of the transfer efficiency. In the vicinity of the border between the dimer and the ferromagnetic phase (in the conjectured spin-nematic region), we find strong indications for a qualitative change of the excitation spectrum. Moreover, we identify two regions of the phase diagram which give rise to particularly high transfer efficiency; the channel might be non-classical even for chains of arbitrary length, in contrast to spin-1/2 chains.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Efficient quantum state transfer in spin chains via adiabatic passage

We propose a method for quantum state transfer in spin chains using an adiabatic passage technique. Modifying even and odd nearest-neighbour couplings in time allows to achieve transfer fidelities arbitrarily close to one, without the need for a precise control of coupling strengths and timing. We study in detail transfer by adiabatic passage in a spin-1 chain governed by a generalized Heisenberg Hamiltonian. We consider optimization of the transfer process applying optimal control techniques. We discuss a realistic experimental implementation using cold atomic gases confined in deep optical lattices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Efficiency in Quantum Key Distribution Protocols with Entangled Gaussian States

Quantum key distribution (QKD) refers to specific quantum strategies which permit the secure distribution of a secret key between two parties that wish to communicate secretly. Quantum cryptography has proven unconditionally secure in ideal scenarios and has been successfully implemented using quantum states with finite (discrete) as well as infinite (continuous) degrees of freedom. Here, we analyze the efficiency of QKD protocols that use as a resource entangled gaussian states and gaussian operations only. In this framework, it has already been shown that QKD is possible (M. Navascués et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 010502 (2005)) but the issue of its efficiency has not been considered. We propose a figure of merit (the efficiency $E$) to quantify the number of classical correlated bits that can be used to distill a key from a sample of $N$ entangled states. We relate the efficiency of the protocol to the entanglement and purity of the states shared between the parties.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Transport and Entanglement Generation in the Bose-Hubbard Model

We study entanglement generation via particle transport across a one-dimensional system described by the Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian. We analyze how the competition between interactions and tunneling affects transport properties and the creation of entanglement in the occupation number basis. Alternatively, we propose to use spatially delocalized quantum bits, where a quantum bit is defined by the presence of a particle either in a site or in the adjacent one. Our results can serve as a guidance for future experiments to characterize entanglement of ultracold gases in one-dimensional optical lattices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Quantum polarization spectroscopy of ultracold spinor gases

We propose a method for the detection of ground state quantum phases of spinor gases through a series of two quantum nondemolition measurements performed by sending off-resonant, polarized light pulses through the gas. Signatures of various mean-field as well as strongly-correlated phases of F=1 and F=2 spinor gases obtained by detecting quantum fluctuations and mean values of polarization of transmitted light are identified.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Ultracold atomic Bose and Fermi spinor gases in optical lattices

We investigate magnetic properties of Mott-insulating phases of ultracold Bose and Fermi spinor gases in optical lattices. We consider in particular the F=2 Bose gas, and the F=3/2 and F=5/2 Fermi gases. We derive effective spin Hamiltonians for one and two atoms per site and discuss the possibilities of manipulating the magnetic properties of the system using optical Feshbach resonances. We discuss low temperature quantum phases of a 87Rb gas in the F=2 hyperfine state, as well as possible realizations of high spin Fermi gases with either 6Li or 132Cs atoms in the F=3/2 state, and with 173Yb atoms in the F=5/2 state.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Quantum switches and quantum memories for matter-wave lattice solitons

We study the possibility of implementing a quantum switch and a quantum memory for matter wave lattice solitons by making them interact with "effective" potentials (barrier/well) corresponding to defects of the optical lattice. In the case of interaction with an "effective" potential barrier, the bright lattice soliton experiences an abrupt transition from complete transmission to complete reflection (quantum switch) for a critical height of the barrier. The trapping of the soliton in an "effective" potential well and its release on demand, without loses, shows the feasibility of using the system as a quantum memory. The inclusion of defects as a way of controlling the interactions between two solitons is also reported.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Travelling to exotic places with ultracold atoms

We review and speculate on two recent developments of quantum optics and ultracold atoms. First, we discuss a possible realization of "phonon" physics, or as we call it "refracton" physics with optical lattices. To this aim we combine the physics of cold atoms with cavity QED, and investigate superfluid-Mott insulator quantum phase transition. The systems can exhibit cavity mode modifications due to local changes of refraction index ("refractons"). Second, we discuss the physics of strongly correlated particles in Abelian, and more interestingly in non-Abelian magnetic fields, using cold atoms.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Splitting and merging an elongated Bose-Einstein condensate at finite temperature

We analyze coherence effects during the splitting of a quasi one-dimensional condensate into two spatially separated ones and their subsequent merging into a single condensate. Our analysis takes into account finite-temperature effects, where phase fluctuations play an important role. We show that, at zero-temperature, the two split condensates can be merged into a single one with a negligible phase difference. By increasing temperature to a finite value below the critical point for condensation ($T_c$), i.e., $0 \le T/T_c < 1$, a considerable enhancement of phase and density fluctuations appears during the process of splitting and merging. Our results show that if the process of splitting and merging is sufficiently adiabatic, the whole process is quite insensitive to phase fluctuations and even at high temperatures, a single condensate can be produced.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2006

Strongly correlated Fermi-Bose mixtures in disordered optical lattices

We investigate theoretically the low-temperature physics of a two-component ultracold mixture of bosons and fermions in disordered optical lattices. We focus on the strongly correlated regime. We show that, under specific conditions, composite fermions, made of one fermion plus one bosonic hole, form. The composite picture is used to derive an effective Hamiltonian whose parameters can be controlled via the boson-boson and the boson-fermion interactions, the tunneling terms and the inhomogeneities. We finally investigate the quantum phase diagram of the composite fermions and we show that it corresponds to the formation of Fermi glasses, spin glasses, and quantum percolation regimes.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Trapped ion chain as a neural network

We demonstrate the possibility of realizing a neural network in a chain of trapped ions with induced long range interactions. Such models permit to store information distributed over the whole system. The storage capacity of such network, which depends on the phonon spectrum of the system, can be controlled by changing the external trapping potential and/or by applying longitudinal local magnetic fields. The system properties suggest the possibility of implementing robust distributed realizations of quantum logic.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2005

Disordered ultracold atomic gases in optical lattices: A case study of Fermi-Bose mixtures

We present a review of properties of ultracold atomic Fermi-Bose mixtures in inhomogeneous and random optical lattices. In the strong interacting limit and at very low temperatures, fermions form, together with bosons or bosonic holes, {\it composite fermions}. Composite fermions behave as a spinless interacting Fermi gas, and in the presence of local disorder they interact via random couplings and feel effective random local potential. This opens a wide variety of possibilities of realizing various kinds of ultracold quantum disordered systems. In this paper we review these possibilities, discuss the accessible quantum disordered phases, and methods for their detection. The discussed quantum phases include Fermi glasses, quantum spin glasses, "dirty" superfluids, disordered metallic phases, and phases involving quantum percolation.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2005

Lattice solitons in quasicondensates

We analyze finite temperature effects in the generation of bright solitons in condensates in optical lattices. We show that even in the presence of strong phase fluctuations solitonic structures with well defined phase profile can be created. We propose a novel family of variational functions which describe well the properties of these solitons and account for the non-linear effects in the band structure. We discuss also the mobility and collisions of these localized wave packets.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Key distillation from Gaussian states by Gaussian operations

We study the secrecy properties of Gaussian states under Gaussian operations. Although such operations are useless for quantum distillation, we prove that it is possible to distill a secret key secure against any attack from sufficiently entangled Gaussian states with non-positive partial transposition. Moreover, all such states allow for key distillation, when Eve is assumed to perform finite-size coherent attacks before the reconciliation process.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Classical and quantum-mechanical treatments of nonsequential double ionization with few-cycle laser pulses

We address nonsequential double ionization induced by strong, linearly polarized laser fields of only a few cycles, considering a physical mechanism in which the second electron is dislodged by the inelastic collision of the first electron with its parent ion. The problem is treated classically, using an ensemble model, and quantum-mechanically, within the strong-field and uniform saddle-point approximations. In the latter case, the results are interpreted in terms of "quantum orbits", which can be related to the trajectories of a classical electron in an electric field. We obtain highly asymmetric electron momentum distributions, which strongly depend on the absolute phase, i.e., on the phase difference between the pulse envelope and its carrier frequency. Around a particular value of this parameter, the distributions shift from the region of positive to that of negative momenta, or vice-versa, in a radical fashion. This behavior is investigated in detail for several driving-field parameters, and provides a very efficient method for measuring the absolute phase. Both models yield very similar distributions, which share the same physical explanation. There exist, however, minor discrepancies due to the fact that, beyond the region for which electron-impact ionization is classically allowed, the yields from the quantum mechanical computation decay exponentially, whereas their classical counterparts vanish.

physics.atom-ph↗