arXiv subjects

Alan C. Santos

Publications and source records attributed to Alan C. Santos.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Quantum advantage of two-level batteries in self-discharging process

Devices that use quantum advantages for storing energy in the degree of freedom of quantum systems have drawn attention due to their properties of working as quantum batteries. However, one can identify a number of problems that need to be adequately solved before a real manufacturing process of these devices. In particular, it is important paying attention to the ability of quantum batteries in storing energy when no consumption center is connected to them. In this paper, by considering quantum batteries disconnected from external charging fields and consumption center, we study the decoherence effects that lead to charge leakage to the surrounding environment. We identify this phenomena as a self-discharging of QBs, in analogy to the inherent decay of the stored charge of conventional classical batteries in a open-circuit configuration. The quantum advantage concerning the classical counterpart is highlighted for single- and multi-cell quantum batteries.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum battery based on quantum discord at room temperature

The study of advanced quantum devices for energy storage has attracted the attention of the scientific community in the past few years. Although several theoretical progresses have been achieved recently, experimental proposals of platforms operating as quantum batteries under ambient conditions are still lacking. In this context, this work presents a feasible realization of a quantum battery in a carboxylate-based metal complex, which can store a finite amount of extractable work under the form of quantum discord at room temperature, and recharge by thermalization with a reservoir. Moreover, the stored work can be evaluated through non-destructive measurements of the compound's magnetic susceptibility. These results pave the way for the development of enhanced energy storage platforms through material engineering.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum adiabatic brachistochrone for open systems

We propose a variational principle to compute a quantum adiabatic brachistochrone (QAB) for open systems. Using the notion of "adiabatic speed" based on the energy gaps, we derive a Lagrangian associated to the functional measuring the time spent to achieve adiabatic behavior, which in turn allows us to perform the optimization. The QAB is illustrated for non-unitary dynamics of STIRAP process, the Deutsch-Jozsa quantum computing algorithm and of a transmon qutrit. A numerical protocol is devised, which allows to compute the QAB for arbitrary quantum systems for which exact simulations can be afforded. We also establish sufficient conditions for the equivalence between the Lagrangians, and thus the QAB, of open and closed systems.

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arXiv2020

Sufficient conditions for adiabaticity in open quantum systems

The adiabatic approximation exhibits wide applicability in quantum mechanics, providing a simple approach for nontransitional dynamics in quantum systems governed by slowly varying time-dependent Hamiltonians. However, the standard adiabatic theorem is specifically derived for closed quantum systems. In a realistic open system scenario, the inevitable system-reservoir interaction must be taken into account, which strongly impacts the generalization of the adiabatic behavior. In this paper, we introduce sufficient conditions for the adiabatic approximation in open quantum systems. These conditions are simple yet general, providing a suitable instrument to investigate adiabaticity for arbitrary initial mixed states evolving under time local master equations. We first illustrate our results by showing that the adiabatic approximation for open systems is compatible with the description of quantum thermodynamics at thermal equilibrium, where irreversible entropy production is vanishing. We also apply our sufficient conditions as a tool in quantum control, evaluating the adiabatic behavior for the Hamiltonians of both the Deutsch algorithm and the Landau-Zener model under decoherence.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Entanglement, coherence and charging process of quantum batteries

Quantum devices are systems that can explore quantum phenomena, like entanglement or coherence, for example, to provide some enhancement performance concerning their classical counterparts. In particular, quantum batteries are devices that use entanglement as main element in its high performance in the charging powerful. In this paper, we explore the quantum battery performance and its relationship with the amount of entanglement that arises during the charging process. By using a general approach to a two and three-cell battery, our results suggest that entanglement is not the main resource to quantum batteries, where there is a non-trivial correlation-coherence trade-off as resource for the high efficiency of such quantum devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Quantum thermodynamics in adiabatic open systems and its trapped-ion experimental realization

Quantum thermodynamics aims at investigating both the emergence and the limits of the laws of thermodynamics from a quantum mechanical microscopic approach. In this scenario, thermodynamic processes with no heat exchange, namely, adiabatic transformations, can be implemented through quantum evolutions in closed systems, even though the notion of a closed system is always an idealization and approximation. Here, we begin by theoretically discussing thermodynamic adiabatic processes in open quantum systems, which evolve non-unitarily under decoherence due to its interaction with its surrounding environment. From a general approach for adiabatic non-unitary evolution, we establish heat and work in terms of the underlying Liouville superoperator governing the quantum dynamics. As a consequence, we derive the conditions that an adiabatic open-system quantum dynamics implies in the absence of heat exchange, providing a connection between quantum and thermal adiabaticity. Moreover, we determine families of decohering systems exhibiting the same maximal heat exchange, which imply in classes of thermodynamic adiabaticity in open systems. We then approach the problem experimentally using a hyperfine energy-level quantum bit of an Ytterbium $^{171}$Yb$^+$ trapped ion, which provides a work substance for thermodynamic processes, allowing for the analysis of heat and internal energy throughout a controllable engineered dynamics.

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arXiv2020

Stable and charge-switchable quantum batteries

A fully operational loss-free quantum battery requires an inherent control over the energy transfer process, with the ability of keeping the energy retained with no leakage. Moreover, it also requires a stable discharge mechanism, which entails that no energy revivals occur as the device starts its energy distribution. Here, we provide a scalable solution for both requirements. To this aim, we propose a general design for a quantum battery based on an {\it{energy current}} (EC) observable quantifying the energy transfer rate to a consumption hub. More specifically, we introduce an instantaneous EC operator describing the energy transfer process driven by an arbitrary interaction Hamiltonian. The EC observable is shown to be the root for two main applications: (i) a trapping energy mechanism based on a common eigenstate between the EC operator and the interaction Hamiltonian, in which the battery can indefinitely retain its energy even if it is coupled to the consumption hub; (ii) an asymptotically stable discharge mechanism, which is achieved through an adiabatic evolution eventually yielding vanishing EC. These two independent but complementary applications are illustrated in quantum spin chains, where the trapping energy control is realized through Bell pairwise entanglement and the stability arises as a general consequence of the adiabatic spin dynamics.

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arXiv2020

Non-Markovian effects on charging and self-discharging processes of quantum batteries

The performance of quantum technologies that use entanglement and coherence as resource is highly limited by decohering effects due to their interaction with some environment. Particularly, it is important to take into account situations where such devices unavoidably interact with a surrounding. Here, we study memory effects on energy and ergotropy of quantum batteries in the framework of open system dynamics, where the battery and charger are individually allowed to access a bosonic environment. Our investigation shows that the battery can be fully charged and its energy can be preserved for long times in non-Markovian dynamics compared with Markovian dynamics. In addition, the total stored energy can be completely extracted as work and discharge time becomes more longer as non-Markovianity increases. Our results indicate that memory effects can play a significant role in improving the performance of quantum batteries.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Optimizing NMR quantum information processing via generalized transitionless quantum driving

High performance quantum information processing requires efficient control of undesired decohering effects, which are present in realistic quantum dynamics. To deal with this issue, a powerful strategy is to employ transitionless quantum driving (TQD), where additional fields are added to speed up the evolution of the quantum system, achieving a desired state in a short time in comparison with the natural decoherence time scales. In this paper, we provide an experimental investigation of the performance of a generalized approach for TQD to implement shortcuts to adiabaticity in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). As a first discussion, we consider a single nuclear spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ system in a time-dependent rotating magnetic field. While the adiabatic dynamics is violated at a resonance situation, the TQD Hamiltonian is shown to be robust against resonance, allowing us to mimic the adiabatic behavior in a fast evolution even under the resonant configurations of the original (adiabatic) Hamiltonian. Moreover, we show that the generalized TQD theory requires less energy resources, with the strength of the magnetic field less than that required by standard TQD. As a second discussion, we analyze the experimental implementation of shortcuts to single-qubit adiabatic gates. By adopting generalized TQD, we can provide feasible time-independent driving Hamiltonians, which are optimized in terms of the number of pulses used to implement the quantum dynamics. The robustness of adiabatic and generalized TQD evolutions against typical decoherence processes in NMR is also analyzed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Simulating single-spin dynamics on an IBM five-qubit chip

In this paper we show how the IBM superconducting chips can be a powerful tool for teaching foundations of quantum mechanics for undergraduate students (for graduates as well, in some cases). To this end, we briefly discuss about the main elements of the IBM Quantum Experience platform necessary to understand this paper, i.e., how to implement operations and single-qubit measurements. We experimentally study the dynamics of single spin systems interacting with static and time-dependent magnetic fields. First, we study the resonant behavior of a single spin coupled to a time-dependent rotating magnetic field. To end, we study the Larmor precession phenomenon. In both cases we show the theoretical and real experimental implementation. This article could be useful in introductory courses on quantum mechanics and nuclear magnetic resonance foundations, for example.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2019

Stable adiabatic quantum batteries

With the advent of quantum technologies comes the requirement of building quantum components able to store energy to be used whenever necessary, i.e. quantum batteries. In this paper we exploit an adiabatic protocol to ensure a stable charged state of a three-level quantum battery which allows to avoid the spontaneous discharging regime. We study the effects of the most relevant sources of noise on the charging process and, as an experimental proposal, we discuss superconducting transmon qubits. In addition we study the self-discharging of our quantum battery where it is shown that spectrum engineering can be used to delay such phenomena.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Optical simulation of a quantum thermal machine

We introduce both a theoretical and an experimental scheme for simulating a quantum thermal engine through an all-optical approach, with the behavior of the working substance and the thermal reservoirs implemented via internal degrees of freedom of a single photon. By using the polarization and propagation path, we encode two quantum bits and then implement the thermodynamical steps of an Otto cycle. To illustrate the feasibility of our proposal, we experimentally realize such simulation through an intense laser beam, evaluating heat and work at each individual step of the thermodynamical cycle. In addition, from the analysis of the entropy production during the entire cycle, we can study the amount of quantum friction produced in the Otto cycle as a function of the difference of temperature between hot and cold reservoirs. Our paper constitutes, therefore, an all-optical-based thermal machine simulation and opens perspectives for other optical simulations in quantum thermodynamics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Shortening time scale to reduce thermal effects in quantum transistors

In this article, we present a quantum transistor model based on a network of coupled quantum oscillators destined to quantum information processing tasks in linear optics. To this end, we show in an analytical way how a set of $N$ quantum oscillators (data-bus) can be used as an optical quantum switch, in which the energy gap of the data bus oscillators plays the role of an adjustable "potential barrier". This enables us to "block or allow" the quantum information to flow from the source to the drain. In addition, we discuss how this device can be useful for implementing single qubit phase-shift quantum gates with high fidelity, so that it can be used as a useful tool. To conclude, during the study of the performance of our device when considering the interaction of this with a thermal reservoir, we highlight the important role played by the set of oscillators which constitute the data-bus in reducing the unwanted effects of the thermal reservoir. This is achieved by reducing the information exchange time (shortening time scale) between the desired oscillators. In particular, we have identified a non-trivial criterion in which the ideal size of the data-bus can be obtained so that it presents the best possible performance. We believe that our study can be perfectly adapted to a large number of thermal reservoir models.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Adiabatic quantum dynamics under decoherence in a controllable trapped-ion setup

Suppressing undesired nonunitary effects is a major challenge in quantum computation and quantum control. In this work, by considering the adiabatic dynamics in presence of a surrounding environment, we theoretically and experimentally analyze the robustness of adiabaticity in open quantum systems. More specifically, by considering a decohering scenario, we exploit the validity conditions of the adiabatic approximation as well as its sensitiveness to the resonance situation, which typically harm adiabaticity in closed systems. As an illustration, we implement an oscillating Landau-Zener Hamiltonian, which shows that decoherence may drive the resonant system with high fidelities to the adiabatic behavior of open systems. Moreover we also implement the adiabatic quantum algorithm for the Deutsch problem, where a distinction is established between the open system adiabatic density operator and the target pure state expected in the computation process. Preferred time windows for obtaining the desired outcomes are then analyzed. We experimentally realize these systems through a single trapped Ytterbium ion $^{171}$Yb$^+$, where the ion hyperfine energy levels are used as degrees of freedom of a two-level system, with both driven field and decohering strength efficiently controllable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Validation of Quantum Adiabaticity through Non-Inertial Frames and Its Trapped-Ion Realization

Validity conditions for the adiabatic approximation are useful tools to understand and predict the quantum dynamics. Remarkably, the resonance phenomenon in oscillating quantum systems has challenged the adiabatic theorem. In this scenario, inconsistencies in the application of quantitative adiabatic conditions have led to a sequence of new approaches for adiabaticity. Here, by adopting a different strategy, we introduce a validation mechanism for the adiabatic approximation by driving the quantum system to a non-inertial reference frame. More specifically, we begin by considering several relevant adiabatic approximation conditions previously derived and show that all of them fail by introducing a suitable oscillating Hamiltonian for a single quantum bit (qubit). Then, by evaluating the adiabatic condition in a rotated non-inertial frame, we show that all of these conditions, including the standard adiabatic condition, can correctly describe the adiabatic dynamics in the original frame, either far from resonance or at a resonant point. Moreover, we prove that this validation mechanism can be extended for general multi-particle quantum systems, establishing the conditions for the equivalence of the adiabatic behavior as described in inertial or non-inertial frames. In order to experimentally investigate our method, we consider a hyperfine qubit through a single trapped Ytterbium ion $^{171}$Yb$^{+}$, where the ion hyperfine energy levels are used as degrees of freedom of a two-level system. By monitoring the quantum evolution, we explicitly show the consistency of the adiabatic conditions in the non-inertial frame.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Experimental Implementation of Generalized Transitionless Quantum Driving

It is known that high intensity fields are usually required to implement shortcuts to adiabaticity via Transitionless Quantum Driving (TQD). Here, we show that this requirement can be relaxed by exploiting the gauge freedom of generalized TQD, which is expressed in terms of an arbitrary phase when mimicking the adiabatic evolution. We experimentally investigate the performance of generalized TQD in comparison with both traditional TQD and adiabatic dynamics. By using a $^{171}$Yb$^+$ trapped ion hyperfine qubit, we implement a Landau-Zener adiabatic Hamiltonian and its (traditional and generalized) TQD counterparts. We show that the generalized theory provides optimally implementable Hamiltonians for TQD, with no additional fields required. In addition, the energetically optimal TQD Hamiltonian for the Landau-Zener model is investigated under dephasing. Remarkably, even using less intense fields, optimal TQD exhibits fidelities that are more robust against a decohering environment, with performance superior than that provided by the adiabatic dynamics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Generalized Shortcuts to Adiabaticity and Enhanced Robustness Against Decoherence

Shortcuts to adiabaticity provide a general approach to mimic adiabatic quantum processes via arbitrarily fast evolutions in Hilbert space. For these counter-diabatic evolutions, higher speed comes at higher energy cost. Here, the counter-diabatic theory is employed as a minimal energy demanding scheme for speeding up adiabatic tasks. As a by-product, we show that this approach can be used to obtain infinite classes of transitionless models, including time-independent Hamiltonians under certain conditions over the eigenstates of the original Hamiltonian. We apply these results to investigate shortcuts to adiabaticity in decohering environments by introducing the requirement of a fixed energy resource. In this scenario, we show that generalized transitionless evolutions can be more robust against decoherence than their adiabatic counterparts. We illustrate this enhanced robustness both for the Landau-Zener model and for quantum gate Hamiltonians.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Quantum gates by inverse engineering of a Hamiltonian

Inverse engineering of Hamiltonian (IEH) from an evolution operator is a useful technique for protocol of quantum control with potential applications in quantum information processing. In this paper we introduce a particular protocol to perform IEH and we show how this scheme can be used for implementing a set of quantum gates by using minimal quantum resources (such as entanglement, interactions between more than two quits or auxiliary quits). Remarkably, while previous protocols request three-quits interactions and/or auxiliary quits for implementing such gates, our protocol requires just two-qubit interactions and no auxiliary qubits. By using this approach, we can obtain a large class of Hamiltonians that allow us to implement single and two-quit gates necessary to quantum computation. To conclude this article, we analyze the performance of our scheme against systematic errors related to amplitude noise, where we show that the free parameters introduced in our scheme can be useful for enhancing the robustness of the protocol against such errors.

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