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C. K. Law

Publications and source records attributed to C. K. Law.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A solution to an Ambarzumyan problem on trees

We consider the Neumann Sturm-Liouville problem defined on trees such that the ratios of lengths of edges are not necessarily rational. It is shown that the potential function of the Sturm-Liouville operator must be zero if the spectrum is equal to that for zero potential. This extends previous results and gives an Ambarzumyan theorem for the Neumann Sturm-Liouville problem on trees. To prove this, we compute approximated eigenvalues for zero potential by using a generalized pigeon hole argument, and make use of recursive formulas for characteristic functions.

math.SP↗

Non-Markovian master equation for a damped oscillator with time-varying parameters

We derive an exact non-Markovian master equation that generalizes the previous work [Hu, Paz and Zhang, Phys. Rev. D {\bf 45}, 2843 (1992)] to damped harmonic oscillators with time-varying parameters. This is achieved by exploiting the linearity of the system and operator solution in Heisenberg picture. Our equation governs the non-Markovian quantum dynamics when the system is modulated by external devices. As an application, we apply our equation to parity kick decoupling problems. The time-dependent dissipative coefficients in the master equation are shown to be modified drastically when the system is driven by $π$ pulses. For coherence protection to be effective, our numerical results indicate that kicking period should be shorter than memory time of the bath. The effects of using soft pulses in an ohmic bath are also discussed.

quant-ph↗

Relationship between spin squeezing and single-particle coherence in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates with Josephson coupling

We investigate spin squeezing of a two-mode boson system with a Josephson coupling. An exact relation between the squeezing and the single-particle coherence at the maximal-squeezing time is discovered, which provides a more direct way to measure the squeezing by readout the coherence in atomic interference experiments. We prove explicitly that the strongest squeezing is along the $J_z$ axis, indicating the appearance of atom number-squeezed state. Power laws of the strongest squeezing and the optimal coupling with particle number $N$ are obtained based upon a wide range of numerical simulations.

cond-mat.other↗

Polarization and frequency disentanglement of photons via stochastic polarization mode dispersion

We investigate the quantum decoherence of frequency and polarization variables of photons via polarization mode dispersion in optical fibers. By observing the analogy between the propagation equation of the field and the Schrödinger equation, we develop a master equation under Markovian approximation and analytically solve for the field density matrix. We identify distinct decay behaviors for the polarization and frequency variables for single-photon and two-photon states. For the single photon case, purity functions indicate that complete decoherence for each variable is possible only for infinite fiber length. For entangled two-photon states passing through separate fibers, entanglement associated with each variable can be completely destroyed after characteristic finite propagation distances. In particular, we show that frequency disentanglement is independent of the initial polarization status. For propagation of two photons in a common fiber, the evolution of a polarization singlet state is addressed. We show that while complete polarization disentanglement occurs at a finite propagation distance, frequency entanglement could survive at any finite distance for gaussian states.

quant-ph↗

Quantum entanglement of decohered two-mode squeezed states in absorbing and amplifying environment

We investigate the properties of quantum entanglement of two-mode squeezed states interacting with linear baths with general gain and loss parameters. By explicitly solving for ρfrom the master equation, we determine analytical expressions of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of ρ^{T_A} (the partial transposition of density matrix ρ). In Fock space, ρ^{T_A} is shown to maintain a block diagonal structure as the system evolves. In addition, we discover that the decoherence induced by the baths would break the degeneracy of ρ^{T_A}, and leads to a novel set of eigenvectors for the construction of entanglement witness operators. Such eigenvectors are shown to be time-independent, which is a signature of robust entanglement of two-mode squeezed states in the presence of noise.

quant-ph↗

Bosonic characters of atomic Cooper pairs across resonance

We study the two-particle wave function of paired atoms in a Fermi gas with tunable interaction strengths controlled by Feshbach resonance. The Cooper pair wave function is examined for its bosonic characters, which is quantified by the correction of Bose enhancement factor associated with the creation and annihilation composite particle operators. An example is given for a three-dimensional uniform gas. Two definitions of Cooper pair wave function are examined. One of which is chosen to reflect the off-diagonal long range order (ODLRO). Another one corresponds to a pair projection of a BCS state. On the side with negative scattering length, we found that paired atoms described by ODLRO are more bosonic than the pair projected definition. It is also found that at $(k_F a)^{-1} \ge 1$, both definitions give similar results, where more than 90% of the atoms occupy the corresponding molecular condensates.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Natural orbits of atomic Cooper pairs in a nonuniform Fermi gas

We examine the basic mode structure of atomic Cooper pairs in an inhomogeneous Fermi gas. Based on the properties of Bogoliubov quasi-particle vacuum, the single particle density matrix and the anomalous density matrix share the same set of eigenfunctions. These eigenfunctions correspond to natural pairing orbits associated with the BCS ground state. We investigate these orbits for a Fermi gas in a spherical harmonic trap, and construct the wave function of a Cooper pair in the form of Schmidt decomposition. The issue of spatial quantum entanglement between constituent atoms in a pair is addressed.

cond-mat.other↗

Analysis of photon-atom entanglement generated by Faraday rotation in a cavity

Faraday rotation based on AC Stark shifts is a mechanism that can entangle the polarization variables of photons and atoms. We analyze the structure of such entanglement by using the Schmidt decomposition method. The time-dependence of entanglement entropy and the effective Schmidt number are derived for Gaussian amplitudes. In particular we show how the entanglement is controlled by the initial fluctuations of atoms and photons.

quant-ph↗

Loss of purity by wave packet scattering at low energies

We study the quantum entanglement produced by a head-on collision between two gaussian wave packets in three-dimensional space. By deriving the two-particle wave function modified by s-wave scattering amplitudes, we obtain an approximate analytic expression of the purity of an individual particle. The loss of purity provides an indicator of the degree of entanglement. In the case the wave packets are narrow in momentum space, we show that the loss of purity is solely controlled by the ratio of the scattering cross section to the transverse area of the wave packets.

quant-ph↗

S-wave quantum entanglement in a harmonic trap

We analyze the quantum entanglement between two interacting atoms trapped in a spherical harmonic potential. At ultra-cold temperature, ground state entanglement is generated by the dominated s-wave interaction. Based on a regularized pseudo-potential Hamiltonian, we examine the quantum entanglement by performing the Schmidt decomposition of low-energy eigenfunctions. We indicate how the atoms are paired and quantify the entanglement as a function of a modified s-wave scattering length inside the trap.

quant-ph↗

Spontaneous emission of a photon: wave packet structures and atom-photon entanglement

Spontaneous emission of a photon by an atom is described theoretically in three dimensions with the initial wave function of a finite-mass atom taken in the form of a finite-size wave packet. Recoil and wave-packet spreading are taken into account. The total atom-photon wave function is found in the momentum and coordinate representations as the solution of an initial-value problem. The atom-photon entanglement arising in such a process is shown to be closely related to the structure of atom and photon wave packets which can be measured in the coincidence and single-particle schemes of measurements. Two predicted effects, arising under the conditions of high entanglement, are anomalous narrowing of the coincidence wave packets and, under different conditions, anomalous broadening of the single-particle wave packets. Fundamental symmetry relations between the photon and atom single-particle and coincidence wave packet widths are established. The relationship with the famous scenario of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen is discussed.

quant-ph↗

Quantum entanglement as an interpretation of bosonic character in composite two-particle systems

We consider a composite particle formed by two fermions or two bosons. We discover that composite behavior is deeply related to the quantum entanglement between the constituent particles. By analyzing the properties of creation and annihilation operators, we show that bosonic character emerges if the constituent particles become strongly entangled. Such a connection is demonstrated explicitly in a class of two-particle wave functions.

quant-ph↗

Dark evolution in a time-varying Zeno subspace

We investigate the evolution of a quantum system under the influence of sequential measurements. The measurement scheme distinguishes whether or not the system is in a specified state $| {f_n}>$ at the $n^{\rm th}$ step, where $| {f_n}>$ varies with $n$. Dark evolution corresponds to the situation when all measurements give negative results. We show that dark evolution is unitary in the continuous measurement limit. We derive the effective Hamiltonian, and indicate how $| {f_n}>$ controls quantum state transport.

quant-ph↗

Packet narrowing and quantum entanglement in photoionization and photodissociation

The narrowing of electron and ion wave packets in the process of photoionization is investigated, with the electron-ion recoil fully taken into account. Packet localization of this type is directly related to entanglement in the joint quantum state of electron and ion, and to Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen localization. Experimental observation of such packet-narrowing effects is suggested via coincidence registration by two detectors, with a fixed position of one and varying position of the other. A similar effect, typically with an enhanced degree of entanglement, is shown to occur in the case of photodissociation of molecules.

quant-ph↗

Analysis and interpretation of high transverse entanglement in optical parametric down conversion

Quantum entanglement associated with transverse wave vectors of down conversion photons is investigated based on the Schmidt decomposition method. We show that transverse entanglement involves two variables: orbital angular momentum and transverse frequency. We show that in the monochromatic limit high values of entanglement are closely controlled by a single parameter resulting from the competition between (transverse) momentum conservation and longitudinal phase matching. We examine the features of the Schmidt eigenmodes, and indicate how entanglement can be enhanced by suitable mode selection methods.

quant-ph↗

Swapping and entangling qubits of single photons and atoms

A scheme is proposed here to achieve swapping and entangling of photonic and atomic qubits with high fidelity. The mechanism is based on the scattering of a single photon from a $Λ$-type three-level atom. The evolution of the coupled system is analyzed by projecting the quantum state onto a `bright' and a `dark' state. Quantum interference of these two states, which is determined by a frequency-dependent phase angle, can be exploited to perform various two-qubit transformations. It is remarkable that the probability of success of such transformations can approach unity in the strong coupling cavity QED regime.

quant-ph↗

Generation of entangled states of two atoms inside a leaky cavity

An in-depth theoretical study is carried out to examine the quasi-deterministic entanglement of two atoms inside a leaky cavity. Two $Λ$-type three-level atoms, initially in their ground states, may become maximally entangled through the interaction with a single photon. By working out an exact analytic solution, we show that the probability of success depends crucially on the spectral function of the injected photon. With a cavity photon, one can generate a maximally entangled state with a certain probability that is always less than 50%. However, for an injected photon with a narrower spectral width, this probability can be significantly increased. In particular, we discover situations in which entanglement can be achieved in a single trial with an almost unit probability.

quant-ph↗