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Christina V. Kraus

Publications and source records attributed to Christina V. Kraus.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2014

Majorana modes and $p$-wave superfluids for fermionic atoms in optical lattices

We present a simple approach to create a strong $p$-wave interaction for fermions in an optical lattice. The crucial step is that the combination of a lattice setup with different orbital states and $s$-wave interactions can give rise to a strong induced $p$-wave pairing. We identify different topological phases and demonstrate that the setup offers a natural way to explore the transition from Kitaev's Majorana wires to two-dimensional $p$-wave superfluids. We demonstrate how this design can induce Majorana modes at edge dislocations in the optical lattice, and we provide an experimentally feasible protocol for the observation of the non-Abelian statistics.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2013

Ground States of Fermionic lattice Hamiltonians with Permutation Symmetry

We study the ground states of lattice Hamiltonians that are invariant under permutations, in the limit where the number of lattice sites, N -> \infty. For spin systems, these are product states, a fact that follows directly from the quantum de Finetti theorem. For fermionic systems, however, the problem is very different, since mode operators acting on different sites do not commute, but anti-commute. We construct a family of fermionic states, \cal{F}, from which such ground states can be easily computed. They are characterized by few parameters whose number only depends on M, the number of modes per lattice site. We also give an explicit construction for M=1,2. In the first case, \cal{F} is contained in the set of Gaussian states, whereas in the second it is not. Inspired by that constructions, we build a set of fermionic variational wave functions, and apply it to the Fermi-Hubbard model in two spatial dimensions, obtaining results that go beyond the generalized Hartree-Fock theory.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

Probing Atomic Majorana Fermions in Optical Lattices

We introduce a one-dimensional system of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice whose phase diagram includes topological states of different symmetry classes. These states can be identified by their zero-energy edge modes which are Majorana fermions. We propose several universal methods of detecting the Majorana edge states, based on their genuine features: zero-energy, localized character of the wave functions, and induced non-local fermionic correlations.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2013

A time-dependent variational principle for dissipative dynamics

We extend the time-dependent variational principle to the setting of dissipative dynamics. This provides a locally optimal (in time) approximation to the dynamics of any Lindblad equation within a given variational manifold of mixed states. In contrast to the pure-state setting there is no canonical information geometry for mixed states and this leads to a family of possible trajectories --- one for each information metric. We focus on the case of the operationally motivated family of monotone riemannian metrics and show further, that in the particular case where the variational manifold is given by the set of fermionic gaussian states all of these possible trajectories coincide. We illustrate our results in the case of the Hubbard model subject to spin decoherence.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

Majorana edge states in two atomic wires coupled by pair-hopping

We present evidence for the existence of Majorana edge states in a number conserving theory describing a system of spinless fermions on two wires that are coupled by a pair hopping. Our analysis is based on the combination of a qualitative low energy approach and numerical techniques using the Density Matrix Renormalization Group. We also discuss an experimental realization of pair-hopping interactions in cold atom gases confined in optical lattices, and its possible alternative applications to quantum simulation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗
arXiv2012

Generalized Hartree Fock Theory for Dispersion Relations of Interacting Fermionic Lattice Systems

We study the variational solution of generic interacting fermionic lattice systems using fermionic Gaussian states and show that the process of "gaussification", leading to a nonlinear closed equation of motion for the covariance matrix, is locally optimal in time by relating it to the time-dependent variational principle. By linearising our nonlinear equation of motion around the ground-state fixed point we describe a method to study low-lying excited states leading to a variational method to determine the dispersion relations of generic interacting fermionic lattice systems. This procedure is applied to study the attractive and repulsive Hubbard model on a two-dimensional lattice.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2011

Generating topological order from a 2D cluster state using a duality mapping

In this paper we prove, extend and review possible mappings between the two-dimensional Cluster state, Wen's model, the two-dimensional Ising chain and Kitaev's toric code model. We introduce a two-dimensional duality transformation to map the two-dimensional lattice cluster state into the topologically-ordered Wen model. Then, we subsequently investigates how this mapping could be achieved physically, which allows us to discuss the rate at which a topologically ordered system can be achieved. Next, using a lattice fermionization method, Wen's model is mapped into a series of one-dimensional Ising interactions. Considering the boundary terms with this mapping then reveals how the Ising chains interact with one another. The relationships discussed in this paper allow us to consider these models from two different perspectives: From the perspective of condensed matter physics these mappings allow us to learn more about the relation between the ground state properties of the four different models, such as their entanglement or topological structure. On the other hand, we take the duality of these models as a starting point to address questions related to the universality of their ground states for quantum computation.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2010

Generalized Hartree-Fock Theory for Interacting Fermions in Lattices: Numerical Methods

We present numerical methods to solve the Generalized Hartree-Fock theory for fermionic systems in lattices, both in thermal equilibrium and out of equilibrium. Specifically, we show how to determine the covariance matrix corresponding to the Fermionic Gaussian state that optimally approximates the quantum state of the fermions. The methods apply to relatively large systems, since their complexity only scales quadratically with the number of lattice sites. Moreover, they are specially suited to describe inhomogenous systems, as those typically found in recent experiments with atoms in optical lattices, at least in the weak interaction regime. As a benchmark, we have applied them to the two-dimensional Hubbard model on a 10x10 lattice with and without an external confinement.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2010

Fermionic Projected Entangled Pair States

We introduce a family of states, the fPEPS, which describes fermionic systems on lattices in arbitrary spatial dimensions. It constitutes the natural extension of another family of states, the PEPS, which efficiently approximate ground and thermal states of spin systems with short-range interactions. We give an explicit mapping between those families, which allows us to extend previous simulation methods to fermionic systems. We also show that fPEPS naturally arise as exact ground states of certain fermionic Hamiltonians. We give an example of such a Hamiltonian, exhibiting criticality while obeying an area law.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2008

Pairing in fermionic systems: A quantum information perspective

The notion of "paired" fermions is central to important condensed matter phenomena such as superconductivity and superfluidity. While the concept is widely used and its physical meaning is clear there exists no systematic and mathematical theory of pairing which would allow to unambiguously characterize and systematically detect paired states. We propose a definition of pairing and develop methods for its detection and quantification applicable to current experimental setups. Pairing is shown to be a quantum correlation different from entanglement, giving further understanding in the structure of highly correlated quantum systems. In addition, we will show the resource character of paired states for precision metrology, proving that the BCS states allow phase measurements at the Heisenberg limit.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2006

Quantum simulations under translational symmetry

We investigate the power of quantum systems for the simulation of Hamiltonian time evolutions on a cubic lattice under the constraint of translational invariance. Given a set of translationally invariant local Hamiltonians and short range interactions we determine time evolutions which can and those that can not be simulated. Whereas for general spin systems no finite universal set of generating interactions is shown to exist, universality turns out to be generic for quadratic bosonic and fermionic nearest-neighbor interactions when supplemented by all translationally invariant on-site Hamiltonians.

quant-ph↗