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Guenter Mahler

Publications and source records attributed to Guenter Mahler.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2005

Control of Local Relaxation Behavior in Closed Bipartite Quantum Systems

We investigate the decoherence of a spin 1/2 subsystem weakly coupled to an environment of many spins 1/2 with and without mutual coupling. The total system is closed, its state is pure and evolves under Schroedinger dynamics. Nevertheless, the considered spin typically reaches a quasi-stationary equilibrium state. Here we show that this state depends strongly on the coupling to the environment on the one hand and on the coupling within the environmental spins on the other. In particular we focus on spin star and spin ring-star geometries to investigate the effect of intra-environmental coupling on the central spin. By changing the spectrum of the environment its effect as a bath on the central spin is changed also and may even be adjustable to some degree. We find that the relaxation behavior is related to the distribution of the energy eigenstates of the total system. For each of these relaxation modes there is a dual mode for which the resulting subsystem approaches an inverted state occupation probability (negative temperature).

quant-ph↗
arXiv2005

On Which Length Scales Can Temperature Exist in Quantum Systems?

We consider a regular chain of elementary quantum systems with nearest neighbor interactions and assume that the total system is in a canonical state with temperature $T$. We analyze under what condition the state factors into a product of canonical density matrices with respect to groups of $n$ subsystems each, and when these groups have the same temperature $T$. While in classical mechanics the validity of this procedure only depends on the size of the groups $n$, in quantum mechanics the minimum group size $n_{\text{min}}$ also depends on the temperature $T $! As examples, we apply our analysis to different types of Heisenberg spin chains.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2004

Existence of temperature on the nanoscale

We consider a regular chain of quantum particles with nearest neighbour interactions in a canonical state with temperature $T$. We analyse the conditions under which the state factors into a product of canonical density matrices with respect to groups of $n$ particles each and under which these groups have the same temperature $T$. In quantum mechanics the minimum group size $n_{min}$ depends on the temperature $T$, contrary to the classical case. We apply our analysis to a harmonic chain and find that $n_{min} = const.$ for temperatures above the Debye temperature and $n_{min} \propto T^{-3}$ below.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2001

Suppression of arbitrary internal coupling in a quantum register

For the implementation of a quantum computer it is necessary to exercise complete control over the Hamiltonian of the used physical system. For NMR quantum computing the effectively acting Hamiltonian can be manipulated via pulse sequences. Here we examine a register consisting of N selectively addressable spins with pairwise coupling between each spin pair. We show that complete decoupling of the spins is possible independent of the particular form of the spin-spin interaction. The proposed method based on orthogonal arrays is efficient in the sense that the effort regarding time and amount of pulses increases only polynomially with the size N of the register. However, the effect of external control errors in terms of inaccurate control pulses eventually limits the achievable precision.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2001

Delayed-choice measurement and temporal nonlocality

We study for a composite quantum system with a quantum Turing architecture the temporal non-locality of quantum mechanics by using the temporal Bell inequality, which will be derived for a discretized network dynamics by identifying the subsystem indices with (discrete) parameter time. However, the direct ``observation'' of the quantum system will lead to no violation of the temporal Bell inequality and to consistent histories of any subsystem. Its violation can be demonstrated, though, for a delayed-choice measurement.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2001

Adapted-operator representations: Selective versus collective properties of quantum networks

Based on local unitary operators acting on a n-dimensional Hilbert-space, we investigate selective and collective operator basis sets for N-particle quantum networks. Selective cluster operators are used to derive the properties of general cat-states for any n and N. Collective operators are conveniently used to account for permutation symmetry: The respective Hilbert-space dimension is then only polynomial in N and governed by strong selection rules. These selection rules can be exploited for the design of decoherence-free subspaces as well as for the implementation of efficient routes to entanglement if suspended switching between states of different symmetry classes could be realized.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2001

Quantum Approach to a Derivation of the Second Law of Thermodynamics

We re-interprete the microcanonical conditions in the quantum domain as constraints for the interaction of the "gas-subsystem" under consideration and its environment ("container"). The time-average of a purity-measure is found to equal the average over the respective path in Hilbert-space. We then show that for typical (degenerate or non-degenerate) thermodynamical systems almost all states within the allowed region of Hilbert-space have a local von Neumann-entropy S close to the maximum and a purity P close to its minimum, respectively. Typically thermodynamical systems should therefore obey the second law.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2000

Uncertainty rescued: Bohr's complementarity for composite systems

Generalized uncertainty relations may depend not only on the commutator relation of two observables considered, but also on mutual correlations, in particular, on entanglement. The equivalence between the uncertainty relation and Bohr's complementarity thus holds in a much broader sense than anticipated.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2000

Quantum network architecture of tight-binding models with substitution sequences

We study a two-spin quantum Turing architecture, in which discrete local rotations α_m of the Turing head spin alternate with quantum controlled NOT-operations. Substitution sequences are known to underlie aperiodic structures. We show that parameter inputs α_m described by such sequences can lead here to a quantum dynamics, intermediate between the regular and the chaotic variant. Exponential parameter sensitivity characterizing chaotic quantum Turing machines turns out to be an adequate criterion for induced quantum chaos in a quantum network.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Quantum chaos in small quantum networks

We study a 2-spin quantum Turing architecture, in which discrete local rotations α_m of the Turing head spin alternate with quantum controlled NOT-operations. We show that a single chaotic parameter input α_m leads to a chaotic dynamics in the entire Hilbert space. The instability of periodic orbits on the Turing head and `chaos swapping' onto the Turing tape are demonstrated explicitly as well as exponential parameter sensitivity of the Bures metric.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Quantum chaos in quantum Turing machines

We investigate a 2-spin quantum Turing architecture, in which discrete local rotations α_m of the Turing head spin alternate with quantum controlled NOT-operations. We demonstrate that a single chaotic parameter input α_m leads to a chaotic dynamics in the entire Hilbert-space.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Correlation between Correlations: Process and Time in Quantum Networks

We study a special inhomogeneous quantum network consisting of a ring of $M$ pseudo-spins (here $M = 4$) sequentially coupled to one and the same central spin under the influence of given pulse sequences (quantum gate operations). This architecture could be visualized as a quantum Turing machine with a cyclic ``tape''. Rather than input-output-relations we investigate the resulting process, i.e. the correlation between one- and two-point expectation values (``correlations'') over various time-steps. The resulting spatio-temporal pattern exhibits many non-classical features including Zeno-effects, violation of temporal Bell-inequalities, and quantum parallelism. Due to the strange web of correlations being built-up, specific measurement outcomes for the tape may refer to one or several preparation histories of the head. Specific families of correlation functions are more stable with respect to dissipation than the total wave-function.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Moving quantum agents in a finite environment

We investigate an all-quantum-mechanical spin network, in which a subset of spins, the $K$ ``moving agents'', are subject to local and pair unitary transformations controlled by their position with respect to a fixed ring of $M$ ``environmental''-spins. We demonstrate that a ``flow of coherence'' results between the various subsystems. Despite entanglement between the agents and between agent and environment, local (non-linear) invariants may persist, which then show up as fascinating patterns in each agent's Bloch-sphere. Such patterns disappear, though, if the agents are controlled by different rules. Geometric aspects thus help to understand the interplay between entanglement and decoherence.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1999

Pattern formation in quantum Turing machines

We investigate the iteration of a sequence of local and pair unitary transformations, which can be interpreted to result from a Turing-head (pseudo-spin $S$) rotating along a closed Turing-tape ($M$ additional pseudo-spins). The dynamical evolution of the Bloch-vector of $S$, which can be decomposed into $2^{M}$ primitive pure state Turing-head trajectories, gives rise to fascinating geometrical patterns reflecting the entanglement between head and tape. These machines thus provide intuitive examples for quantum parallelism and, at the same time, means for local testing of quantum network dynamics.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1998

Quantum control of atomic systems by time-resolved homodyne detection of spontaneous emission

We describe the light-matter interaction of a single two level atom with the electromagnetic vacuum in terms of field and dipole variables by considering homodyne detection of the emitted fields. Spontaneous emission is then observed as a continuous fluctuating force acting on the atomic dipole. The effect of this force may be compensated and even reversed by feedback.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1998

Quantum control of atomic systems by time resolved homodyne detection and feedback

We investigate the possibilities of preserving and manipulating the coherence of atomic two-level systems by ideal projective homodyne detection and feedback. For this purpose, the photon emission process is described on time scales much shorter than the lifetime of the excited state using a model based on Wigner-Weisskopf theory. The backaction of this emission process is analytically described as a quantum diffusion of the Bloch vector. It is shown that the evolution of the atomic wavefunction can be controlled completely using the results of homodyne detection. This allows the stabilization of a known quantum state or the creation of coherent states by a feedback mechanism. However, the feedback mechanism can never compensate the dissipative effects of quantum fluctuations even though the coherent state of the system is known at all times.

quant-ph↗
arXiv1998

Quantum control by compensation of quantum fluctuations

We show that the influence of quantum fluctuations in the electromagnetic field vacuum on a two level atom can be measured and consequently compensated by balanced homodyne detection and a coherent feedback field. This compensation suppresses the decoherence associated with spontaneous emission for a specific state of the atomic system allowing complete control of the coherent state of the system.

quant-ph↗