arXiv subjects

Hoi-Kwong Lo

Publications and source records attributed to Hoi-Kwong Lo.

156 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

Wavefunctions for Non-Abelian Vortices

We construct exact wavefunctions of two vortices on a plane, a single vortex on the cylinder and a vortex on the torus. In each case, the physics is shown to be equivalent to a particle moving in a covering space, something simple to solve in those examples. We describe how our solutions fit into the general theory of quantum mechanics of $N$ particles on a two-dimensional space and attribute our success to the fact that the fundamental groups are Abelian in those simple cases that we are considering.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Why quantum bit commitment and ideal quantum coin tossing are impossible

There had been well known claims of ``provably unbreakable'' quantum protocols for bit commitment and coin tossing. However, we, and independently Mayers, showed that all proposed quantum bit commitment (and therefore coin tossing) schemes are, in principle, insecure because the sender, Alice, can always cheat successfully by using an EPR-type of attack and delaying her measurements. One might wonder if secure quantum bit commitment and coin tossing protocols exist at all. Here we prove that an EPR-type of attack by Alice will, in principle, break {\em any} realistic quantum bit commitment and {\em ideal} coin tossing scheme. Therefore, provided that Alice has a quantum computer and is capable of storing quantum signals for an arbitrary length of time, all those schemes are insecure. Since bit commitment and coin tossing are useful primitives for building up more sophisticated protocols such as zero-knowledge proofs, our results cast very serious doubt on the security of quantum cryptography in the so-called ``post-cold-war'' applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1995

Quantum Cryptography in Noisy Channels

We provide a complete proof of the security of quantum cryptography against any eavesdropping attack including coherent measurements even in the presence of noise. Polarization-based cryptographic schemes are shown to be equivalent to EPR-based schemes. We also show that the performance of a noisy channel approaches that of a noiseless one as the error rate tends to zero. (i.e., the secrecy capacity $C_s (ε) \to C_s (0)$ as $ε\to 0$.) One implication of our results is that one can {\it double} the efficiency of a most well-known quantum cryptographic scheme proposed by Bennett and Brassard simply by assigning vastly different probabilities to the two conjugate bases.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1995

Elusive Order Parameters for Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

In this Letter, we construct a set of order parameters for non-Abelian gauge theories which probe directly the unbroken group and are free of the deficiencies caused by quantum fluctuations and gauge fixing which have plagued all previous attempts. These operators can be used to map out the phase diagram of a non-Abelian gauge theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Aharonov-Bohm Order Parameters for Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

The Aharonov-Bohm effect has been invoked to probe the phase structure of a gauge theory. Yet in the case of non-Abelian gauge theories, it proves difficult to formulate a general procedure that unambiguously specifies the realization of the gauge symmetry, e.g. the unbroken subgroup. In this paper, we propose a set of order parameters that will do the job. We articulate the fact that any useful Aharonov-Bohm experiment necessarily proceeds in two stages: calibration and measurement. World sheets of virtual cosmic string loops can wrap around test charges, thus changing their states relative to other charges in the universe. Consequently, repeated flux measurements with test charges will not necessarily agree. This was the main stumbling block to previous attempts to construct order parameters for non-Abelian gauge theories. In those works, the particles that one uses for calibration and subsequent measurement are stored in {\em separate} ``boxes''. By storing all test particles in the {\em same} ``box'', we show how quantum fluctuations can be overcome. The importance of gauge fixing is also emphasized.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Quantum Coding Theorem for Mixed States

We prove a theorem for coding mixed-state quantum signals. For a class of coding schemes, the von Neumann entropy $S$ of the density operator describing an ensemble of mixed quantum signal states is shown to be equal to the number of spin-$1/2$ systems necessary to represent the signal faithfully. This generalizes previous works on coding pure quantum signal states and is analogous to the Shannon's noiseless coding theorem of classical information theory. We also discuss an example of a more general class of coding schemes which {\em beat} the limit set by our theorem.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1994

Order Parameters for Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

Owing to subtle issues concerning quantum fluctuations and gauge fixing, a formulation of a general procedure to specify the realization of non-Abelian gauge symmetry has evaded all earlier attempts. In this Letter, we discuss these subtleties and present two sets of order parameters for non-Abelian gauge theories. Such operators directly probe the manifest low energy symmetry group and are crucial for the study of the phase diagram of a non-Abelian gauge theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv1994

Is baryon number violated when electroweak strings intercommute?

We reexamine the self-helicity and the intercommutation of electroweak strings. A plausible argument for baryon number conservation when electroweak strings intercommute is presented. The connection between a segment of electroweak strings and a sphaleron is also discussed.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1993

Complementarity in Wormhole Chromodynamics

The electric charge of a wormhole mouth and the magnetic flux ``linked'' by the wormhole are non-commuting observables, and so cannot be simultaneously diagonalized. We use this observation to resolve some puzzles in wormhole electrodynamics and chromodynamics. Specifically, we analyze the color electric field that results when a colored object traverses a wormhole, and we discuss the measurement of the wormhole charge and flux using Aharonov-Bohm interference effects. We suggest that wormhole mouths may obey conventional quantum statistics, contrary to a recent proposal by Strominger.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Exact Wavefunctions for non-Abelian Chern-Simons Particles

Exact wavefunctions for N non-Abelian Chern-Simons (NACS) particles are obtained by the ladder operator approach. The same method has previously been applied to construct exact wavefunctions for multi-anyon systems. The two distinct base states of the NACS particles that we use are multi-valued and are defined in terms of path ordered line integrals. Only strings of operators that preserve the monodromy properties of these base states are allowed to act on them to generate new states.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Non-abelian vortices and non-abelian statistics

We study the interactions of non-abelian vortices in two spatial dimensions. These interactions have novel features, because the Aharonov-Bohm effect enables a pair of vortices to exchange quantum numbers. The cross section for vortex-vortex scattering is typically a multi-valued function of the scattering angle. There can be an exchange contribution to the vortex-vortex scattering amplitude that adds coherently with the direct amplitude, even if the two vortices have distinct quantum numbers. Thus two vortices can be ``indistinguishable'' even though they are not the same.

hep-th↗

arXiv1991

Topological Approach to Alice Electrodynamics

We analyze the unlocalized ``Cheshire charge'' carried by ``Alice strings.'' The magnetic charge on a string loop is carefully defined, and the transfer of magnetic charge from a monopole to a string loop is analyzed using global topological methods. A semiclassical theory of electric charge transfer is also described.

hep-th↗