arXiv subjects

Matias Bundgaard-Nielsen

Publications and source records attributed to Matias Bundgaard-Nielsen.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Beyond the Quantum Regression Theorem in Variational Polaron Master Equations: from Ohmic to Super-Ohmic Environments

While the quantum regression theorem (QRT) is the standard tool for computing multi-time correlation functions in open quantum systems, it relies on system-bath separability and an environment that remains in equilibrium, assumptions that are violated once dynamical correlations develop. Using the projection operator formalism, we derive an extension to the QRT that explicitly incorporates these correlation-induced corrections, enabling us to capture multi-time correlation functions in non-Markovian regimes. We apply this framework to the variational polaron master equation for the spin-boson model in ohmic and super-ohmic regimes, where the polaron transformation mixes system-bath degrees of freedom to produce a non-thermal effective environment. Benchmarking against numerically exact tensor-network simulations, we demonstrate quantitative agreement for single- and two-time observables, including linear-response spectra, even at strong coupling. Our approach broadens the reach of analytic master equations to multi-time observables in strong-coupling and non-Markovian regimes, where environmental memory effects and system-bath correlations are crucial.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Decoherence in Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics using Matrix Product States

We present a matrix product state (MPS) method for including decoherence processes in calculations involving waveguide quantum electrodynamics (waveguide QED) using density matrices. The approach is based on collision quantum optics, where the many-body state of the waveguide is represented using discrete time bins, which are then efficiently encoded using an MPS chain. Our method is a generalization of previous MPS methods, and we demonstrate how one can efficiently extend the method to density matrices, allowing for the inclusion of various loss processes in the form of Lindblad terms in the Liouvillian superoperator responsible for the relevant dissipation dynamics. As an application of the theory, we study various waveguide QED systems and the influence of emitter pure dephasing (which is one of the most important processes in real systems) on the light-matter interactions, including a two-level system (TLS) in a semi-infinite waveguide with time-delayed feedback, two spatially separated TLSs with finite delays, and finally the scattering of few-photon Fock pulses on a TLS. In addition to emitter pure dephasing, we also show how to include off-chip radiative decay, and show how it differs qualitatively from pure dephasing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Recirculating Quantum Photonic Networks for Fast Deterministic Quantum Information Processing

A fundamental challenge in photonics-based deterministic quantum information processing is to realize key transformations on time scales shorter than those of detrimental decoherence and loss mechanisms. This challenge has been addressed through device-focused approaches that aim to increase nonlinear interactions relative to decoherence rates. In this work, we adopt a complementary architecture-focused approach by proposing a recirculating quantum photonic network (RQPN) that minimizes the duration of quantum information processing tasks, thereby reducing the requirements on nonlinear interaction rates. The RQPN consists of a network of all-to-all connected nonlinear cavities with dynamically controlled waveguide couplings, and it processes information by capturing a photonic input state, recirculating photons between the cavities, and releasing a photonic output state. We demonstrate the RQPN's architectural advantage through two examples: first, we show that processing all qubits simultaneously yields faster operations than single- and two-qubit decompositions of the three-qubit Toffoli gate. Second, we demonstrate implementations of a measurement-free correction for single-photon loss, achieving up to seven-fold speedups and significantly improved hardware efficiency relative to state-of-the-art architecture proposals. Our work shows that a single hardware-efficient recirculating architecture substantially reduces the temporal overhead of multi-qubit gates and quantum error correction, thereby lowering the barrier to experimental realizations of deterministic photonic quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Modeling Quantum Noise in Nanolasers using Markov Chains

The random nature of spontaneous emission leads to unavoidable fluctuations in a laser's output. This is often included through random Langevin forces in laser rate equations, but this approach falls short for nanolasers. In this paper, we show that the laser quantum noise can be quantitatively computed for a very broad class of lasers by starting from simple and intuitive rate equations and merely assuming that the number of photons and excited electrons only takes discrete values. While the approach has seen previous success, we here derive it rigorously from an open quantum system master equation, whereas it was previously introduced only on phenomenological grounds. We further show that in the many-photon limit, the model simplifies to Langevin equations. We perform an extensive comparison of different approaches for computing quantum noise in lasers, identifying the best approach for different system sizes, ranging from nanolasers to macroscopic lasers, and different levels of excitation, i.e., cavity photon number. In particular, we show that below the laser threshold, stochastic fluctuations in the numerical solution to the Langevin equations can drive populations to unphysical negative values, requiring the introduction of population bounds, which in turn skew the noise statistics, leading to inaccuracies. The Laser Markov Chain model, on the other hand, is accurate for all pump values and laser sizes when collective emitter effects are excluded.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Simple yet Accurate Stochastic Approach to the Quantum Phase Noise of Nanolasers

Nanolasers operating at low power levels are strongly affected by intrinsic quantum noise, influencing both intensity fluctuations and laser coherence. Starting from semiclassical rate equations and making a simple hypothesis for the phase of the laser field, a simple stochastic model for the laser quantum noise is suggested. The model is shown to agree quantitatively with quantum master equations for microscopic lasers with a small number of emitters and with classical Langevin equations for macroscopic systems. In contrast, neither quantum master equations nor classical Langevin equations adequately address the mesoscopic regime. The stochastic approach is used to calculate the linewidth throughout the transition to lasing, where the linewidth changes from being dominated by the particlelike nature of photons below threshold to the wavelike nature above threshold, where it is strongly influenced by index fluctuations enhancing the linewidth.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

WaveguideQED.jl: An Efficient Framework for Simulating Non-Markovian Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics

In this paper, we introduce a numerical framework designed to solve problems within the emerging field of Waveguide Quantum Electrodynamics (WQED). The framework is based on collision quantum optics, where a localized quantum system interacts sequentially with individual time-bin modes. This approach provides a physically intuitive model that allows researchers familiar with tools such as QuTiP in Python, Quantum Optics Toolbox for Matlab, or QuantumOptics.jl in Julia to efficiently set up and execute WQED simulations. Despite its conceptual simplicity, we demonstrate the framework's robust ability to handle complex WQED scenarios. These applications include the scattering of single- or two-photon pulses by quantum emitters or cavities, as well as the exploration of non-Markovian dynamics, where emitted photons are reflected back, thereby introducing feedback mechanisms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

One-dimensional photonic wire as a single-photon source: Implications of cavity QED to a phonon bath of reduced dimensionality

While the semiconductor quantum dot placed in a solid-state material allows for deterministic emission of single photons, the photon indistinguishability is strongly influenced by the intrinsic coupling to lattice vibrations, phonons, of the solid-state environment. This work investigates the phonon-induced decoherence for a quantum dot placed in the one-dimensional system of a homogeneous cylindrical nanowire. Such a structure supports multiple longitudinal phonon branches, and we consider both a linear and a quadratic coupling of the emitter to these modes. Under a polaron approach, we initially derive an analytical expression for the 1D pure dephasing rate, which leads to a reduced pure dephasing rate compared with bulk. By implementing these results into a full cavity quantum electrodynamic model, we demonstrate that multimode coupling is necessary to correctly predict the indistinguishability in a 1D system, which may otherwise be significantly underestimated.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

A stochastic approach to the quantum noise of a single-emitter nanolaser

It is shown that the intensity quantum noise of a single-emitter nanolaser can be accurately computed by adopting a stochastic interpretation of the standard rate equation model under the only assumption that the emitter excitation and photon number are stochastic variables with integer values. This extends the validity of rate equations beyond the mean-field limit and avoids using the standard Langevin approach, which is shown to fail for few emitters. The model is validated by comparison to full quantum simulations of the relative intensity noise and second-order intensity correlation function, g(2)(τ ). Surprisingly, even when the full quantum model displays vacuum Rabi oscillations, which are not accounted for by rate equations, the intensity quantum noise is correctly predicted by the stochastic approach. Adopting a simple discretization of the emitter and photon populations, thus, goes a long way in describing quantum noise in lasers. Besides providing a versatile and easy-to-use tool for modeling a new generation of nanolasers with many possible applications, these results provide insight into the fundamental nature of quantum noise in lasers.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Non-Markovian perturbation theories for phonon effects in strong-coupling cavity quantum electrodynamics

Phonon interactions are inevitable in cavity quantum electrodynamical systems based on solid-state emitters or fluorescent molecules, where vibrations of the lattice or chemical bonds couple to the electronic degrees of freedom. Due to the non-Markovian response of the vibrational environment, it remains a significant theoretical challenge to describe such effects in a computationally efficient manner. This is particularly pronounced when the emitter-cavity coupling is comparable to or larger than the typical phonon energy range, and polariton formation coincides with vibrational dressing of the optical transitions. In this Article, we consider four non-Markovian perturbative master equation approaches to describe such dynamics over a broad range of light-matter coupling strengths and compare them to numerically exact reference calculations using a tensor network. The master equations are derived using different basis transformations and a perturbative expansion in the new basis is subsequently introduced and analyzed. We find that two approaches are particularly successful and robust. The first of these is suggested and developed in this Article and is based on a vibrational dressing of the exciton-cavity polaritons. This enables the description of distinct phonon-polariton sidebands that appear when the polariton splitting exceeds the typical phonon frequency scale in the environment. The second approach is based on a variationally optimized polaronic vibrational dressing of the electronic state. Both of these approaches demonstrate good qualitative and quantitative agreement with reference calculations of the emission spectrum and are numerically robust, even at elevated temperatures, where the thermal phonon population is significant.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Electron-phonon decoupling due to strong light-matter interactions

Phonon interactions in solid-state photonics systems cause intrinsic quantum decoherence and often present the limiting factor in emerging quantum technology. Due to recent developments in nanophotonics, exciton-cavity structures with very strong light-matter coupling rates can be fabricated. We show that in such structures, a new regime emerges, where the decoherence is completely suppressed due to decoupling of the dominant phonon process. Using a numerically exact tensor network approach, we perform calculations in this non-perturbative, non-Markovian dynamical regime. Here, we identify a strategy for reaching near-unity photon indistinguishability and also discover an interesting phonon-dressing of the exciton-cavity polaritons in the high-Q regime, leading to multiple phonon sidebands when the light-matter interaction is sufficiently strong.

quant-ph↗