arXiv subjects

Paul M. Alsing

Publications and source records attributed to Paul M. Alsing.

118 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

The Dirac equation in Rindler space: A pedagogical introduction

A pedagogical introduction to the Dirac equation for massive particles in Rindler space is presented. The spin connection coefficients are explicitly derived using techniques from general relativity. We then apply the Lagrange-Green identity to greatly simplify calculation of the inner products needed to normalize the states. Finally, the Bogolubov coefficients relating the Rindler and Minkowski modes are derived in an intuitive manner. These derivations are useful for students interested in learning about quantum field theory in a curved space-time.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Entanglement vs. the quantum-to-classical transition

We analyze the quantum-to-classical transition (QCT) for coupled bipartite quantum systems for which the position of one of the two subsystems is continuously monitored. We obtain the surprising result that the QCT can emerge concomitantly with the presence of highly entangled states in the bipartite system. Furthermore the changing degree of entanglement is associated with the back-action of the measurement on the system and is itself an indicator of the QCT. Our analysis elucidates the role of entanglement in von Neumann's paradigm of quantum measurements comprised of a system and a monitored measurement apparatus.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Simplified derivation of the Hawking-Unruh temperature for an accelerated observer in vacuum

A detector undergoing uniform acceleration $a$ in a vacuum field responds just as though it were immersed in thermal radiation of temperature $T=\hbar a/2πk c$. A simple, intuitive derivation of this result is given for the case of a scalar field in one spatial dimension. The approach is then extended to treat the case where the field seen by the accelerated observer is a spin-1/2 Dirac field.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Teleportation in a non-inertial frame

In this work, we describe the process of teleportation between Alice in an inertial frame, and Rob who is in uniform acceleration with respect to Alice. The fidelity of the teleportation is reduced due to Davies-Unruh radiation in Rob's frame. In so far as teleportation is a measure of entanglement, our results suggest that quantum entanglement is degraded in non-inertial frames. We discuss this reduction in fidelity for both bosonic and fermionic resources.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Recovering classical dynamics from coupled quantum systems through continuous measurement

We study the role of continuous measurement in the quantum to classical transition for a system with coupled internal (spin) and external (motional) degrees of freedom. Even when the measured motional degree of freedom can be treated classically, entanglement between spin and motion causes strong measurement backaction on the quantum spin subsystem so that classical trajectories are not recovered in this mixed quantum-classical regime. The measurement can extract localized quantum trajectories that behave classically only when the internal action also becomes large relative to h-bar.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Teleportation with a uniformly accelerated partner

In this work, we give a description of the process of teleportation between Alice in an inertial frame, and Rob who is in uniform acceleration with respect to Alice. The fidelity of the teleportation is reduced due to Unruh radiation in Rob's frame. In so far as teleportation is a measure of entanglement, our results suggest that quantum entanglement is degraded in non inertial frames.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Quantum And Classical Dynamics Of Atoms In A Magneto-optical Lattice

The transport of ultra-cold atoms in magneto-optical potentials provides a clean setting in which to investigate the distinct predictions of classical versus quantum dynamics for a system with coupled degrees of freedom. In this system, entanglement at the quantum level and chaos at the classical level arise from the coupling between the atomic spin and its center-of- mass motion. Experiments, performed deep in the quantum regime, correspond to dynamic quantum tunneling. This nonclassical behavior is contrasted with the predictions for an initial phase space distribution produced in the experiment, but undergoing classical Hamiltonian flow. We study conditions under which the trapped atoms can be made to exhibit classical dynamics through the process of continuous measurement, which localizes the probability distribution to phase space trajectories, consistent with the uncertainty principle and quantum back-action noise. This method allows us to analytically and numerically identify the quantum-classical boundary.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Lorentz Invariance of Entanglement

We study the transformation of maximally entangled states under the action of Lorentz transformations in a fully relativistic setting. By explicit calculation of the Wigner rotation, we describe the relativistic analog of the Bell states as viewed from two inertial frames moving with constant velocity with respect to each other. Though the finite dimensional matrices describing the Lorentz transformations are non-unitary, each single particle state of the entangled pair undergoes an effective, momentum dependent, local unitary rotation, thereby preserving the entanglement fidelity of the bipartite state. The details of how these unitary transformations are manifested are explicitly worked out for the Bell states comprised of massive spin 1/2 particles and massless photon polarizations. The relevance of this work to non-inertial frames is briefly discussed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2001

Atomic motion in magneto-optical double-well potentials: A new testing ground for quantum chaos

We have identified ultra-cold atoms in magneto-optical double-well potentials as a very clean setting in which to study the quantum and classical dynamics of a nonlinear system with multiple degrees of freedom. In this system, entanglement at the quantum level and chaos at the classical level arise from nonseparable couplings between the atomic spin and its center of mass motion. The main features of the chaotic dynamics are analyzed using action-angle variables and Poincare surfaces of section. We show that for the initial state prepared in current experiments [D. J. Haycock et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3365 (2000)], the classical and quantum dynamics diverge, and the observed experimental dynamics are best described by quantum mechanics. Furthermore, the motion corresponds to tunneling through a dynamical potential barrier. The coupling between the spin and the motional subsystems, which are very different in nature from one another, leads to new questions regarding the transition from regular quantum dynamics to chaotic classical motion.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2000

Spatial Correlation Diagnostics for Atoms in Optical Lattices

We explore the use of first and second order same-time atomic spatial correlation functions as a diagnostic for probing the small scale spatial structure of atomic samples trapped in optical lattices. Assuming an ensemble of equivalent atoms, properties of the local wave function at a given lattice site can be measured using same-position first-order correlations. Statistics of atomic distributions over the lattice can be measured via two-point correlations, generally requiring the averaging of multiple realizations of statistically similar but distinct realizations in order to obtain sufficient signal to noise. Whereas two-point first order correlations are fragile due to phase fluctuations from shot-to-shot in the ensemble, second order correlations are robust. We perform numerical simulations to demonstrate these diagnostic tools.

quant-ph↗