arXiv subjects

Petr A. Braun

Publications and source records attributed to Petr A. Braun.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2010

Quantifying Quantumness and the Quest for Queens of Quantum

We introduce a measure of ''quantumness'' for any quantum state in a finite dimensional Hilbert space, based on the distance between the state and the convex set of classical states. The latter are defined as states that can be written as a convex sum of projectors onto coherent states. We derive general properties of this measure of non-classicality, and use it to identify for a given dimension of Hilbert space what are the "Queen of Quantum" states, i.e. the most non-classical quantum states. In three dimensions we obtain the Queen of Quantum state analytically and show that it is unique up to rotations. In up to 11-dimensional Hilbert spaces, we find the Queen of Quantum states numerically, and show that in terms of their Majorana representation they are highly symmetric bodies, which for dimensions 5 and 7 correspond to Platonic bodies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2001

Resonances of the Frobenius-Perron Operator for a Hamiltonian Map with a Mixed Phase Space

Resonances of the (Frobenius-Perron) evolution operator P for phase-space densities have recently attracted considerable attention, in the context of interrelations between classical and quantum dynamics. We determine these resonances as well as eigenvalues of P for Hamiltonian systems with a mixed phase space, by truncating P to finite size in a Hilbert space of phase-space functions and then diagonalizing. The corresponding eigenfunctions are localized on unstable manifolds of hyperbolic periodic orbits for resonances and on islands of regular motion for eigenvalues. Using information drawn from the eigenfunctions we reproduce the resonances found by diagonalization through a variant of the cycle expansion of periodic-orbit theory and as rates of correlation decay.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv1999

Slow Decoherence of Superpositions of Macroscopically Distinct States

Linear superpositions of macroscopically distinct quantum states (sometimes also called Schrödinger cat states) are usually almost immediately reduced to a statistical mixture if exposed to the dephasing influence of a dissipative environment. Couplings to the environment with a certain symmetry can lead to slow decoherence, however. We give specific examples of slowly decohering Schrödinger cat states in a realistic quantum optical system and discuss how they might be constructed experimentally.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1999

Long-lived Quantum Coherence between Macroscopically Distinct States in Superradiance

The dephasing influence of a dissipative environment reduces linear superpositions of macroscopically distinct quantum states (sometimes also called Schrödinger cat states) usually almost immediately to a statistical mixture. This process is called decoherence. Couplings to the environment with a certain symmetry can lead to slow decoherence. In this Letter we show that the collective coupling of a large number of two-level atoms to an electromagnetic field mode in a cavity that leads to the phenomena of superradiance has such a symmetry, at least approximately. We construct superpositions of macroscopically distinct quantum states decohering only on a classical time scale and propose an experiment in which the extraordinarily slow decoherence should be observable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv1999

Semiclassics for a Dissipative Quantum Map

We present a semiclassical analysis for a dissipative quantum map with an area-nonpreserving classical limit. We show that in the limit of Planck's constant to 0 the trace of an arbitrary natural power of the propagator is dominated by contributions from periodic orbits of the corresponding classical dissipative motion. We derive trace formulae of the Gutzwiller type for such quantum maps. In comparison to Tabor's formula for area-preserving maps, both classical action and stability prefactor are modified by the dissipation. We evaluate the traces explicitly in the case of a dissipative kicked top with integrable classical motion and find good agreement with numerical results.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

WKB for a damped spin

The master equation for a damped spin well known from the theory of superradiance, is written as a finite-difference equation and solved by a WKB-like method. The propagator thus obtained looks like the van Vleck propagator of a certain classical Hamiltonian system with one degree of freedom. A new interpretation is provided of the temporal broadening of initially sharp probability distributions as the analogue of the spreading of the quantum mechanical wave packet.

chao-dyn↗

arXiv1998

Semiclassical spin damping: Superradiance revisited

A well known description of superradiance from pointlike collections of many atoms involves the dissipative motion of a large spin. The pertinent ``superradiance master equation'' allows for a formally exact solution which we subject to a semiclassical evaluation. The clue is a saddle-point approximation for an inverse Laplace transform. All previous approximate treatments, disparate as they may appear, are encompassed in our systematic formulation. A byproduct is a hitherto unknown rigorous relation between coherences and probabilities. Our results allow for generalizations to spin dynamics with chaos in the classical limit.

physics.optics↗