arXiv subjects

Roberta Zambrini

Publications and source records attributed to Roberta Zambrini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

On the spectral origin of non-Markovianity: an exact finite model

Non-homogeneous chain environments (e.g. segmented ion traps) are investigated through an exact diagonalization approach. Different spectral densities, including band-gaps, can be engineered to separately assess memory effects. Environment non-Markovianity is quantified with recently introduced measures of information flow-back and non-divisibility of the system dynamical map. By sweeping the bath spectrum via tuning of the system frequency we show strongest memory effect at band-gap edges and provide an interpretation based on energy flow between system and environment. A system weakly coupled to a stiff chain ensures a Markovian dynamics, while the size of the environment as well as the local density of modes are not substantial factors. We show an opposite effect when increasing the temperature inside or outside the spectral band-gap. Further, non-Markovianity arises for larger (negative and positive) powers of algebraic spectral densities, being the Ohmic case not always the most Markovian one.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Avoiding dissipation in a system of three quantum harmonic oscillators

We analyze the symmetries in an open quantum system composed by three coupled and detuned harmonic oscillators in the presence of a common heat bath. It is shown analytically how to engineer the couplings and frequencies of the system so as to have several degrees of freedom unaffected by decoherence, irrespective of the specific spectral density or initial state of the bath. This partial thermalization allows observing asymptotic entanglement at moderate temperatures, even in the nonresonant case. This latter feature cannot be seen in the simpler situation of only two oscillators, highlighting the richer structural variety of the three-body case. When departing from the strict conditions for partial thermalization, a hierarchical structure of dissipation rates for the normal modes is observed, leading to a long transient where quantum correlations such as the quantum discord are largely preserved, as well as to synchronous dynamics of the oscillators quadratures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Synchronization, quantum correlations and entanglement in oscillator networks

Synchronization is one of the paradigmatic phenomena in the study of complex systems. It has been explored theoretically and experimentally mostly to understand natural phenomena, but also in view of technological applications. Although several mechanisms and conditions for synchronous behavior in spatially extended systems and networks have been identified, the emergence of this phenomenon has been largely unexplored in quantum systems until very recently. Here we discuss synchronization in quantum networks of different harmonic oscillators relaxing towards a stationary state, being essential the form of dissipation. By local tuning of one of the oscillators, we establish the conditions for synchronous dynamics, in the whole network or in a motif. Beyond the classical regime we show that synchronization between (even unlinked) nodes witnesses the presence of quantum correlations and entanglement. Furthermore, synchronization and entanglement can be induced between two different oscillators if properly linked to a random network.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Quantum correlations and mutual synchronization

We consider the phenomenon of mutual synchronization in a fundamental quantum system of two detuned quantum harmonic oscillators dissipating into the environment. We identify the conditions leading to this spontaneous phenomenon showing that the ability of the system to synchronize is related to the existence of disparate decay rates and is accompanied by robust quantum discord and mutual information between the oscillators, preventing the leak of information from the system.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Unified view of correlations using the square norm distance

The distance between a quantum state and its closest state not having a certain property has been used to quantify the amount of correlations corresponding to that property. This approach allows a unified view of the various kinds of correlations present in a quantum system. In particular, using relative entropy as a distance measure, total correlations can be meaningfully separated in a quantum and a classical part thanks to an additive relation involving only distances between states. Here, we investigate a unified view of correlations using as distance measure the square norm, already used to define the so-called geometric quantum discord. We thus consider geometric quantifiers also for total and classical correlations finding, for a quite general class of bipartite states, their explicit expressions. We analyze the relationship among geometric total, quantum and classical correlations and we find that they do not satisfy anymore a closed additivity relation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Orthogonal measurements are {\it almost} sufficient for quantum discord of two qubits

The common use in literature of orthogonal measurements in obtaining quantum discord for two-qubit states is discussed and compared with more general measurements. We prove the optimality of orthogonal measurements for rank 2 states. While for rank 3 and 4 mixed states they are not optimal, we present strong numerical evidence showing that they give the correct quantum discord up to minimal corrections. Based on the connection, through purification with an ancilla, between discord and entanglement of formation (EoF), we give a tight upper bound for the EoF of a $2\otimes N$ mixed state of rank 2, given by an optimal decomposition of 2 elements. We also provide an alternative way to compute the quantum discord for two qubits based on the Bloch vectors of the state.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Genuine quantum and classical correlations in multipartite systems

Generalizing the quantifiers used to classify correlations in bipartite systems, we define genuine total, quantum, and classical correlations in multipartite systems. The measure we give is based on the use of relative entropy to quantify the "distance" between two density matrices. Moreover, we show that, for pure states of three qubits, both quantum and classical bipartite correlations obey a ladder ordering law fixed by two-body mutual informations, or, equivalently, by one-qubit entropies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Robustness of different indicators of quantumness in the presence of dissipation

The dynamics of a pair of coupled harmonic oscillators in separate or common thermal environments is studied, focusing on different indicators of quantumness, such as entanglement, twin oscillators correlations and quantum discord. We compare their decay under the effect of dissipation and show, through a phase diagram, that entanglement is more likely to survive asymptotically than twin oscillators correlations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Maximally discordant mixed states of two qubits

We study the relative strength of classical and quantum correlations, as measured by discord, for two-qubit states. Quantum correlations appear only in the presence of classical correlations, while the reverse is not always true. We identify the family of states that maximize the discord for a given value of the classical correlations and show that the largest attainable discord for mixed states is greater than for pure states. The difference between discord and entanglement is emphasized by the remarkable fact that these states do not maximize entanglement and are, in some cases, even separable. Finally, by random generation of density matrices uniformly distributed over the whole Hilbert space, we quantify the frequency of the appearance of quantum and classical correlations for different ranks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Spatial entanglement in optical parametric oscillators with photonic crystals

The effects of an intracavity photonic crystal in a multimode optical parametric oscillator are studied, with a special focus on quantum fluctuations. The capability to either stimulate or inhibit the spatial instability, lowering or increasing the parametric threshold, allows to control the intensity fluctuations and correlations. A significative quantum noise reduction and an increase of the range of squeezed quadratures are found above threshold where spatial Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement and inseparability are found.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Nonlocal feedback in nonlinear systems

A shifted or misaligned feedback loop gives rise to a two-point nonlocality that is the spatial analog of a temporal delay. Important consequences of this nonlocal coupling have been found both in diffusive and in diffractive systems, and include convective instabilities, independent tuning of phase and group velocities, as well as amplification, chirping and even splitting of localized perturbations. Analytical predictions about these nonlocal systems as well as their spatio-temporal dynamics are discussed in one and two transverse dimensions and in presence of noise.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2010

Entanglement dynamics in presence of diversity under decohering environments

We study the evolution of entanglement of a pair of coupled, non-resonant harmonic oscillators in contact with an environment. For both the cases of a common bath and of two separate baths for each of the oscillators, a full master equation is provided without rotating wave approximation. This allows us to characterize the entanglement dynamics as a function of the diversity between the oscillators frequencies and their mutual coupling. Also the correlation between the occupation numbers is considered to explore the degree of quantumness of the system. The singular effect of the resonance condition (identical oscillators) and its relationship with the possibility of preserving asymptotic entanglement are discussed. The importance of the bath's memory properties is investigated by comparing Markovian and non-Markovian evolutions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Measuring the Complete Transverse Spatial Mode Spectrum of a Wave Field

We put forward a method that allows the experimental determination of the entire spatial mode spectrum of any arbitrary monochromatic wave field in a plane normal to its propagation direction. For coherent optical fields, our spatial spectrum analyzer can be implemented with a small number of benchmark refractive elements embedded in a single Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We detail an efficient setup for measuring in the Hermite-Gaussian mode basis. Our scheme should also be feasible in the context of atom optics for analyzing the spatial profiles of macroscopic matter waves.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Signal amplification and control in optical cavities with off-axis feedback

We consider a large class of optical cavities and gain media with an off-axis external feedback which introduces a two-point nonlocality. This nonlocality moves the lasing threshold and opens large windows of control parameters where weak light spots can be strongly amplified while the background radiation remains very low. Furthermore, transverse phase and group velocities of a signal can be independently tuned and this enables to steer it non mechanically, to control its spatial chirping and to split it into two counter-propagating ones.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Angular minimum uncertainty states with large uncertainties

The uncertainty relation for angle and angular momentum has a lower bound which depends on the form of the state. Surprisingly, this lower bound can be very large. We derive the states which have the lowest possible uncertainty product for a given uncertainty in the angle or in the angular momentum. We show that, if the given angle uncertainty is close to its maximum value, the lowest possible uncertainty product tends to infinity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Large-uncertainty intelligent states for angular momentum and angle

The equality in the uncertainty principle for linear momentum and position is obtained for states which also minimize the uncertainty product. However, in the uncertainty relation for angular momentum and angular position both sides of the inequality are state dependent and therefore the intelligent states, which satisfy the equality, do not necessarily give a minimum for the uncertainty product. In this paper, we highlight the difference between intelligent states and minimum uncertainty states by investigating a class of intelligent states which obey the equality in the angular uncertainty relation while having an arbitrarily large uncertainty product. To develop an understanding for the uncertainties of angle and angular momentum for the large-uncertainty intelligent states we compare exact solutions with analytical approximations in two limiting cases.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Convective instability induced by nonlocality in nonlinear diffusive systems

We consider a large class of nonlinear diffusive systems with nonlocal coupling. By using a non-perturbative analytical approach we are able to determine the convective and absolute instabilities of all the uniform states of these systems. We find a huge window of convective instability that should provide a great opportunity to study experimentally and theoretically noise sustained patterns.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2005

Resolution in rotation measurements

The limiting resolution in optical interferometry is set by the number of photons used, with the functional dependence determined by the state of light that is prepared. We consider the problem of measuring the rotation of a beam of light about an optical axis and show how the limiting resolution depends on the total number of quanta of orbital angular momentum carried by the light beam.

quant-ph↗