arXiv subjects

Seth Lloyd

Publications and source records attributed to Seth Lloyd.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Pure state quantum statistical mechanics and black holes

Chapter 3 of S. Lloyd's 1988 Ph.D. thesis, `Black Holes, Demons, and the Loss of Coherence: How complex systems get information and what they do with it,' supervisor Heinz Pagels. Reformulates statistical mechanics in terms of pure states and shows that (a) quantum statistics of typical pure states are very close to the mechanics of statistical mechanical ensembles; (b) if a system is in a typical state with energy E, then the reduced density matrix of a subsystem is very close to a thermal state. (A similar result was derived using Levy's lemma some years later by S. Popescu, A.J. Short, A.Winter, Nature Physics 2, 754-758 (2006).) Pure state quantum statistical mechanics is applied to black holesto show that for typical states of matter insideand outside a black hole, the external state is likely to be thermal. Proposes novel interpretation of probabilities in quantum statistical mechanics. Full thesis available at http://meche.mit.edu/documents/slloyd_thesis.pdf. This chapter was submitted for publication to Physical Review in 1988 but rejected by one sentence referee report: `There is no physics in this paper.' You be the judge.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Quantum enigma machines

Enigma machines are devices that perform cryptography using pseudo-random numbers. The original enigma machine code was broken by detecting hidden patterns in these pseudo-random numbers. This paper proposes a model for a quantum optical enigma machine and shows that the phenomenon of quantum data locking makes such quantum enigma machines provably secure even in the presence of noise and loss.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Marcus rate for electron transfer and the Goldilocks principle

We examine electron transfer between two quantum states in the presence of a dissipative environment represented as a set of independent harmonic oscillators. For this simple model, the Marcus transfer rates can be derived and we show that these rates are associated to an explicit expression for the environment correlation time. We demonstrate that as a manifestation of the Goldilocks principle, the optimal transfer is governed by a single parameter which is equal to just the inverse root square of two.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Quantum Cryptography Approaching the Classical Limit

We consider the security of continuous-variable quantum cryptography as we approach the classical-limit, i.e., when the unknown preparation noise at the sender's station becomes significantly noisy or thermal (even by as much as 10,000 times the variance of the vacuum mode). We show that, provided the channel transmission losses do not exceed 50%, the security of quantum cryptography is not dependent on the channel transmission, and is therefore, incredibly robust against significant amounts of excess preparation noise. We extend these results to consider for the first time quantum cryptography at wavelengths considerably longer than optical and find that regions of security still exist all the way down to the microwave.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

The universal path integral

Path integrals represent a powerful route to quantization: they calculate probabilities by summing over classical configurations of variables such as fields, assigning each configuration a phase equal to the action of that configuration. This paper defines a universal path integral, which sums over all computable structures. This path integral contains as sub-integrals all possible computable path integrals, including those of field theory, the standard model of elementary particles, discrete models of quantum gravity, string theory, etc. The universal path integral possesses a well-defined measure that guarantees its finiteness, together with a method for extracting probabilities for observable quantities. The universal path integral supports a quantum theory of the universe in which the world that we see around us arises out of the interference between all computable structures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Energy-scales convergence for optimal and robust quantum transport in photosynthetic complexes

Underlying physical principles for the high efficiency of excitation energy transfer in light-harvesting complexes are not fully understood. Notably, the degree of robustness of these systems for transporting energy is not known considering their realistic interactions with vibrational and radiative environments within the surrounding solvent and scaffold proteins. In this work, we employ an efficient technique to estimate energy transfer efficiency of such complex excitonic systems. We observe that the dynamics of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex leads to optimal and robust energy transport due to a convergence of energy scales among all important internal and external parameters. In particular, we show that the FMO energy transfer efficiency is optimum and stable with respect to the relevant parameters of environmental interactions and Frenkel-exciton Hamiltonian including reorganization energy $λ$, bath frequency cutoff $γ$, temperature $T$, bath spatial correlations, initial excitations, dissipation rate, trapping rate, disorders, and dipole moments orientations. We identify the ratio of $λT/γ\*g$ as a single key parameter governing quantum transport efficiency, where g is the average excitonic energy gap.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

The quantum geometric limit

In Einstein's gedankenexperiment for measuring space and time, an ensemble of clocks moving through curved spacetime measures geometry by sending signals back and forth, as in the global positioning system (GPS). Combining well-known quantum limits to measurement with the requirement that the energy density of clocks and signals be be no greater than the black hole density leads to the quantum geometric limit: the total number of ticks of clocks and clicks of detectors that can be contained in a four volume of spacetime of radius r and temporal extent t is less than or equal to rt/πl_P t_P, where l_P, t_P are the Planck length and time. The quantum geometric limit suggests that each event or `op' that takes place in a four-volume of spacetime is associated with a Planck-scale area. This paper shows that the quantum geometric limit can be used to derive general relativity: if each quantum event is associated with a Planck-scale area removed from two-dimensional surfaces in the volume in which the event takes place, then Einstein's equations must hold.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Electromagnetic channel capacity for practical purposes

We give analytic upper bounds to the channel capacity C for transmission of classical information in electromagnetic channels (bosonic channels with thermal noise). In the practically relevant regimes of high noise and low transmissivity, by comparison with know lower bounds on C, our inequalities determine the value of the capacity up to corrections which are irrelevant for all practical purposes. Examples of such channels are radio communication, infrared or visible-wavelength free space channels. We also provide bounds to active channels that include amplification.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Quantum limits to the measurement of spacetime geometry

This letter analyzes the limits that quantum mechanics imposes on the accuracy to which spacetime geometry can be measured. By applying the physics of computation to ensembles of clocks, as in GPS, we present a covariant version of the quantum geometric limit, which states that the total number of ticks of clocks and clicks of detectors that can be contained in a four volume of spacetime of radius r and temporal extent t is less than or equal to rt/pi x_P t_P, where x_P, t_P are the Planck length and time. The quantum geometric bound limits the number of events or `ops' that can take place in a four-volume of spacetime and is consistent with and complementary to the holographic bound which limits the number of bits that can exist within a three-volume of spacetime.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Quantum Data Fitting

We provide a new quantum algorithm that efficiently determines the quality of a least-squares fit over an exponentially large data set by building upon an algorithm for solving systems of linear equations efficiently (Harrow et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 103}, 150502 (2009)). In many cases, our algorithm can also efficiently find a concise function that approximates the data to be fitted and bound the approximation error. In cases where the input data is a pure quantum state, the algorithm can be used to provide an efficient parametric estimation of the quantum state and therefore can be applied as an alternative to full quantum state tomography given a fault tolerant quantum computer.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Capacities of linear quantum optical systems

A wide variety of communication channels employ the quantized electromagnetic field to convey information. Their communication capacity crucially depends on losses associated to spatial characteristics of the channel such as diffraction and antenna design. Here we focus on the communication via a finite pupil, showing that diffraction is formally described as a memory channel. By exploiting this equivalence we then compute the communication capacity of an optical refocusing system, modeled as a converging lens. Even though loss of information originates from the finite pupil of the lens, we show that the presence of the refocusing system can substantially enhance the communication capacity. We mainly concentrate on communication of classical information, the extension to quantum information being straightforward.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Explicit capacity-achieving receivers for optical communication and quantum reading

An important practical open question has been to design explicit, structured optical receivers that achieve the Holevo limit in the contexts of optical communication and "quantum reading." The Holevo limit is an achievable rate that is higher than the Shannon limit of any known optical receiver. We demonstrate how a sequential decoding approach can achieve the Holevo limit for both of these settings. A crucial part of our scheme for both settings is a non-destructive "vacuum-or-not" measurement that projects an n-symbol modulated codeword onto the n-fold vacuum state or its orthogonal complement, such that the post-measurement state is either the n-fold vacuum or has the vacuum removed from the support of the n symbols' joint quantum state. The sequential decoder for optical communication requires the additional ability to perform multimode optical phase-space displacements---realizable using a beamsplitter and a laser, while the sequential decoder for quantum reading also requires the ability to perform phase-shifting (realizable using a phase plate) and online squeezing (a phase-sensitive amplifier).

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Efficient estimation of energy transfer efficiency in light-harvesting complexes

The fundamental physical mechanisms of energy transfer in photosynthetic complexes is not yet fully understood. In particular, the degree of efficiency or sensitivity of these systems for energy transfer is not known given their non-perturbative and non-Markovian interactions with proteins backbone and surrounding photonic and phononic environments. One major problem in studying light-harvesting complexes has been the lack of an efficient method for simulation of their dynamics in biological environments. To this end, here we revisit the second-order time-convolution (TC2) master equation and examine its reliability beyond extreme Markovian and perturbative limits. In particular, we present a derivation of TC2 without making the usual weak system-bath coupling assumption. Using this equation, we explore the long time behaviour of exciton dynamics of Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) protein complex. Moreover, we introduce a constructive error analysis to estimate the accuracy of TC2 equation in calculating energy transfer efficiency, exhibiting reliable performance for environments with weak and intermediate memory and strength. Furthermore, we numerically show that energy transfer efficiency is optimal and robust for the FMO protein complex of green sulphur bacteria with respect to variations in reorganization energy and bath correlation time-scales.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

The quantum Goldilocks effect: on the convergence of timescales in quantum transport

Excitonic transport in photosynthesis exhibits a wide range of time scales. Absorption and initial relaxation takes place over tens of femtoseconds. Excitonic lifetimes are on the order of a nanosecond. Hopping rates, energy differences between chromophores, reorganization energies, and decoherence rates correspond to time scales on the order of picoseconds. The functional nature of the divergence of time scales is easily understood: strong coupling to the electromagnetic field over a broad band of frequencies yields rapid absorption, while long excitonic lifetimes increase the amount of energy that makes its way to the reaction center to be converted to chemical energy. The convergence of the remaining time scales to the centerpoint of the overall temporal range is harder to understand. In this paper we argue that the convergence of timescales in photosynthesis can be understood as an example of the `quantum Goldilocks effect': natural selection tends to drive quantum systems to the degree of quantum coherence that is `just right' for attaining maximum efficiency. We provide a general theory of optimal and robust, efficient transport in quantum systems, and show that it is governed by a single parameter.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Majorization theory approach to the Gaussian channel minimum entropy conjecture

A longstanding open problem in quantum information theory is to find the classical capacity of an optical communication link, modeled as a Gaussian bosonic channel. It has been conjectured that this capacity is achieved by a random coding of coherent states using an isotropic Gaussian distribution in phase space. We show that proving a Gaussian minimum entropy conjecture for a quantum-limited amplifier is actually sufficient to confirm this capacity conjecture, and we provide a strong argument towards this proof by exploiting a connection between quantum entanglement and majorization theory.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Gaussian Quantum Information

The science of quantum information has arisen over the last two decades centered on the manipulation of individual quanta of information, known as quantum bits or qubits. Quantum computers, quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation are among the most celebrated ideas that have emerged from this new field. It was realized later on that using continuous-variable quantum information carriers, instead of qubits, constitutes an extremely powerful alternative approach to quantum information processing. This review focuses on continuous-variable quantum information processes that rely on any combination of Gaussian states, Gaussian operations, and Gaussian measurements. Interestingly, such a restriction to the Gaussian realm comes with various benefits, since on the theoretical side, simple analytical tools are available and, on the experimental side, optical components effecting Gaussian processes are readily available in the laboratory. Yet, Gaussian quantum information processing opens the way to a wide variety of tasks and applications, including quantum communication, quantum cryptography, quantum computation, quantum teleportation, and quantum state and channel discrimination. This review reports on the state of the art in this field, ranging from the basic theoretical tools and landmark experimental realizations to the most recent successful developments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

Quantum measurement bounds beyond the uncertainty relations

We give a bound to the precision in the estimation of a parameter in terms of the expectation value of an observable. It is an extension of the Cramer-Rao inequality and of the Heisenberg uncertainty relation, where the estimation precision is typically bounded in terms of the variance of an observable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2011

A reply to "Problems with modelling closed timelike curves as post-selected teleportation"

In arXiv:1107.4675 Ralph uses our post-selection model of closed timelike curves (P-CTC) to construct an "unproven-theorem" paradox, and claims that this voids our argument that P-CTCs are able to resolve such types of paradoxes. Here we point out that Ralph has not accounted for all the interactions needed for his construction. A more careful analysis confirms that indeed there is no paradox, contrary to his claims.

quant-ph↗