No Arabic abstract
Minimal, open quantum systems that are governed by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians have been realized across multiple platforms in the past two years. Here we investigate the dynamics of open systems with Hermitian or anti-Hermitian Hamiltonians, both of which can be implemented in such platforms. For a single system subject to unitary and thermal dynamics in a periodic manner, we show that the corresponding Floquet Hamiltonian has a rich phase diagram with numerous exceptional-point (EP) degeneracy contours. This protocol can be used to realize a quantum Hatano-Nelson model that is characterized by asymmetric tunneling. For one unitary and one thermal qubit, we show that the concurrence is maximized at the EP that is controlled by the strength of Hermitian coupling between them. Surprisingly, the entropy of each qubit is also maximized at the EP. Our results point to the multifarious phenomenology of systems undergoing unitary and thermal dynamics.
An example of exceptional points in the continuous spectrum of a real, pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonian of von Neumann-Wigner type is presented and discussed. Remarkably, these exceptional points are associated with a double pole in the normalization factor of the Jost eigenfunctions normalized to unit flux at infinity. At the exceptional points, the two unnormalized Jost eigenfunctions are no longer linearly independent but coalesce to give rise to two Jordan cycles of generalized bound state eigenfunctions embedded in the continuum and a Jordan block representation of the Hamiltonian. The regular scattering eigenfunction vanishes at the exceptional point and the irregular scattering eigenfunction has a double pole at that point. In consequence, the time evolution of the regular scattering eigenfunction is unitary, while the time evolution of the irregular scattering eigenfunction is pseudounitary. The scattering matrix is a regular analytical function of the wave number $k$ for all $k$ including the exceptional points.
The state of a quantum system may be steered towards a predesignated target state, employing a sequence of weak $textit{blind}$ measurements (where the detectors readouts are traced out). Here we analyze the steering of a two-level system using the interplay of a system Hamiltonian and weak measurements, and show that $textit{any}$ pure or mixed state can be targeted. We show that the optimization of such a steering protocol is underlain by the presence of Liouvillian exceptional points. More specifically, for high purity target states, optimal steering implies purely relaxational dynamics marked by a second-order exceptional point, while for low purity target states, it implies an oscillatory approach to the target state. The phase transition between these two regimes is characterized by a third-order exceptional point.
While all bipartite pure entangled states are known to generate correlations violating a Bell inequality, and are therefore nonlocal, the quantitative relation between pure-state entanglement and nonlocality is poorly understood. In fact, some Bell inequalities are maximally violated by non-maximally entangled states and this phenomenon is also observed for other operational measures of nonlocality. In this work, we study a recently proposed measure of nonlocality defined as the probability that a pure state displays nonlocal correlations when subjected to random measurements. We first prove that this measure satisfies some natural properties for an operational measure of nonlocality. Then, we show that for pure states of two qubits the measure is monotonic with entanglement for all correlation two-outcome Bell inequalities: for all these inequalities, the more the state is entangled, the larger the probability to violate them when random measurements are performed. Finally, we extend our results to the multipartite setting.
We present a scheme for dissipatively generating maximal entanglement in a heralded manner. Our setup requires incoherent interactions with two thermal baths at different temperatures, but no source of work or control. A pair of $(d+1)$-dimensional quantum systems is first driven to an entangled steady state by the temperature gradient, and maximal entanglement in dimension $d$ can then be heralded via local filters. We discuss experimental prospects considering an implementation in superconducting systems.
We study quantum phase transitions in non-Hermitian XY and transverse-field Ising spin chains, in which the non-Hermiticity arises from the imaginary magnetic field. Analytical and numerical results show that at exceptional points, coalescing eigenstates in these models close to W, distant Bell and GHZ states, which can be steady states in dynamical preparation scheme proposed by T. D. Lee et. al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 250401 (2014)). Selecting proper initial states, numerical simulations demonstrate the time evolution process to the target states with high fidelity.