Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
07:56
A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Non-Markovianity-assisted steady state entanglement
Susana F Huelga1, Ángel Rivas, Martin B Plenio
1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Universität Ulm, D-89069 Ulm, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|June 12, 2012
Summary
Non-Markovian environments can create steady-state entanglement in quantum systems. Purely Markovian dynamics, however, result in separable states, highlighting non-Markovianity as a key resource.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Information Science
- Quantum Dynamics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Entanglement is a crucial quantum resource for computation and communication.
- Decoherence, often modeled by Markovian dynamics, typically destroys entanglement.
- Understanding entanglement under non-Markovian noise is vital for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of environmental memory in generating steady-state entanglement.
- To quantify non-Markovianity as a resource for entanglement generation.
- To explore noise-assisted entanglement in decohering quantum systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a coherently coupled dimer system under dephasing noise.
- Systematic variation of the environment's memory time (degree of Markovianity).
- Comparison of dynamics under non-Markovian and Markovian (Lindblad) evolutions.
Main Results:
- Non-Markovian environments can generate steady-state entanglement.
- Markovian dynamics, even with effective noise strength, lead to separable steady states.
- Non-Markovianity is identified as a quantifiable resource supporting entanglement.
Conclusions:
- Environmental memory effects are essential for generating steady-state entanglement.
- Non-Markovian dynamics offer a pathway to robust entanglement in decohering environments.
- A feasible experimental demonstration using trapped ions is proposed.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Stability of Equilibrium Configuration
Understanding the stability of equilibrium configurations is a fundamental part of mechanical engineering. In any system, there are three distinct types of equilibrium: stable, neutral, and unstable.
A stable equilibrium occurs when a system tends to return to its original position when given a small displacement, and the potential energy is at its minimum. An example of a stable equilibrium is when a cantilever beam is fixed at one end and a weight is attached to the other end. If the weight...
A stable equilibrium occurs when a system tends to return to its original position when given a small displacement, and the potential energy is at its minimum. An example of a stable equilibrium is when a cantilever beam is fixed at one end and a weight is attached to the other end. If the weight...
01:10Entropy Change in Reversible Processes
In the Carnot engine, which achieves the maximum efficiency between two reservoirs of fixed temperatures, the total change in entropy is zero. The observation can be generalized by considering any reversible cyclic process consisting of many Carnot cycles. Thus, it can be stated that the total entropy change of any ideal reversible cycle is zero.
The statement can be further generalized to prove that entropy is a state function. Take a cyclic process between any two points on a p-V diagram.
The statement can be further generalized to prove that entropy is a state function. Take a cyclic process between any two points on a p-V diagram.
01:14The Entropy as a State Function
Consider an arbitrary process that moves between two specific states (A and B) in a cyclic manner. This process is reversible and broken down into smaller parts that each follow a Carnot cycle. A Carnot cycle has two isothermal (constant temperature) processes. During these processes, the ratio of the amount of heat transferred to their respective temperature remains constant. The other two processes in the Carnot cycle are also reversible but adiabatic, which means they occur without any heat...
01:13Stability of Equilibrium Configuration: Problem Solving
The stability of equilibrium configurations is an important concept in physics, engineering, and other related fields. In simple terms, it refers to the tendency of an object or system to return to its equilibrium position after being disturbed. The stability of an equilibrium configuration can be analyzed by considering the potential energy function of the system and examining its behavior near the equilibrium point.
Problem-solving in the context of the stability of equilibrium configuration...
Problem-solving in the context of the stability of equilibrium configuration...
03:25Free Energy Changes for Nonstandard States
The free energy change for a process taking place with reactants and products present under nonstandard conditions (pressures other than 1 bar; concentrations other than 1 M) is related to the standard free energy change according to this equation:
01:26Reaction Mechanisms: The Steady-State Approximation
The steady-state approximation, also referred to as the quasi-steady-state approximation to differentiate it from a true steady state, is a widely used method for simplifying calculations in complex reaction mechanisms. This approach is particularly useful when dealing with multi-step reactions that involve reverse reactions or several steps, which can significantly increase mathematical complexity and make the reactions nearly unsolvable analytically.The steady-state approximation operates on...