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M B Plenio

Publications and source records attributed to M B Plenio.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Ground-state approximation for strongly interacting spin systems in arbitrary spatial dimension.

We introduce a variational method for the approximation of ground states of strongly interacting spin systems in arbitrary geometries and spatial dimensions. The approach is based on weighted graph states and superpositions thereof. These states allow for the efficient computation of all local observables (e.g., energy) and include states with diverging correlation length and unbounded multiparticle entanglement. As a demonstration, we apply our approach to the Ising model on 1D, 2D, and 3D square lattices. We also present generalizations to higher spins and continuous-variable systems, which allows for the investigation of lattice field theories.

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Logarithmic negativity: a full entanglement monotone that is not convex.

It is proven that logarithmic negativity does not increase on average under a general positive partial transpose preserving operation (a set of operations that incorporate local operations and classical communication as a subset) and, in the process, a further proof is provided that the negativity does not increase on average under the same set of operations. Given that the logarithmic negativity is not a convex function this result is surprising, as it is generally considered that convexity describes the local physical process of losing information. The role of convexity and, in particular, its relation (or lack thereof) to physical processes is discussed and importance of continuity in this context is stressed.

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Entropy, entanglement, and area: analytical results for harmonic lattice systems.

We revisit the question of the relation between entanglement, entropy, and area for harmonic lattice Hamiltonians corresponding to discrete versions of real free Klein-Gordon fields. For the ground state of the d-dimensional cubic harmonic lattice we establish a strict relationship between the surface area of a distinguished hypercube and the degree of entanglement between the hypercube and the rest of the lattice analytically, without resorting to numerical means. We outline extensions of these results to longer ranged interactions, finite temperatures, and for classical correlations in classical harmonic lattice systems. These findings further suggest that the tools of quantum information science may help in establishing results in quantum field theory that were previously less accessible.

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Towards quantum entanglement in nanoelectromechanical devices.

We study arrays of mechanical oscillators in the quantum domain and demonstrate how the motions of distant oscillators can be entangled without the need for control of individual oscillators and without a direct interaction between them. These oscillators are thought of as being members of an array of nanoelectromechanical resonators with a voltage being applicable between neighboring resonators. Sudden nonadiabatic switching of the interaction results in a squeezing of the states of the mechanical oscillators, leading to an entanglement transport in chains of mechanical oscillators. We discuss spatial dimensions, Q factors, temperatures and decoherence sources in some detail, and find a distinct robustness of the entanglement in the canonical coordinates in such a scheme. We also briefly discuss the challenging aspect of detection of the generated entanglement.

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Entanglement cost under positive-partial-transpose-preserving operations.

We study the entanglement cost under quantum operations preserving the positivity of the partial transpose (PPT operations). We demonstrate that this cost is directly related to the logarithmic negativity, thereby providing the operational interpretation for this entanglement measure. As examples we discuss general Werner states and arbitrary bipartite Gaussian states. Then we prove that for the antisymmetric Werner state PPT cost and PPT entanglement of distillation coincide. This is the first example of a truly mixed state for which entanglement manipulation is asymptotically reversible, which points towards a unique entanglement measure under PPT operations.

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Distilling Gaussian states with Gaussian operations is impossible.

We show that no distillation protocol for Gaussian quantum states exists that relies on (i) arbitrary local unitary operations that preserve the Gaussian character of the state and (ii) homodyne detection together with classical communication and postprocessing by means of local Gaussian unitary operations on two symmetric identically prepared copies. This is in contrast to the finite-dimensional case, where entanglement can be distilled in an iterative protocol using two copies at a time. The ramifications for the distribution of Gaussian states over large distances will be outlined. We also comment on the generality of the approach and sketch the most general form of a Gaussian local operation with classical communication in a bipartite setting.

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Entangled light from white noise.

An atom that couples to two distinct leaky optical cavities is driven by an external optical white noise field. We describe how entanglement between the light fields sustained by two optical cavities arises in such a situation. The entanglement is maximized for intermediate values of the cavity damping rates and the intensity of the white noise field, vanishing both for small and for large values of these parameters and thus exhibiting a stochastic-resonancelike behavior. This example illustrates the possibility of generating entanglement by exclusively incoherent means and sheds new light on the constructive role noise may play in certain tasks of interest for quantum information processing.

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Asymptotic relative entropy of entanglement.

We present an analytical formula for the asymptotic relative entropy of entanglement with respect to positive partial transpose states for Werner states of arbitrary dimension. We then demonstrate its validity using methods from convex optimization. This is the first case in which the asymptotic value of a subadditive entanglement measure has been calculated.

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Light-shift-induced quantum gates for ions in thermal motion.

An effective interaction between trapped ions in thermal motion can be generated by illuminating them simultaneously with a single laser resonant with the ionic carrier frequency. The ac Stark shift induces simultaneous "virtual" two-phonon transitions via several motional modes. Within a certain laser intensity range these transitions can interfere constructively, resulting in a relatively fast, heating-resistant two-qubit logic gate.

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Efficient factorization with a single pure qubit and logN mixed qubits.

It is commonly assumed that Shor's quantum algorithm for the efficient factorization of a large number N requires a pure initial state. Here we demonstrate that a single pure qubit, together with a collection of log 2N qubits in an arbitrary mixed state, is sufficient to implement Shor's factorization algorithm efficiently.

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