Search Results (16 total)

We present an analysis of the quantum adiabatic algorithm for solving hard instances of 3-SAT (an NP-complete problem) in terms of random matrix theory (RMT). We determine the global regularity of the spectral fluctuations of the instantaneous Hamiltonians encountered during the interpolation between the starting Hamiltonians and the ones whose ground states encode the solutions to the computational problems of interest. At each interpolation point, we quantify the degree of regularity of the average spectral distribution via its Brody parameter, a measure that distinguishes regular (i.e., Poissonian) from chaotic (i.e., Wigner-type) distributions of normalized nearest-neighbor spacings. We find that for hard problem instances—i.e., those having a critical ratio of clauses to variables—the spectral fluctuations typically become irregular across a contiguous region of the interpolation parameter, while the spectrum is regular for easy instances. Within the hard region, RMT may be applied to obtain a mathematical model of the probability of avoided level crossings and concomitant failure rate of the adiabatic algorithm due to nonadiabatic Landau-Zener-type transitions. Our model predicts that if the interpolation is performed at a uniform rate, the average failure rate of the quantum adiabatic algorithm, when averaged over hard problem instances, scales exponentially with increasing problem size.

We calculate the entanglement between a pair of polarization-entangled photon beams as a function of the reference frame, in a fully relativistic framework. We find the transformation law for helicity basis states and show that, while it is frequency independent, a Lorentz transformation on a momentum-helicity eigenstate produces a momentum-dependent phase. This phase leads to changes in the reduced polarization density matrix, such that entanglement is either decreased or increased, depending on the boost direction, the rapidity, and the spread of the beam.

We study the properties of quantum entanglement in moving frames, and show that, because spin and momentum become mixed when viewed by a moving observer, the entanglement between the spins of a pair of particles is not invariant. We give an example of a pair, fully spin entangled in the rest frame, which has its spin entanglement reduced in all other frames. Similarly, we show that there are pairs whose spin entanglement increases from zero to maximal entanglement when boosted. While spin and momentum entanglement separately are not Lorentz invariant, the joint entanglement of the wave function is.

Scale-free dynamics in physical and biological systems can arise from a variety of causes. Here, we explore a branching process which leads to such dynamics. We find conditions for the appearance of power laws and study quantitatively what happens to these power laws when such conditions are violated. From a branching process model, we predict the behavior of two systems which seem to exhibit near scale-free behavior—rank-frequency distributions of number of subtaxa in biology, and abundance distributions of genotypes in an artificial life system. In the light of these, we discuss distributions of avalanche sizes in the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld sandpile model.

We study the utility of a complex Langevin (CL) equation as an alternative for the Monte Carlo (MC) procedure in the evaluation of expectation values occurring in fermionic many-body problems. We find that a CL approach is natural in cases where nonpositive definite probability measures occur, and remains accurate even when the corresponding MC calculation develops a severe “sign problem.” While the convergence of CL averages cannot be guaranteed in principle, we show how convergent results can be obtained in two simple quantum mechanical models, as well as a nontrivial schematic shell model path integral with multiple particles and a noncommuting interaction (the Lipkin model).

We introduce a separability criterion based on the positive map Γ:ρ→(Tr ρ)-ρ, where ρ is a trace-class Hermitian operator. Any separable state is mapped by the tensor product of Γ and the identity into a non-negative operator, which provides a simple necessary condition for separability. This condition is generally not sufficient because it is vulnerable to the dilution of entanglement. In the special case where one subsystem is a quantum bit, Γ reduces to time reversal, so that this separability condition is equivalent to partial transposition. It is therefore also sufficient for 2×2 and 2×3 systems. Finally, a simple connection between this map for two qubits and complex conjugation in the “magic” basis [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 5022 (1997)] is displayed.

We analyze properties of the quantum conditional amplitude operator [Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 5194 (1997)], which plays a role similar to that of the conditional probability in classical information theory. The spectrum of the conditional operator that characterizes a quantum bipartite system is shown to be invariant under local unitary transformations and reflects its inseparability. More specifically, it is proven that the conditional amplitude operator of a separable state cannot have an eigenvalue exceeding 1, which results in a necessary condition for separability. A related separability criterion based on the non-negativity of the von Neumann conditional entropy is also exhibited.

A constructive method for simulating small-scale quantum circuits by use of linear optical devices is presented. It relies on the representation of several quantum bits by a single photon, and on the implementation of universal quantum gates using simple optical components (beam splitters, phase shifters, etc.). This suggests that the optical realization of small quantum networks with present-day quantum optics technology is a reasonable goal. This technique could be useful for demonstrating basic concepts of simple quantum algorithms or error-correction schemes. The optical analog of a nontrivial three-bit quantum circuit is presented as an illustration.

A framework for a quantum mechanical information theory is introduced that is based entirely on density operators, and gives rise to a unified description of classical correlation and quantum entanglement. Unlike in classical (Shannon) information theory, quantum (von Neumann) conditional entropies can be negative when considering quantum entangled systems, a fact related to quantum nonseparability. The possibility that negative (virtual) information can be carried by entangled particles suggests a consistent interpretation of quantum informational processes.

We discuss the capacity of quantum channels for information transmission and storage. Quantum channels have dual uses: they can be used to transmit known quantum states which code for classical information, and they can be used in a purely quantum manner, for transmitting or storing quantum entanglement. We propose here a definition of the von Neumann capacity of quantum channels, which is a quantum-mechanical extension of the Shannon capacity and reverts to it in the classical limit. As such, the von Neumann capacity assumes the role of a classical or quantum capacity depending on the usage of the channel. In analogy to the classical construction, this capacity is defined as the maximum von Neumann mutual entropy processed by the channel, a measure which reduces to the capacity for classical information transmission through quantum channels (the “Kholevo capacity”) when known quantum states are sent. The quantum mutual entropy fulfills all basic requirements for a measure of information, and observes quantum data-processing inequalities. We also derive a quantum Fano inequality relating the quantum loss of the channel to the fidelity of the quantum code. The quantities introduced are calculated explicitly for the quantum depolarizing channel. The von Neumann capacity is interpreted within the context of superdense coding, and an extended Hamming bound is derived that is consistent with that capacity.

We derive entropic Bell inequalities from considering entropy Venn diagrams. These entropic inequalities, akin to the Braunstein-Caves inequalities, are violated for a quantum-mechanical Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pair, which implies that the conditional entropies of Bell variables must be negative in this case. This suggests that the satisfaction of entropic Bell inequalities is equivalent to the non-negativity of conditional entropies as a necessary condition for separability.

We thoroughly analyze isospin-violating effects in QCD sum rules for the masses of nucleons, Σ, and Ξ hyperons. After comparing with experimental mass splittings in isotopic multiplets, we obtain for the isospin breaking in the quark condensate 〈0|u̅ u-d̅ d|0〉 / 〈0|u̅ u|0〉=(2±1)×10^-3, a value significantly smaller than the one usually adopted. We present arguments in favor of our result and critically analyze previous estimates. The value of the quark mass difference m_d-m_u=3.0±1.0 MeV (at normalization point μ̅ =0.5 GeV) is also determined.

We propose using the finite-temperature ρ-meson mass as an order parameter to monitor the QCD transition. This is suggested by the ρ-meson mass formula that emerges from finite-temperature QCD sum rules in the vector channel, and which encompasses the effects of both quark and gluon condensates. We find that a second-order chiral-restoring transition implies a second-order behavior for the ρ mass even if the value of the gluon condensate is unaffected by the transition.

Using the QCD sum rules, we investigate the effects of temperature on the nucleon below the phase transition. The mass and width of the nucleon are analyzed using various parametrizations of the nucleon continuum. Overall, the nucleon mass is found to depend substantially on temperature variations in the quark condensate, irrespective of the continuum parametrization. Our results are compared with the ones discussed in the context of the chiral approach.

We discuss finite-temperature QCD sum rules at low temperatures, including perturbative as well as nonperturbative thermal corrections. The electric and magnetic condensates of the thermalized QCD state are extracted from present lattice calculations of the energy density and pressure. Alternative parametrizations based on instanton calculations and string behavior at finite temperature are also discussed. Throughout, a particular emphasis is put on the nature and size of the temperature corrections. In the 1^- channel the temperature behavior of the ρ parameters are investigated. In the range of applicability of the sum-rule procedure, the ρ parameters are found to vary slowly with temperature.