The dynamics of a two-qubit system is considered with the aim of a general categorization of the different ways in which entanglement can disappear in the course of the evolution, e.g., entanglement sudden death. The dynamics is described by the function ~n(t), where ~n is the 15-dimensional polarization vector. This representation is particularly useful because the components of ~n are direct physical observables, there is a meaningful notion of orthogonality, and the concurrence C can be computed for any point in the space. We analyze the topology of the space S of separable states (those having C = 0), and the often lower-dimensional linear dynamical subspace D that is characteristic of a specific physical model. This allows us to give a rigorous characterization of the four possible kinds of entanglement evolution. Which evolution is realized depends on the dimensionality of D and of D \cap S, the position of the asymptotic point of the evolution, and whether or not the evolution is distance-Markovian, a notion we define. We give several examples to illustrate the general principles, and to give a method to compute critical points. We construct a model that shows all four behaviors.The dynamics of a two-qubit system is considered with the aim of a general categorization of the different ways in which entanglement can disappear in the course of the evolution, e.g., entanglement sudden death. The dynamics is described by the function ~n(t), where ~n is the 15-dimensional polarization vector. This representation is particularly useful because the components of ~n are direct physical observables, there is a meaningful notion of orthogonality, and the concurrence C can be computed for any point in the space. We analyze the topology of the space S of separable states (those having C = 0), and the often lower-dimensional linear dynamical subspace D that is characteristic of a specific physical model. This allows us to give a rigorous characterization of the four possible kinds of entanglement evolution. Which evolution is realized depends on the dimensionality of D and of D \cap S, the position of the asymptotic point of the evolution, and whether or not the evolution is distance-Markovian, a notion we define. We give several examples to illustrate the general principles, and to give a method to compute critical points. We construct a model that shows all four behaviors.

Jul 10, 20100 citations

Geometrical meaning of two-qubit entanglement and its symmetries

Helena Braga, Simone Souza, Salomon Sylvain Mizrahi

For pure and mixed two-qubit states we present an analysis based on symmetries of vectors and matrices associated to the density operator. These symmetries are revealed by doing reflection operations on the vectors and the matrices by Cartesian planes. Then we consider states whose $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4$ matrices belong to the D- $7$ manifold class and introduce a new set of parameters. This procedure allows us to establish the Peres-Horodecki separability criterion in terms of a squared distance having a Minkowski metric. Thereafter, defining a phase space in terms of those parameters, we identify two regions, a cone and elsewhere. Separable states are represented by points located within the cone or on its surface (the border), while elsewhere the points stand for the entangled states. For a system evolving in time, if its state is initially entangled, then depending on the values of its parameters and on the nature of the interactions with the environment, the trajectory in the phase space may cross the border at a finite time, going from the entangledlike to the separablelike region and vice-versa. As a particular feature, crossings in one direction stand for the phenomenon of sudden death of entanglement, while crossings in the opposite direction hint for the sudden birth of entanglement. Our method dispenses with operations on the density matrix; it is sufficient to write the expressions directly in terms of matrix entries. Some illustrative examples are worked out.For pure and mixed two-qubit states we present an analysis based on symmetries of vectors and matrices associated to the density operator. These symmetries are revealed by doing reflection operations on the vectors and the matrices by Cartesian planes. Then we consider states whose $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4$ matrices belong to the D-$7$ manifold class and introduce a new set of parameters. This procedure allows us to establish the Peres-Horodecki separability criterion in terms of a squared distance having a Minkowski metric. Thereafter, defining a phase space in terms of those parameters, we identify two regions, a cone and elsewhere. Separable states are represented by points located within the cone or on its surface (the border), while elsewhere the points stand for the entangled states. For a system evolving in time, if its state is initially entangled, then depending on the values of its parameters and on the nature of the interactions with the environment, the trajectory in the phase space may cross the border at a finite time, going from the entangledlike to the separablelike region and vice-versa. As a particular feature, crossings in one direction stand for the phenomenon of sudden death of entanglement, while crossings in the opposite direction hint for the sudden birth of entanglement. Our method dispenses with operations on the density matrix; it is sufficient to write the expressions directly in terms of matrix entries. Some illustrative examples are worked out.

Physical Review AApr 16, 20107 citations

ENTANGLEMENT EVOLUTION OF A PAIR OF TWO-LEVEL SYSTEMS IN NON-MARKOVIAN ENVIRONMENT

X. L. Huang, L. C. Wang, X. X. Yi

The entanglement evolution of a pair of two-level systems is studied in this paper. The two systems without mutual interaction are independently coupled to different two-band non-Markovian environments. By comparing our results to others in the literature, we find that taking one of the Bell states as the initial state, certain non-Markovian effect protects the entanglement in short time scale, while on long time scale it leads to the entanglement sudden death (ESD), which never occurs for this initial state in the Markovian case. Finally, by analyzing the parameters in our model, a relation between disentanglement and decoherence is established and discussed.The entanglement evolution of a pair of two-level systems is studied in this paper. The two systems without mutual interaction are independently coupled to different two-band non-Markovian environments. By comparing our results to others in the literature, we find that taking one of the Bell states as the initial state, certain non-Markovian effect protects the entanglement in short time scale, while on long time scale it leads to the entanglement sudden death (ESD), which never occurs for this initial state in the Markovian case. Finally, by analyzing the parameters in our model, a relation between disentanglement and decoherence is established and discussed.

International Journal of Quantum InformationFeb 1, 20093 citations

Asymptotic entanglement dynamics and geometry of quantum states

Raphael C. Drumond, Marcelo Terra Cunha

A given dynamics for a composite quantum system can exhibit several distinct properties for the asymptotic entanglement behavior, such as entanglement sudden death, asymptotic death of entanglement, sudden birth of entanglement, etc. A classification of the possible situations was given by Terra Cunha (2007 New J. Phys. 9 237) but for some classes there were no known examples. In this work, we give a better classification for the possible relaxing dynamics in light of the geometry of their set of asymptotic states and give explicit examples for all the classes. Although the classification is completely general, in the search for examples it is sufficient to use two qubits with dynamics given by differential equations in the Lindblad form (some of them are non-autonomous). We also investigate, in each case, the probabilities of finding each possible behavior for random initial states.A given dynamics for a composite quantum system can exhibit several distinct properties for the asymptotic entanglement behavior, such as entanglement sudden death, asymptotic death of entanglement, sudden birth of entanglement, etc. A classification of the possible situations was given by Terra Cunha (2007 New J. Phys. 9 237) but for some classes there were no known examples. In this work, we give a better classification for the possible relaxing dynamics in light of the geometry of their set of asymptotic states and give explicit examples for all the classes. Although the classification is completely general, in the search for examples it is sufficient to use two qubits with dynamics given by differential equations in the Lindblad form (some of them are non-autonomous). We also investigate, in each case, the probabilities of finding each possible behavior for random initial states.

arXiv:0809.4445Journal of Physics A Mathematical and TheoreticalJun 24, 200918 citations

Dynamics of two qubits in common environment

E. N. Bratus’, Leonid Andreevich Pastur

We consider the entanglement evolution of two qubits embedded into disordered multiconnected environment. We model the environment and its interaction with qubits by large random matrices allowing for a possibility to describe environments of meso- and even nanosize. We obtain general formulas for the time dependent reduced density matrix of the qubits corresponding to several cases of the qubit-environment interaction and initial condition. We then work out an analog of the Born–Markov approximation to find the evolution of the widely used entanglement quantifiers: the concurrence, the negativity and the quantum discord. We show that even in this approximation the time evolution of the reduced density matrix can be non-Markovian, thereby describing certain memory effects due to the backaction of the environment on qubits. In particular, we find the vanishing of the entanglement (Entanglement Sudden Death) at finite moments and its revivals (Entanglement Sudden Birth). Our results, partly known and partly new, can be viewed as a manifestation of the universality of certain properties of decoherent qubit evolution which have been found previously in various versions of bosonic macroscopic environment.We consider the entanglement evolution of two qubits embedded into disordered multiconnected environment. We model the environment and its interaction with qubits by large random matrices allowing for a possibility to describe environments of meso- and even nanosize. We obtain general formulas for the time dependent reduced density matrix of the qubits corresponding to several cases of the qubit-environment interaction and initial condition. We then work out an analog of the Born–Markov approximation to find the evolution of the widely used entanglement quantifiers: the concurrence, the negativity and the quantum discord. We show that even in this approximation the time evolution of the reduced density matrix can be non-Markovian, thereby describing certain memory effects due to the backaction of the environment on qubits. In particular, we find the vanishing of the entanglement (Entanglement Sudden Death) at finite moments and its revivals (Entanglement Sudden Birth). Our results, partly known and partly new, can be viewed as a manifestation of the universality of certain properties of decoherent qubit evolution which have been found previously in various versions of bosonic macroscopic environment.

Reviews in Mathematical PhysicsApr 28, 20203 citations

Dynamical phases for the evolution of the entanglement between two oscillators coupled to the same environment

Juan Pablo Paz, Augusto J. Roncaglia

We study the dynamics of the entanglement between two oscillators that are initially prepared in a general two-mode Gaussian state and evolve while coupled to the same environment. In a previous paper, we showed that there are three qualitatively different dynamical phases for the entanglement in the long-time limit: sudden death, sudden death and revival, and no sudden death [Paz and Roncaglia, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 220401 (2008)]. Here we generalize and extend those results along several directions: We analyze the fate of entanglement for an environment with a general spectral density providing a complete characterization of the evolution for Ohmic, sub-Ohmic, and super-Ohmic environments. We consider two different models for the interaction between the system and the environment (one where the coupling is through position and another where the coupling is symmetric in position and momentum). Finally, we show that for nonresonant oscillators, the final entanglement is independent of the initial state and may be nonzero at very low temperatures.We study the dynamics of the entanglement between two oscillators that are initially prepared in a general two-mode Gaussian state and evolve while coupled to the same environment. In a previous paper, we showed that there are three qualitatively different dynamical phases for the entanglement in the long-time limit: sudden death, sudden death and revival, and no sudden death [Paz and Roncaglia, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 220401 (2008)]. Here we generalize and extend those results along several directions: We analyze the fate of entanglement for an environment with a general spectral density providing a complete characterization of the evolution for Ohmic, sub-Ohmic, and super-Ohmic environments. We consider two different models for the interaction between the system and the environment (one where the coupling is through position and another where the coupling is symmetric in position and momentum). Finally, we show that for nonresonant oscillators, the final entanglement is independent of the initial state and may be nonzero at very low temperatures.

arXiv:0809.1676Physical Review AMar 5, 2009105 citations

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manifold class and introduce a new set of parameters. This procedure allows us to establish the Peres-Horodecki separability criterion in terms of a squared distance having a Minkowski metric. Thereafter, defining a phase space in terms of those parameters, we identify two regions, a cone and elsewhere. Separable states are represented by points located within the cone or on its surface (the border), while elsewhere the points stand for the entangled states. For a system evolving in time, if its state is initially entangled, then depending on the values of its parameters and on the nature of the interactions with the environment, the trajectory in the phase space may cross the border at a finite time, going from the entangledlike to the separablelike region and vice-versa. As a particular feature, crossings in one direction stand for the phenomenon of sudden death of entanglement, while crossings in the opposite direction hint for the sudden birth of entanglement. Our method dispenses with operations on the density matrix; it is sufficient to write the expressions directly in terms of matrix entries. Some illustrative examples are worked out.