arXiv:1105.0027 · Physical Review A
Quantum discord in finite XY chains
L. Ciliberti, R. Rossignoli, N. Canosa
Abstract
We examine the quantum discord between two spins in the exact ground state of finite spin-1/2 arrays with anisotropic $\mathit{XY}$ couplings in a transverse field $B$. It is shown that in the vicinity of the factorizing field ${B}_{s}$, the discord approaches a common finite non-negligible limit which is independent of the pair separation and the coupling range. An analytic expression of this limit is provided. The discord of a mixture of aligned pairs in two different directions, crucial for the previous results, is analyzed in detail, including the evaluation of coherence effects, relevant in small samples and responsible for a parity splitting at ${B}_{s}$. Exact results for finite chains with first-neighbor and full-range couplings and their interpretation in terms of such mixtures are provided.