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arXiv:1406.7188 · New Journal of Physics

Using the quantum Zeno effect for suppression of decoherence

Yasushi Kondo, Yuichiro Matsuzaki, Kei Matsushima, Jefferson Gonçalves Filgueiras

Published Jan 13, 2016• 41 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Projective measurements are an essential element of quantum mechanics. In most cases, they cause an irreversible change of the quantum system on which they act. However, measurements can also be used to stabilize quantum states from decay processes, which is known as the quantum Zeno effect (QZE). Here, we demonstrate this effect for the case of a superposition state of a nuclear spin qubit, using an ancilla to perform the measurement. As a result, the quantum state of the qubit is protected against dephasing without relying on an ensemble nature of NMR experiments. We also propose a scheme to protect an arbitrary state by using QZE.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/18/1/013033

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Projective measurements are an essential element of quantum mechanics. In most cases, they cause an irreversible change of the quantum system on which they act. However, measurements can also be used to stabilize quantum states from decay processes, which is known as the quantum Zeno effect (QZE). Here, we demonstrate this effect for the case of a superposition state of a nuclear spin qubit, using an ancilla to perform the measurement. As a result, the quantum state of the qubit is protected against dephasing without relying on an ensemble nature of NMR experiments. We also propose a scheme to protect an arbitrary state by using QZE.
Detailed schemes are investigated for experimental verification of Quantum Zeno effect with a superconducting qubit. A superconducting qubit is affected by a dephasing noise whose spectrum is 1/f1/f1/f and so the decay process of a superconducting qubit shows a naturally nonexponential behavior due to an infinite correlation time of 1/f1/f1/f noise. Since projective measurements can easily influence the decay dynamics having such nonexponential feature, a superconducting qubit is a promising system to observe quantum Zeno effect. We have studied how a sequence of projective measurements can change the dephasing process and also we have suggested experimental ways to observe quantum Zeno effect with a superconducting qubit. It would be possible to demonstrate our prediction in the current technology.
In this paper, we introduce a functional for the decoherence rate of a quantum system. The quantum system is modeled as a qubit that can be in the state |1〉, |0〉, or in a superposition. In addition to external dephasing and the Zeno attenuation rate acting on the quantum system, resource losses of the measuring channel are taken into account. It is shown that for the parameters corresponding to the limit of ideally frequent measurements in the quantum Zeno effect, the stability of the qubit state is not increased. The existence of optimal values of the measurement time interval and the measurement imperfection parameter is established; at these values, the decoherence rate of the qubit state reaches a minimum. Calculations show that in the case under consideration, the qubit coherence time increases by a factor of 11.5, which ensures an increase in the stability of the qubit state.
It was predicted that frequently repeated measurements on an unstable state may alter the decay rate of the state. This is called the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) or the anti-Zeno effect (AZE), depending on whether the decay is suppressed or enhanced. In conventional theories of the QZE and AZE, effects of measurements are simply described by the projection postulate, assuming that each measurement is an instantaneous and ideal one. However, real measurements are not instantaneous and ideal. For the QZE and AZE by such general measurements, interesting and surprising features have recently been revealed, which we review in this article. The results are based on the quantum measurement theory, which is also reviewed briefly. As a typical model, we consider a continuous measurement of the decay of an excited atom by a photodetector that detects a photon emitted from the atom upon decay. This measurement is an indirect negative-result one, for which the curiosity of the QZE and AZE is emphasized. It is shown that the form factor is renormalized as a backaction of the measurement, through which the decay dynamics is modified. In a special case of the flat response, where the detector responds to every photon mode with an identical response time, results of the conventional theories are reproduced qualitatively. However, drastic differences emerge in general cases where the detector responds only to limited photon modes. For example, against predictions of the conventional theories, the QZE or AZE may take place even for states that exactly follow the exponential decay law. We also discuss relation to the cavity quantum electrodynamics.
Summary form only given. The quantum Zeno effect (QZE) is the striking possibility of inhibiting the decay of an unstable quantum state by sufficiently frequent measurements. This effect is currently believed to be universal, even though it has only been observed for oscillations between discrete states. Recently we showed that both the QZE and the inverse (anti-) Zeno effect (AZE) can be observed on spontaneous decay in cavities. We develop a general theory of evolution of quantum systems in the presence of frequent measurements. We consider both the ideal case of instantaneous projections of the wave function to the initial state and some possible measurement schemes. The considerations imply the impossibility of the continuous-observation limit necessary to stop quantum evolution (the quantum Zeno paradox). Indeed, this limit leads to an unbounded increase of the energy fluctuations of the system, which would cause the system to disintegrate. The present theory describes different measurement effects, including the QZE and AZE, and allows us to obtain the general criteria of their validity. In particular, we show that the AZE, rather than the QZE, is achievable for spontaneous decay of atoms in free space.