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arXiv:1809.05431 · Physical Review A

Visualizing spin degrees of freedom in atoms and molecules

B. I. Davies, R. P. Rundle, V. M. Dwyer, John H. Samson, Todd Tilma, M. J. Everitt

Published Oct 1, 2019• 12 citations
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Abstract

In this work we show how constructing Wigner functions of heterogeneous quantum systems leads to new capability in the visualization of quantum states of atoms and molecules. This method allows us to display quantum correlations (entanglement) between spin and spatial degrees of freedom (spin-orbit coupling) and between spin degrees of freedom, as well as more complex combinations of spin and spatial entanglement. This is important as there is growing recognition that such properties affect the physical characteristics, and chemistry, of atoms and molecules. Our visualizations are sufficiently accessible that, with some preparation, those with a nontechnical background can gain an appreciation of subtle quantum properties of atomic and other systems. By providing insights and modeling capability, our phase-space representation will be of great utility in understanding aspects of atomic physics and chemistry not available with current techniques.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.100.042102

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Abstract Quantum engineering now allows to design and construct multi-qubit states in a range of physical systems. These states are typically quite complex in nature, with disparate, but relevant properties that include both single and multi-qubit coherences and even entanglement. All these properties can be assessed by reconstructing the density matrix of those states—but the large parameter space can mean physical insight of the nature of those states and their coherence can be hard to achieve. Here, we explore how the Wigner function of a multipartite system and its visualization provides rich information on the nature of the state, not only at illustrative level but also at the quantitative level. We test our tools in a photonic architecture making use of the multiple degrees of freedom of two photons. Graphic abstract
Abstract In this work we construct Wigner functions for hybrid continuous and discrete variable quantum systems. We demonstrate new capabilities in the visualization of the interactions and correlations between discrete and continuous variable quantum systems, where visualizing the full phase space has proven difficult in the past due to the high number of degrees of freedom. Specifically, we show how to clearly distinguish signatures that arise due to quantum and classical correlations in an entangled Bell-cat state. We further show how correlations are manifested in different types of interaction, leading to a deeper understanding of how quantum information is shared between two subsystems. Understanding the nature of the correlations between systems is central to harnessing quantum effects for information processing; the methods presented here reveal the nature of these correlations, allowing a clear visualization of the quantum information present in these hybrid discrete-continuous variable quantum systems. The methods presented here could be viewed as a form of quantum state spectroscopy.
Quantum engineering now allows to design and construct multi-qubit states in a range of physical systems. These states are typically quite complex in nature, with disparate, but relevant properties that include both single and multi-qubit coherences and even entanglement. All these properties can be assessed by reconstructing the density matrix of those states - but the large parameter space can mean physical insight of the nature of those states and their coherence can be hard to achieve. Here we explore how the Wigner function of a multipartite system and its visualization provides rich information on the nature of the state, not only at illustrative level but also at the quantitative level. We test our tools in a photonic architecture making use of the multiple degrees of freedom of two photons.
Understanding the structure of multi-qubit quantum states is essential for both quantum information research and education, yet intuitive visualization beyond the single-qubit Bloch sphere remains challenging. In this work, we propose a unified geometric framework for visualizing two- and three-qubit pure states in which local degrees of freedom and entanglement degrees of freedom are explicitly separated. For two qubits, we combine Bloch-sphere representations of reduced density operators with a complex concurrence plotted on the complex plane, enabling simultaneous visualization of entanglement strength and phase structure. For three qubits, building on the generalized Schmidt decomposition, we introduce bipartite and GHZ-type tripartite complex concurrences, which, together with local Bloch vectors, provide a complete coordinate representation of the state. Unlike classification-based approaches, our method focuses on representing a given concrete state, revealing how local properties and nonlocal correlations coexist. The framework distinguishes states with identical entanglement magnitudes but different interference structures and provides intuitive insight into the balance between pairwise and genuinely tripartite entanglement. This approach offers both conceptual clarity and potential applications in quantum education and state analysis.
In this work we construct Wigner functions for hybrid continuous and discrete variable quantum systems. We demonstrate new capabilities in the visualization of the interactions and correlations within hybrid quantum systems. Specifically, we show how to clearly distinguish signatures that arise due to quantum and classical correlations in an entangled Bell-cat state. We further show how correlations are manifested in different types of interaction, leading to a deeper understanding of how quantum information is shared between two subsystems. Understanding the nature of the correlations between systems is central to harnessing quantum effects for information processing; the methods presented here reveal the nature of these correlations, allowing a clear visualization of the quantum information present in hybrid quantum systems. The methods presented here could be viewed as a form of quantum state spectroscopy.