We suggest a formalism to illustrate the entanglement of identical particles in the first quantization language (1QL). Our 1QL formalism enables one to exploit all the well-established quantum information tools to understand the indistinguishable ones, including the reduced density matrix and familiar entanglement measures. The rigorous quantitative relation between the amount of entanglement and the spatial coherence of particles is possible in this formalism. Our entanglement detection process is a generalization of the entanglement extraction protocol for identical particles with mode splitting proposed by Killoran et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 150501 (2014)].
We suggest a formalism to illustrate the entanglement of identical particles in the first quantization language (1QL). Our 1QL formalism enables one to exploit all the well-established quantum information tools to understand the indistinguishable ones, including the reduced density matrix and familiar entanglement measures. The rigorous quantitative relation between the amount of entanglement and the spatial coherence of particles is possible in this formalism. Our entanglement detection process is a generalization of the entanglement extraction protocol for identical particles with mode splitting proposed by Killoran et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 150501 (2014)].
Identical particles and entanglement are both fundamental components of quantum mechanics. However, when identical particles are condensed in a single spatial mode, the standard notions of entanglement, based on clearly identifiable subsystems, break down. This has led many to conclude that such systems have limited value for quantum information tasks, compared to distinguishable particle systems. To the contrary, we show that any entanglement formally appearing amongst the identical particles, including entanglement due purely to symmetrization, can be extracted into an entangled state of independent modes, which can then be applied to any task. In fact, the entanglement of the mode system is in one-to-one correspondence with the entanglement between the inaccessible identical particles. This settles the long-standing debate about the resource capabilities of such states, in particular spin-squeezed states of Bose-Einstein condensates, while also revealing a new perspective on how and when entanglement is generated in passive optical networks. Our results thus reveal new fundamental connections between entanglement, squeezing, and indistinguishability.
We probe the theoretical connection among three different approaches to analyze the entanglement of identical particles, i.e., the first quantization language (1QL), elementary-symmetric/exterior products (which has the mathematical equivalence to no-labeling approaches), and the algebraic approach based on the GNS construction. Among several methods to quantify the entanglement of identical particles, we focus on the computation of reduced density matrices, which can be achieved by the concept of \emph{symmetrized partial trace} defined in 1QL. We show that the symmetrized partial trace corresponds to the interior product in symmetric and exterior algebra (SEA), which also corresponds to the subalgebra restriction in the algebraic approach based on GNS representation. Our research bridges different viewpoints for understanding the quantum correlation of identical particles in a consistent manner.
Quantum entanglement of identical particles is essential in quantum information theory. Yet, its correct determination remains an open issue hindering the general understanding and exploitation of many-particle systems. Operator-based methods have been developed that attempt to overcome the issue. Here we introduce a state-based method which, as second quantization, does not label identical particles and presents conceptual and technical advances compared to the previous ones. It establishes the quantitative role played by arbitrary wave function overlaps, local measurements and particle nature (bosons or fermions) in assessing entanglement by notions commonly used in quantum information theory for distinguishable particles, like partial trace. Our approach furthermore shows that bringing identical particles into the same spatial location functions as an entangling gate, providing fundamental theoretical support to recent experimental observations with ultracold atoms. These results pave the way to set and interpret experiments for utilizing quantum correlations in realistic scenarios where overlap of particles can count, as in Bose-Einstein condensates, quantum dots and biological molecular aggregates.
We probe the theoretical connection among three different approaches to analyze the entanglement of identical particles, i.e., the first quantization language (1QL), exterior and elementary-symmetric products (which has the mathematical equivalence to no-labeling approaches), and the algebraic approach based on the GNS construction. Among several methods to quantify entanglement of identical particles, we focus on the computation of reduced density matrix, which can be achieved by the concept of \emph{symmetrized partial trace} defined in 1QL. We show that the symmetrized partial trace corresponds to the interior product between exterior (or elementary symmetric) state vectors, which also corresponds to the subalgebra restriction in the algebraic approach based on GNS representation. By expressing the state of identical particles as exterior and elementary symmetric state vectors, we can also prove that GHJW theorem holds for identical particles.
The existence of fundamentally identical particles represents a foundational distinction between classical and quantum mechanics.Because of their exchange symmetry, identical particles can appear to be entangled-another uniquely quantum phenomenon with far-reaching practical implications.However, a long-standing debate has questioned whether identical particle entanglement is physical or merely a mathematical artifact.In this work, we provide such particle entanglement with a consistent theoretical description as a quantum resource in processes frequently encountered in optical and cold atomic systems.This leads to a plethora of applications of immediate practical impact.On the one hand, we show that the metrological advantage for estimating phase shifts in systems of identical bosons amounts to a measure of their particle entanglement, with a clear-cut operational meaning.On the other hand, we demonstrate in general terms that particle entanglement is the property resulting in directly usable mode entanglement when distributed to separated parties, with particle conservation laws in play.Application of our tools to an experimental implementation with Bose-Einstein condensates leads to the first quantitative estimation of identical particle entanglement.Further connections are revealed between particle entanglement and other resources such as optical nonclassicality and quantum coherence.Overall, this work marks a resolutive step in the ongoing debate by delivering a unifying conceptual and practical understanding of entanglement between identical particles.
The study of entanglement in systems composed of identical particles raises interesting challenges with far-reaching implications in both, our fundamental understanding of the physics of composite quantum systems, and our capability of exploiting quantum indistinguishability as a resource in quantum information theory. Impressive theoretical and experimental advances have been made in the last decades that bring us closer to a deeper comprehension and to a better control of entanglement. Yet, when it involves composites of indistinguishable quantum systems, the very meaning of entanglement, and hence its characterization, still finds controversy and lacks a widely accepted definition. The aim of the present paper is to introduce, within an accessible and self-contained exposition, the basic ideas behind one of the approaches advanced towards the construction of a coherent definition of entanglement in systems of indistinguishable particles, with focus on fermionic systems. We also inquire whether the corresponding tools developed for studying entanglement in identical-fermion systems can be exploited when analysing correlations in distinguishable-party systems, in which the complete information of the individual parts is not available. Further, we open the discussion on the broader problem of constructing a suitable framework that accommodates entanglement in the presence of generalized statistics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Identity, individuality and indistinguishability in physics and mathematics'.