arXiv:1907.05080 · Annalen der Physik
Quantum Probing Topological Phase Transitions by Non‐Markovianity
Gian Luca Giorgi, Stefano Longhi, Albert Cabot, Roberta Zambrini
Abstract
Abstract Understanding the physical significance and probing the global invariants characterizing quantum topological phases in extended systems is a main challenge in modern physics with major impact in different areas of science. Here, a quantum‐information‐inspired probing method is proposed where topological phase transitions are revealed by a non‐Markovianity quantifier. The idea is illustrated by considering the decoherence dynamics of an external read‐out qubit that probes a Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) chain with either pure dephasing or dissipative coupling. Qubit decoherence features and non‐Markovianity measure clearly signal the topological phase transition of the SSH chain.