Understanding dynamics of localized quantum systems embedded in engineered bosonic environments is a central problem in quantum optics and open quantum system theory. We present a formalism for studying few-particle scattering from a localized quantum system interacting with an bosonic bath described by an inhomogeneous wave-equation. In particular, we provide exact relationships between the quantum scattering matrix of this interacting system and frequency domain solutions of the inhomogeneous wave-equation thus providing access to the spatial distribution of the scattered few-particle wave-packet. The formalism developed in this paper paves the way to computationally understanding the impact of structured media on the scattering properties of localized quantum systems embedded in them without simplifying assumptions on the physics of the structured media.
Understanding dynamics of localized quantum systems embedded in engineered bosonic environments is a central problem in quantum optics and open quantum system theory. We present a formalism for studying few-particle scattering from a localized quantum system interacting with an bosonic bath described by an inhomogeneous wave-equation. In particular, we provide exact relationships between the quantum scattering matrix of this interacting system and frequency domain solutions of the inhomogeneous wave-equation thus providing access to the spatial distribution of the scattered few-particle wave-packet. The formalism developed in this paper paves the way to computationally understanding the impact of structured media on the scattering properties of localized quantum systems embedded in them without simplifying assumptions on the physics of the structured media.
Few-mode models are a cornerstone of the theoretical work in quantum optics, with the famous singlemode Jaynes-Cummings model being only the most prominent example.In this work, we develop an ab initio few-mode theory, a framework connecting few-mode system-bath models to ab initio methods.We first present a method to derive exact few-mode Hamiltonians for noninteracting quantum potential scattering problems and demonstrate how to rigorously reconstruct the scattering matrix from such few-mode Hamiltonians.We show that, upon inclusion of a background scattering contribution, an ab initio version of the well-known input-output formalism is equivalent to standard scattering theory.On the basis of these exact results for noninteracting systems, we construct an effective few-mode expansion scheme for interacting theories, which allows us to extract the relevant degrees of freedom from a continuum in an open quantum system.As a whole, our results demonstrate that few-mode as well as input-output models can be extended to a general class of problems and open up the associated toolbox to be applied to various platforms and extreme regimes.We outline differences of the ab initio results to standard model assumptions, which may lead to qualitatively different effects in certain regimes.The formalism is exemplified in various simple physical scenarios.In the process, we provide a proof of concept of the method, demonstrate important properties of the expansion scheme, and exemplify new features in extreme regimes.
Quantum collision models are receiving increasing attention as they describe many nontrivial phenomena in the dynamics of open quantum systems. In a general scenario of both fundamental and practical interest, a quantum system repeatedly interacts with individual particles or modes, forming a correlated and structured reservoir; however, classical and quantum environment correlations greatly complicate the calculation and interpretation of the system dynamics. Here, we propose an exact solution to this problem based on the tensor network formalism. We find a natural Markovian embedding for the system dynamics, where the role of an auxiliary system is played by virtual indices of the network. The constructed embedding is amenable to an analytical treatment for a number of timely problems such as the system interaction with two-photon wave packets, structured photonic states, and one-dimensional spin chains. We also derive a time-convolution master equation and relate its memory kernel with the environment correlation function, thus revealing a clear physical picture of memory effects in the dynamics. The results advance tensor-network methods in the fields of quantum optics and quantum transport.
The accurate description of the interaction of a quantum system with its environment is a challenging problem ubiquitous across all areas of physics and lies at the foundation of quantum mechanics theory. Here, we pioneer a new strategy to create discrete low-rank models of the system-environment interaction, by exploiting the frequency and time domain information encoded in the fluctuation-dissipation relation connecting the system-bath correlation function and the spectral density. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our methodology by combining it with tensor-network methodologies and simulating the quantum dynamics of complex excitonic systems in a highly structured bosonic environment. The new modeling framework sets the basis for a leap in the analysis of open quantum systems, providing controlled accuracy at significantly reduced computational costs, with benefits in all connected research areas.
A single quantum emitter coupled to a structured non-Hermitian environment shows anomalous bound states and real-time dynamics without Hermitian counterparts, as shown in Gong []. In this work, we establish a general approach for studying the scattering states of a single quantum emitter coupled to one-dimensional non-Hermitian single-band baths. We formally solve the exact eigenvalue equation for all the scattering states defined on finite periodic lattices. In the thermodynamic limit, the formal solution reduces to the celebrated Lippmann-Schwinger equation for generic baths. In this case, we find that the scattering states are no longer linear superpositions of plane waves in general, unlike those in Hermitian systems; instead, the wave functions exhibit a large, yet finite localization length proportional to the lattice size. Furthermore, we show and discuss the cases where the Lippmann-Schwinger equation breaks down. We find the analytical solutions for the Hatano-Nelson and unidirectional next-to-nearest-neighbor baths in the thermodynamic limit.
Understanding the complex interactions of the quantum light with different media provides valuable insights into potential applications in quantum tomography, microscopy, circuit and network design, and imaging. This thesis investigates quantum light interaction with two types of media: I. Random media entailing multiple scattering (Chapters 2-5), and II. Structured media, specifically designed to control quantum interferences (Chapters 6 and 7). In the first part of the thesis, and through solving the Lippmann-Schwinger equation for collections of small scatterers, a first principle scalar model for multiple scattering in finite-sized random media is developed. This efficient numerical model serves as the basis for investigating the coherent backscattering, a manifestation of weak localization in random media, for several bounded random media and various illuminations. Through employing mode expansion, next, the developed model is adapted to a general class of quantum-optical studies and quantum correlations are successfully derived and analyzed in scattering from finite disordered structures as well as systems of few scatterers. In multiple scattering of two-photon states in weak localization regime, the emergence of coherent two-photon backscattering is presented for the first time in coincidence detection, and it is demonstrated that quantum correlations can be used as a probe of entanglement dimensionality. Multiple scattering of two-photon states results in granular patterns known as speckle patterns. The statistical properties of single- and two-photon speckle patterns in scattering of different states are numerically calculated and the speckle visibilities and relevant parameters are derived. Specifically, the deviation of the probability density functions from negative exponential distributions, traditionally recognized as Rayleigh statistics in classical scattering, is identified, and shown to significantly depend on the presence of entanglement. Lastly, a different numerical implementation (based on COMSOL Multiphysics package) is used to consolidate our findings by incorporating the polarization effects. Coherent backscattering and coherent two-photon backscattering are observed for co-polarized fields in scattering from synthesized disordered media. It is demonstrated that depending on the particle exchange symmetry in polarization entangled excitation, the photons can exhibit statistical tendency to bunch together in the same mode, appear in separate modes (antibunching), or show a mixed response after multiple scattering. These bosonic-, fermionic-, and anyonic-like behaviors are studied in connection with coherent backscattering phenomenon, and it is demonstrated that the degree of enhancement in backscattering depends on the exchange symmetries. The simplicity and effectiveness of the implemented scattering analysis and the significance of the consequent conclusions suggest our approach as a promising platform for ‘numerical experiments’ without the limitations of analytical or semi-analytical models, and a practical tool prior to experiments. In the second part of the thesis, the random media operating as multimode platforms are replaced with engineered surfaces, i.e., metasurfaces, to realize targeted quantum interferences. First, a design roadmap for general lossy, asymmetric, and unbalanced coupling networks is presented, allowing to achieve maximum programmability in two-photon interferences. Next, two switchable metasurface-based coupling networks are designed to control nonclassical two-photon interferences via thermally driven crystallographic phase transitions. Numerical simulations confirm smooth transition between coalescence and anti-coalescence, aiming to address the current need in quantum optics for free-space compact devices creating tunable quantum interferences and acting as fast modulators for the second order quantum correlations. Our proposed compact and rapidly controllable devices pave the way towards new quantum applications as well as improving the current free-space quantum systems.
We analyze the microscopic model of quantum Brownian motion, describing a Brownian particle interacting with a bosonic bath through a coupling which is linear in the creation and annihilation operators of the bath, but may be a nonlinear function of the position of the particle. Physically, this corresponds to a configuration in which damping and diffusion are spatially inhomogeneous. We derive systematically the quantum master equation for the Brownian particle in the Born-Markov approximation and we discuss the appearance of additional terms, for various polynomials forms of the coupling. We discuss the cases of linear and quadratic coupling in great detail and we derive, using Wigner function techniques, the stationary solutions of the master equation for a Brownian particle in a harmonic trapping potential. We predict quite generally Gaussian stationary states, and we compute the aspect ratio and the spread of the distributions. In particular, we find that these solutions may be squeezed (superlocalized) with respect to the position of the Brownian particle. We analyze various restrictions to the validity of our theory posed by non-Markovian effects and by the Heisenberg principle. We further study the dynamical stability of the system, by applying a Gaussian approximation to the time-dependent Wigner function, and we compute the decoherence rates of coherent quantum superpositions in position space. Finally, we propose a possible experimental realization of the physics discussed here, by considering an impurity particle embedded in a degenerate quantum gas.