Abstract We study Leggett–Garg inequalities (LGIs) for a two level system (TLS) undergoing Markovian dynamics described by unital maps. We first find the analytic expression of LG parameter K 3 (simplest variant of LGIs) in terms of the parameters of two distinct unital maps representing time evolution for intervals: t 1 to t 2 and t 2 to t 3. We then show that the maximum violation of LGI for all possible unital maps can never exceed well known Lüders bound of K 3 L u ¨ d e r s = 3 / 2 over the full parameter space. We further show that if the map for the time interval t 1 to t 2 is non-unitary unital then irrespective of the choice of the map for interval t 2 to t 3 we can never reach Lüders bound. On the other hand, if the measurement operator eigenstates remain pure upon evolution from t 1 to t 2, then depending on the degree of decoherence induced by the unital map for the interval t 2 to t 3 we may or may not obtain Lüders bound. Specifically, we find that if the unital map for interval t 2 to t 3 leads to the shrinking of the Bloch vector beyond half of its unit length, then achieving the bound K 3 L u ¨ d e r s is not possible. Hence our findings not only establish a threshold for decoherence which will allow for K 3 = K 3 L u ¨ d e r s , but also demonstrate the importance of temporal sequencing of the exposure of a TLS to Markovian baths in obtaining Lüders bound.
Abstract Leggett Garg inequalities (LGIs) provides an elegant way for probing the incompatibility between the notion of macrorealism and quantum mechanics. For unitary dynamics the optimal quantum violation of a LGI is constrained by the L u ¨ ders bound. In this paper, we have studied two formulations of LGIs in three-time LG scenario, viz, the standard LGIs and third-order LGIs both for unbiased and biased measurement settings. We show that if system evolves under non-unitary quantum channel between two measurements, the quantum violations of both forms of LGIs exceed their respective L u ¨ ders bounds and can even reach their algebraic maximum in sharp measurement settings. We found that when the measurement is unsharp the quantum violations of both standard and third-order LGIs for non-unitary quantum channel can be obtained for lower value of the unsharpness parameter compared to the unitary dynamics. We critically examined the violation of L u ¨ ders bound of LGIs and its relation to the violation of various no-signaling in time conditions, another formalism for testing macrorealism. It is shown that mere violations of no-signaling conditions are not enough to warrant the violation of standard LGIs, an interplay between the violations of various NSIT condition along with a threshold value play an important role. On the other hand violation of third-order LGI is obtained when the degree of violation of a specific no-signaling in time condition reaches a different threshold value.
Abstract We study the dynamics of a non-Hermitian PT- symmetric Hamiltonian of a two level system (TLS) which has real eigenvalues. Within the framework of Hermitian quantum mechanics, it is known that maximal violation of Leggett–Garg inequality (LGI) is bounded by K 3 = 3/2 (Luder’s bound). We show that this absolute bound can be evaded when dynamics is governed by non-Hermitian PT- symmetric Hamiltonians with real eigenvalues. Moreover, the extent of violation can be optimized to asymptotically approach the algebraic maximum of K 3 max = 3 , which is otherwise observed for Hermitian Hamiltonian with infinite dimensional Hilbert space. The extreme violation of LGI is shown to be directly related to the two basic ingredients: (i) the Bloch equation for the TLS having a non-linear terms which allow for accelerated dynamics of states on the Bloch sphere exceeding all known quantum speed limits of state evolution; and (ii) quantum trajectory of states lie on a great circle (geodesic path) on the Bloch sphere at all times. We demonstrate that such extreme temporal correlation of TLS can be simulated in realistic system by embedding the TLS into a higher dimensional Hilbert space such that the composite system obeys unitary dynamics. Specifically we show that a four dimensional embedding of non-Hermitian PT- symmetric TLS is enough to host K 3 → 3 limit. We also discuss the effect of random noise on our results. Finally we conclude with a comparative study of our results with existing experimental realization of embedding.
We study Leggett-Garg inequality (LGI) of a two level system (TLS) undergoing non-Hermitian dynamics governed by a non-linear Bloch equation (derived in J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 54, 115301 (2021)) across a PT-transition. We present an algebraic identification of the parameter space for the maximum violation of LGI (in particular
K3). In the PT-symmetric regime the maximum allowed value for
K3 is always found to be greater than the quantum bound (Lüders bound) of
3/2 but it does not reach the algebraic maximum of
K3=3 in general. However, in the limit where PT-symmetry breaking parameter approaches the exceptional point from the PT-symmetric side,
K3 is found to asymptotically approach its algebraic maximum of 3. In contrast, the maximum value of
K3 always reaches its algebraic maximum in the PT-broken phase
i.e. K3→3. We find that (i) the speed of evolution (SOE) must reach its maximum value (in the parameter space of initial state and the time interval between successive measurements) to facilitate the value of
K3→3, (ii) together with the constraint that its minimum value must run into SOE equals to zero during the evolution of the state. In fact we show that the minimum speed of evolution can serve as an order parameter which is finite on the PT-symmetric side and identically zero on the PT-broken side. Finally, we discuss a possible experimental realization of this dynamics by quantum measurement followed by post-selection procedure in a three level atom coupled to cavity mode undergoing a Lindbladian dynamics.
Macrorealistic description governing the classical realm is known to get uprooted in the quantum domain. The Leggett-Garg inequality [A. J. Leggett and A. Garg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 857 (1985)] proposes to probe the macrorealistic limit emerging from the quantum scenario. It places a bound on the linear combinations of temporal correlations of observables measured sequentially at different time intervals. Violation of the Leggett-Garg inequality, up to the so-called temporal Tsirelson bound (TTB), has been realized in the quantum domain. It is important to understand whether quantum theory permits larger violation beyond the TTB and up to the algebraic maximum value of the Leggett-Garg inequality. To this end, it has been shown [C. Budroni and C. Emary, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 050401 (2014)] that a three-term Leggett-Garg inequality can be violated beyond the TTB
3/2 in the time evolution of
N>2 level quantum systems by choosing suitable measurement schemes and state-update rules. Furthermore, it is revealed that the algebraic maximum value 3 can be realized in the limit $N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$. Their measurement scheme rules out violation of the Leggett-Garg inequality beyond the TTB by a qubit. Being genuinely quantum in nature, we ask whether such enhanced violation of the Leggett-Garg inequality could be witnessed in a qubit itself. Here, we show that a qubit undergoing time evolution generated by a non-Hermitian
PT-symmetric Hamiltonian indeed violates the three-term Leggett-Garg inequality beyond the TTB and up to its algebraic maximum value 3.
Lüders Bounds of Leggett–Garg Inequalities, PT
PT‐ Symmetric Evolution and Arrow‐of‐Time
Abstract Leggett–Garg inequalities (LGIs) test the incompatibility between the notion of macrorealism and quantum theory. For unitary dynamics, the optimal quantum violation of a Leggett–Garg inequality is constrained by the Lüders bound. However, the LGIs do not provide the necessary and sufficient condition of macrorealism. A suitably formulated set of no‐signaling in time conditions along with the arrow‐of‐time condition provides the same. In this paper, two formulations in the three‐time Leggett–Garg scenario, are studied namely, the standard LGIs and the recently formulated variant of LGIs when the system evolves under PT‐symmetric Hamiltonian. It is first demonstrated that the quantum violations of both forms of LGIs exceed their respective Lüders bounds and can even reach their algebraic maximum. It is further shown that for the case of standard Leggett–Garg inequality, the violation of Lüders bound can be obtained when both no‐signaling in time and arrow‐of‐time conditions are violated. Interestingly, for the case of a variant of LGIs, for suitable choices of relevant parameters, the quantum violation can even be obtained when only the arrow‐of‐time is violated. However, all no‐signaling in time conditions are satisfied. Such a feature is hitherto unexplored.
Leggett-Garg inequalities (LGI) test the correlations of a single system measured at different times. Violation of LGI implies either the absence of a realistic description of the system or the impossibility of measuring the system without disturbing it. We investigate the violation of the Leggett-Garg inequality for a two level system under decoherence in a non-Markovian dephasing environment. We discuss the non-Markovian dynamics of the violation of LGI at zero temperature and also at finite temperature for different structured environments. An enhanced quantum coherence is shown through the violation of Leggett-Garg inequality in the strong non-Markovian regime of the environment.