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arXiv:2601.07049

Stochastic phase-space simulation of multimode cat states via the positive-P representation

Yi Shi, Alex Ferrier, Piotr Deuar, Eran Ginossar, Marzena Szymanska

quant-phSubmitted Jan 11, 2026• Announced Jan 13, 2026• 0 citations
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Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of the transient dynamics of multimode Schrödinger cat states in dissipatively coupled resonator arrays using the positive-P phase-space method. By employing the positive-P representation, we derive the exact stochastic differential equations governing the system's dynamics, enabling the simulation of system sizes significantly larger than those accessible via direct master equation simulation. We demonstrate the utility of this method by simulating transient dynamics for networks up to N=21 sites. Furthermore, we critically examine the method's usefulness and limitations, specifically highlighting the computational instability encountered when estimating the state parity in the systems. Our results provide a pathway for scalable simulations of non-Gaussian states in large open quantum systems.

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We present a comprehensive study of the transient dynamics of multimode Schrödinger cat states in dissipatively coupled resonator arrays using the positive-P phase-space method. By employing the positive-P representation, we derive the exact stochastic differential equations governing the system's dynamics, enabling the simulation of system sizes significantly larger than those accessible via direct master equation simulation. We demonstrate the utility of this method by simulating transient dynamics for networks up to N=21 sites. Furthermore, we critically examine the method's usefulness and limitations, specifically highlighting the computational instability encountered when estimating the state parity in the systems. Our results provide a pathway for scalable simulations of non-Gaussian states in large open quantum systems.
Non-Gaussian quantum states have been deterministically prepared and autonomously stabilized in single-and two-mode circuit quantum electrodynamics architectures via engineered dissipation.However, it is currently unknown how to scale up this technique to multimode non-Gaussian systems.Here, we upgrade dissipation engineering to collective (normal) modes of nonlinear resonator arrays and show how to stabilize multimode Schrödinger cat states.These states are multiphoton and multimode quantum superpositions of coherent states in a single normal mode delocalized over an arbitrary number of cavities.We consider tailored dissipative coupling between resonators that are parametrically driven and feature an on-site nonlinearity, which is either a Kerr-type nonlinearity or an engineered two-photon loss.For both types of nonlinearity, we find the same exact closed-form solutions for the two-dimensional steady-state manifold spanned by superpositions of multimode Schrödinger cat states.We further show that, in the Zeno limit of strong dissipative coupling, the even-parity multimode cat state can be deterministically prepared from the vacuum.Remarkably, engineered two-photon loss gives rise to a fast relaxation toward the steady state, protecting the state preparation against decoherence due to intrinsic single-photon losses and imperfections in tailored dissipative coupling, which sets in at longer times.The relaxation time is independent of system size making the state preparation scalable.Multimode cat states are naturally endowed with a noise bias that increases exponentially with system size and can thus be exploited for enhanced robust encoding of quantum information.
We describe an efficient numerical method for simulating the dynamics and steady states of collective spin systems in the presence of dephasing and decay. The method is based on the Schwinger boson representation of spin operators and uses an extension of the truncated Wigner approximation to map the exact open system dynamics onto stochastic differential equations for the corresponding phase space distribution. This approach is most effective in the limit of very large spin quantum numbers, where exact numerical simulations and other approximation methods are no longer applicable. We benchmark this numerical technique for known superradiant decay and spin-squeezing processes and illustrate its application for the simulation of non-equilibrium phase transitions in dissipative spin lattice models.
Simulation of conditional master equations is important to describe systems under continuous measurement and for the design of control strategies in quantum systems. For large bosonic systems, such as Bose-Einstein condensates and atom lasers, full quantum-field simulations must rely on scalable stochastic methods. Currently, these methods have a convergence time that is restricted by the use of representations based on coherent states. Here, we show that typical measurements on atom-optical systems have a common form that allows for an efficient simulation using the number-phase Wigner (NPW) phase-space representation. We demonstrate that a stochastic method based on the NPW can converge orders of magnitude longer and more precisely than its coherent equivalent. We then examine how these methods can be used in multimode simulations, demonstrated by a simulation of a two-mode Bose-Hubbard model. Finally, we combine these techniques to demonstrate a full-field simulation of a realistic multimode quantum system controlled by active feedback.
We describe an efficient numerical method for simulating the dynamics and steady states of collective spin systems in the presence of dephasing and decay. The method is based on the Schwinger boson representation of spin operators and uses an extension of the truncated Wigner approximation to map the exact open system dynamics onto stochastic differential equations for the corresponding phase space distribution. This approach is most effective in the limit of very large spin quantum numbers, where exact numerical simulations and other approximation methods are no longer applicable. We benchmark this numerical technique for known superradiant decay and spin-squeezing processes and illustrate its application for the simulation of non-equilibrium phase transitions in dissipative spin lattice models.
The positive-P representation for bosons allows scalable exact simulations of many-body open quantum systems, provided dissipation is strong enough to stabilise stochastic trajectories. Designing analogous methods for spin systems, relevant to quantum technologies, remains challenging, as previous spin positive-P formulations can exhibit systematic errors even when simulations are numerically stable. Here, we develop a phase-space representation that maps spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ degrees of freedom onto parameters of a local generalized density matrix (GDM), rather than SU(2) coherent states. In all stable regimes, we observe no deviations from exact solutions, restoring the positive-P property: stable solutions are exact up to stochastic sampling noise. The GDM representation combines seamlessly with bosonic positive-P, enabling highly scalable treatment of coupled spin-boson systems. We map simulation stability versus spin and boson dissipation in the Jaynes-Cummings model and apply the method to a Jaynes-Cummings-Hubbard quasi-Lieb lattice, showing how spin dissipation and driving can destroy or restore excitation incompressibility.
A popular approach in quantum optics is to map a master equation to a stochastic differential equation, where quantum effects manifest themselves through noise terms. We generalize this approach based on the positive- P representation to systems involving spin, in particular networks or lattices of interacting spins and bosons. We test our approach on a driven dimer of spins and photons, compare it to the master equation, and predict a novel dynamic phase transition in this system. Our numerical approach has scaling advantages over existing methods, but typically requires regularization in terms of drive and dissipation.