Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Chinese Physics Letters

Non-Equilibrium Quantum Entanglement in Biological Systems

Hongrong Li, Pei Zhang, Hong Xiu Gao, Wen-Ting Bi, M. Al-Amri, Fuli Li

Published Apr 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A non-equilibrium model of a classically driven quantum harmonic oscillator is proposed to explain persistent quantum entanglement in biological systems at ambient temperature. The conditions for periodic entanglement generation are derived. Our results support the evidence that biological systems may have quantum entanglement at biological temperatures.

DOI
10.1088/0256-307x/29/4/047101

Related papers

Persistent dynamic entanglement from classical motion: how bio-molecular machines can generate nontrivial quantum states

Gian Giacomo Guerreschi, Jianming Cai, Sandu Popescu +1 more

Very recently (Cai et al 2010 Phys. Rev. E 82 021921), a simple mechanism was presented by which a molecule subjected to forced oscillations, out of thermal equilibrium, can maintain quantum entanglement between two of its quantum degrees of freedom. Crucially, entanglement can be maintained even in the presence of very intense noise, so intense that no entanglement is possible when the forced oscillations cease. This mechanism may allow for the presence of nontrivial quantum entanglement in biological systems. Here we significantly enlarge the study of this model. In particular, we show that the persistent generation of dynamic entanglement is not restricted to the bosonic heat bath model, but can also be observed in other decoherence models, e.g. the spin gas model, and in non-Markovian scenarios. We also show how conformational changes can be used by an elementary machine to generate entanglement even in unfavorable conditions. In biological systems, similar mechanisms could be exploited by more complex molecular machines or motors.

arXiv:1111.2126•New Journal of Physics•May 29, 2012•8 citations

Dynamic entanglement in oscillating molecules and potential biological implications

Jianming Cai, Sandu Popescu, Hans J. Briegel

We demonstrate that entanglement can persistently recur in an oscillating two-spin molecule that is coupled to a hot and noisy environment, in which no static entanglement can survive. The system represents a nonequilibrium quantum system which, driven through the oscillatory motion, is prevented from reaching its (separable) thermal equilibrium state. Environmental noise, together with the driven motion, plays a constructive role by periodically resetting the system, even though it will destroy entanglement as usual. As a building block, the present simple mechanism supports the perspective that entanglement can exist also in systems which are exposed to a hot environment and to high levels of decoherence, which we expect, e.g., for biological systems. Our results also suggest that entanglement plays a role in the heat exchange between molecular machines and environment. Experimental simulation of our model with trapped ions is within reach of the current state-of-the-art quantum technologies.

arXiv:0809.4906•Physical Review E•Aug 25, 2010•82 citations

Dynamic entanglement in oscillating molecules

Jianming Cai, Sandu Popescu, Hans J. Briegel

We demonstrate that entanglement can persistently recur in an oscillating two-spin molecule that is coupled to a hot and noisy environment, in which no static entanglement can survive. The system represents a non-equilibrium quantum system which, driven through the oscillatory motion, is prevented from reaching its (separable) thermal equilibrium state. Environmental noise, together with the driven motion, plays a constructive role by periodically resetting the system, even though it will destroy entanglement as usual. As a building block, the present simple mechanism supports the perspective that entanglement can exist also in systems which are exposed to a hot environment and to high levels of de-coherence, which we expect e.g. for biological systems. Our results furthermore suggest that entanglement plays a role in the heat exchange between molecular machines and environment. Experimental simulation of our model with trapped ions is within reach of the current state-of-the-art quantum technologies.

•Sep 29, 2008•7 citations

Entanglement entropies of coupled harmonic oscillators

Koichi Nakagawa

We investigate the quantum entanglement of systems of coupled harmonic oscillators on the basis of thermo-field dynamics (TFD). For coupled harmonic oscillators at equilibrium, the extended entanglement entropy is derived using the TFD method, and it is demonstrated to be controlled by temperature and coupling parameters. For non-equilibrium systems, in addition to temperature and coupling parameters, the time dependence of the extended entanglement entropy is calculated in accordance with the dissipative von Neumann equation, and the dissipative dynamics of the systems of coupled harmonic oscillators is discussed. Consequently, based on TFD, the physical parametrization of the entanglement entropies is confirmed in both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases of harmonic oscillator systems by means of the laws of thermodynamics.

arXiv:1601.03584•Jan 14, 2016•7 citations

Entanglement Entropies of Coupled Harmonic Oscillators

中川, 弘一, Koichi Nakagawa

We study the quantum entanglement of systems of coupled harmonic oscillators on the basis of thermo-field dynamics (TFD).For coupled harmonic oscillators at equilibrium, the extended entanglement entropy is derived using the TFD method, and it is demonstrated to be controlled by temperature and coupling parameters.For non-equilibrium systems, in addition to temperature and coupling parameters, the time dependence of the extended entanglement entropy is calculated in accordance with the dissipative von Neumann equation, and the dissipative dynamics of the systems of coupled harmonic oscillators is discussed.Consequently, based on TFD, the physical parametrization of the entanglement entropies is confirmed in both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium cases of harmonic oscillator systems by means of the laws of thermodynamics.

•Dec 10, 2016•0 citations

Entanglement and intra-molecular cooling in biological systems? - A quantum thermodynamic perspective

Hans J. Briegel, Sandu Popescu

We discuss the possibility of existence of entanglement in biological systems. Our arguments centre on the fact that biological systems are thermodynamic open driven systems far from equilibrium. In such systems error correction can occur which may maintain entanglement despite high levels of de-coherence. We also discuss the possibility of cooling (classical or quantum) at molecular level.

arXiv:0806.4552•Jun 27, 2008•26 citations
A non-equilibrium model of a classically driven quantum harmonic oscillator is proposed to explain persistent quantum entanglement in biological systems at ambient temperature. The conditions for periodic entanglement generation are derived. Our results support the evidence that biological systems may have quantum entanglement at biological temperatures.
Very recently (Cai et al 2010 Phys. Rev. E 82 021921), a simple mechanism was presented by which a molecule subjected to forced oscillations, out of thermal equilibrium, can maintain quantum entanglement between two of its quantum degrees of freedom. Crucially, entanglement can be maintained even in the presence of very intense noise, so intense that no entanglement is possible when the forced oscillations cease. This mechanism may allow for the presence of nontrivial quantum entanglement in biological systems. Here we significantly enlarge the study of this model. In particular, we show that the persistent generation of dynamic entanglement is not restricted to the bosonic heat bath model, but can also be observed in other decoherence models, e.g. the spin gas model, and in non-Markovian scenarios. We also show how conformational changes can be used by an elementary machine to generate entanglement even in unfavorable conditions. In biological systems, similar mechanisms could be exploited by more complex molecular machines or motors.
We demonstrate that entanglement can persistently recur in an oscillating two-spin molecule that is coupled to a hot and noisy environment, in which no static entanglement can survive. The system represents a nonequilibrium quantum system which, driven through the oscillatory motion, is prevented from reaching its (separable) thermal equilibrium state. Environmental noise, together with the driven motion, plays a constructive role by periodically resetting the system, even though it will destroy entanglement as usual. As a building block, the present simple mechanism supports the perspective that entanglement can exist also in systems which are exposed to a hot environment and to high levels of decoherence, which we expect, e.g., for biological systems. Our results also suggest that entanglement plays a role in the heat exchange between molecular machines and environment. Experimental simulation of our model with trapped ions is within reach of the current state-of-the-art quantum technologies.
We demonstrate that entanglement can persistently recur in an oscillating two-spin molecule that is coupled to a hot and noisy environment, in which no static entanglement can survive. The system represents a non-equilibrium quantum system which, driven through the oscillatory motion, is prevented from reaching its (separable) thermal equilibrium state. Environmental noise, together with the driven motion, plays a constructive role by periodically resetting the system, even though it will destroy entanglement as usual. As a building block, the present simple mechanism supports the perspective that entanglement can exist also in systems which are exposed to a hot environment and to high levels of de-coherence, which we expect e.g. for biological systems. Our results furthermore suggest that entanglement plays a role in the heat exchange between molecular machines and environment. Experimental simulation of our model with trapped ions is within reach of the current state-of-the-art quantum technologies.
We investigate the quantum entanglement of systems of coupled harmonic oscillators on the basis of thermo-field dynamics (TFD). For coupled harmonic oscillators at equilibrium, the extended entanglement entropy is derived using the TFD method, and it is demonstrated to be controlled by temperature and coupling parameters. For non-equilibrium systems, in addition to temperature and coupling parameters, the time dependence of the extended entanglement entropy is calculated in accordance with the dissipative von Neumann equation, and the dissipative dynamics of the systems of coupled harmonic oscillators is discussed. Consequently, based on TFD, the physical parametrization of the entanglement entropies is confirmed in both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases of harmonic oscillator systems by means of the laws of thermodynamics.
We study the quantum entanglement of systems of coupled harmonic oscillators on the basis of thermo-field dynamics (TFD).For coupled harmonic oscillators at equilibrium, the extended entanglement entropy is derived using the TFD method, and it is demonstrated to be controlled by temperature and coupling parameters.For non-equilibrium systems, in addition to temperature and coupling parameters, the time dependence of the extended entanglement entropy is calculated in accordance with the dissipative von Neumann equation, and the dissipative dynamics of the systems of coupled harmonic oscillators is discussed.Consequently, based on TFD, the physical parametrization of the entanglement entropies is confirmed in both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium cases of harmonic oscillator systems by means of the laws of thermodynamics.