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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Quantum communication and state transfer in spin chains

Joris Van Der Jeugt

Published Mar 1, 2011• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We investigate the time evolution of a single spin excitation state in certain linear spin chains, as a model for quantum communication. We consider first the simplest possible spin chain, where the spin chain data (the nearest neighbour interaction strengths and the magnetic field strengths) are constant throughout the chain. The time evolution of a single spin state is determined, and this time evolution is illustrated by means of an animation. Some years ago it was discovered that when the spin chain data are of a special form so-called perfect state transfer takes place. These special spin chain data can be linked to the Jacobi matrix entries of Krawtchouk polynomials or dual Hahn polynomials. We discuss here the case related to Krawtchouk polynomials, and illustrate the possibility of perfect state transfer by an animation showing the time evolution of the spin chain from an initial single spin state. Very recently, these ideas were extended to discrete orthogonal polynomials of q -hypergeometric type. Here, a remarkable result is a new analytic model where perfect state transfer is achieved: this is when the spin chain data are related to the Jacobi matrix of q -Krawtchouk polynomials. This case is discussed here, and again illustrated by means of an animation.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/284/1/012059

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We investigate the time evolution of a single spin excitation state in certain linear spin chains, as a model for quantum communication. We consider first the simplest possible spin chain, where the spin chain data (the nearest neighbour interaction strengths and the magnetic field strengths) are constant throughout the chain. The time evolution of a single spin state is determined, and this time evolution is illustrated by means of an animation. Some years ago it was discovered that when the spin chain data are of a special form so-called perfect state transfer takes place. These special spin chain data can be linked to the Jacobi matrix entries of Krawtchouk polynomials or dual Hahn polynomials. We discuss here the case related to Krawtchouk polynomials, and illustrate the possibility of perfect state transfer by an animation showing the time evolution of the spin chain from an initial single spin state. Very recently, these ideas were extended to discrete orthogonal polynomials of q -hypergeometric type. Here, a remarkable result is a new analytic model where perfect state transfer is achieved: this is when the spin chain data are related to the Jacobi matrix of q -Krawtchouk polynomials. This case is discussed here, and again illustrated by means of an animation.
We study the time evolution of a single spin excitation state in certain linear spin chains, as a model for quantum communication. Some years ago it was discovered that when the spin chain data (the nearest neighbour interaction strengths and the magnetic field strengths) are related to the Jacobi matrix entries of Krawtchouk polynomials or dual Hahn polynomials, so-called perfect state transfer takes place. The extension of these ideas to other types of discrete orthogonal polynomials did not lead to new models with perfect state transfer, but did allow more insight in the general computation of the correlation function. In the present paper, we extend the study to discrete orthogonal polynomials of q-hypergeometric type. A remarkable result is a new analytic model where perfect state transfer is achieved: this is when the spin chain data are related to the Jacobi matrix of q-Krawtchouk polynomials. The other cases studied here (affine q-Krawtchouk polynomials, quantum q-Krawtchouk polynomials, dual q-Krawtchouk polynomials, q-Hahn polynomials, dual q-Hahn polynomials and q-Racah polynomials) do not give rise to models with perfect state transfer. However, the computation of the correlation function itself is quite interesting, leading to advanced q-series manipulations.
We obtain the time-dependent correlation function describing the evolution of a single spin excitation state in a linear spin chain with isotropic nearest-neighbour XY coupling, where the Hamiltonian is related to the Jacobi matrix of a set of orthogonal polynomials. For the Krawtchouk polynomial case, an arbitrary element of the correlation function is expressed in a simple closed form. Its asymptotic limit corresponds to the Jacobi matrix of the Charlier polynomial, and may be understood as a unitary evolution resulting from a Heisenberg group element. Correlation functions for Hamiltonians corresponding to Jacobi matrices for the Hahn, dual Hahn and Racah polynomials are also studied. For the Hahn polynomials we obtain the general correlation function, some of its special cases and the limit related to the Meixner polynomials, where the su (1, 1) algebra describes the underlying symmetry. For the cases of dual Hahn and Racah polynomials, the general expressions of the correlation functions contain summations which are not of hypergeometric type. Simplifications, however, occur in special cases.
New exactly solvable one-dimensional XX spin chain models that exhibit perfect state transfer are defined. These models have inhomogeneous couplings and magnetic fields determined from the three-term recurrence relations satisfied by the q-Racah and para q-Racah polynomials. Due to this connection with orthogonal polynomials, the one-excitation sector can be solved analytically. This allows us to provide explicit sets of conditions on the polynomial parameters that guarantee the occurrence of perfect state transfer across these spin chains.
Abstract New exactly solvable one-dimensional XX spin chain models that exhibit perfect state transfer (PST) are defined. These models have inhomogeneous couplings and magnetic fields determined from the three-term recurrence relations satisfied by the q -Racah and para q -Racah polynomials. Due to this connection with orthogonal polynomials, the one-excitation sector can be solved analytically. This allows us to provide explicit sets of conditions on the polynomial parameters that guarantee the occurrence of PST across these spin chains.
A method to systematically construct the XXXXXX quantum spin chains with nearest-neighbor interactions that allow perfect state transfer (PST) is shown. Sets of orthogonal polynomials (OPs) are in correspondence with such systems. The key observation is that for any admissible one-excitation energy spectrum, the weight function of the associated OPs is uniquely prescribed. This entails the complete characterization of these PST models with the mirror-symmetry property arising as a corollary. A simple and efficient algorithm to obtain the corresponding Hamiltonians is presented. A model connected to a special case of the symmetric qqq-Racah polynomials is offered. An explanation of how additional models with PST can be derived from a parent system by removing energy levels from the one-excitation spectrum of the latter is given. This is achieved through Christoffel transformations and is also completely constructive in regards to the Hamiltonians.