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Entanglement in Non-inertial Frames

David C. M. Ostapchuk

Published Sep 19, 2008• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

This thesis considers entanglement, an important resource for quantum information processing tasks, while taking into account the theory of relativity. Not only is this a more complete description of quantum information, but it is necessary to fully understand quantum information processing tasks done by systems in arbitrary motion. \n \nIt is shown that accelerated measurements on the vacuum of a free Dirac spinor field results in an entangled state for an inertial observer. The physical mechanism at work is the Davies-Unruh effect. The entanglement produced increases as a function of the acceleration, reaching maximal entanglement in the asymptotic limit of infinite acceleration. \n \nThe dynamics of entanglement between two Unruh-DeWitt detectors, one stationary and the other undergoing non-uniform acceleration, was studied numerically. In the ultraweak coupling limit, the entanglement decreases as a function of time for the parameters considered and decreases faster than if the moving detector had had a uniform acceleration.

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It is shown that accelerated projective measurements on the vacuum of a free Dirac spinor field results in an entangled state for an inertial observer. The physical mechanism at work is the Davies-Unruh effect. The produced state is always entangled and its entanglement increases as a function of the acceleration, reaching maximal entanglement in the asymptotic limit of infinite acceleration where Bell states are produced.

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While the Unruh effect has traditionally been studied under the assumption of uniform acceleration, a simplification motivated by experimental considerations, it is not necessarily true for all non-inertial motions. We propose a novel approach for the indirect detection of the Unruh effect without relying on the former restriction. Previous studies have shown that probing the decoherence of an Unruh-DeWitt detector can significantly reduce the acceleration required for observing the effect by several orders of magnitude compared to earlier proposals. Building on this idea, we develop a theoretical framework describing a non-inertial observer equipped with a detector undergoing non-uniform, time-dependent acceleration. We show that, in a non-uniformly accelerated Rindler spacetime, the particle distribution perceived in the Minkowski vacuum acquires a time-dependent modification of the standard Unruh spectrum. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the inclusion of quantum entanglement leads to a deformation of the Minkowski vacuum into squeezed states.

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We analyze the entanglement between two modes of a free Dirac field as seen by two relatively accelerated parties. The entanglement is degraded by the Unruh effect and asymptotically reaches a nonvanishing minimum value in the infinite acceleration limit. This means that the state always remains entangled to a degree and can be used in quantum information tasks, such as teleportation, between parties in relative uniform acceleration. We analyze our results from the point of view afforded by the phenomenon of entanglement sharing and in terms of recent results in the area of multiqubit complementarity.

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Gaussian quantum information in relativistic quantum field theory for flat space-time

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Quantum effects in non-inertial frames and curved space-time have been studied for decades. One of the most intriguing discoveries is the existence of virtual particles in the quantum vacuum. One example in which such particles can be observed is through the Unruh effect, which predicts that a uniformly accelerated observer would see a thermal bath of (virtual) particles in the quantum vacuum. Initial doubts on the existence of these virtual particles were allayed by the Unruh De-Witt (UDW) detector, which promoted these virtual particles to real excitations of the detector. Ever since, semiclassical approaches to relativistic quantum field theory (QFT) in flat and curved space-time have been predominantly analysed through a two-level Unruh De-Witt detector utilizing perturbation theory. It is noted, however, that the change of relativistic frame preserves Gaussian properties (e.g. Gaussian distribution of the Wigner function) of the system. In this thesis, we specifically explore the effects of relativistic (non-inertial) reference frames on QFT by considering relativistic QFT in flat-space time. These systems are analysed from the perspective of Gaussian quantum information, via homodyne detection and UDW detectors with a harmonic oscillator degree of freedom.Our project starts by reviewing and developing bipartite/multi-partite entanglement measures (specifically, entanglement of formation), in the hope that we can utilize these measures to understand the entanglement properties of the quantum vacuum. In general, these measure have infinite degrees of freedom and are incomputable. In this project the multi-partite entanglement measure is applied to the Gaussian regime, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom to a finite one, hence making it a computable measure.In our next project, we attempt to understand how relativistic reference frames affect the communication between different observers. To obtain an intuition of its effect, a passive (time-delay) signal sent from a uniformly accelerated observer to a stationary observer was analysed. When we naively implemented the self-homodyne detection scheme, the signal appeared noisy. This effect was referred to as apparent decoherence, and its effect could be traced back to our naive assumption that all of the signal’s information would be stored in the time-delayed mode; the vacuum entanglement that pre-existed before the (time-delay) signal was created must be accounted for. We follow by analysing the effects that emerge due to communication between different relativistic reference frames. We then develop a communication technique referred to as ideal-homodyne which is a homodyne detection scheme robust to these effects. We used this detection scheme to analyse the correlation/entanglement properties of an accelerated signal (created via accelerated mirror, squeezer and phase shifter) sent to an inertial observer.In our last project, we utilize the knowledge that was gained through the prior projects to analyse (subcycle) electro-optic sampling. In the literature, there were doubts as to whether electro-optic sampling were truly detecting virtual particles in the quantum vacuum, or particle excitations that were created as a by-product of the detection mechanism. We were able to pin-point some similarities between electro-optic sampling and subcycle probe via the UDW detector. The regime in which the electro-optic sampling directly maps virtual particles from the vacuum into real excitations of the probe field was identified by establishing an equivalence to the UDW detector in certain parameter regimes.

•Jul 30, 2021•0 citations

Effects of uniform acceleration on quantum states and vacuum entanglement in relativistic quantum information

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In this thesis we focus on the influence of uniform acceleration on quantum states and their properties, as well as on quantum entanglement contained in the vacuum. First, we analyze a quantum clock measuring time in terms of the decay of an unstable particle. We compare the rate of ticking of a stationary clock to the one of a uniformly accelerating clock. We discover that there exists a deviation from what the discrepancy between those rates is predicted to be by special relativity. In a further part of this thesis we focus on the family of two-mode Gaussian states of two localized modes of a given quantum field. A general framework is developed for investigating the properties of such states, when observed by two uniformly accelerated observers, having access to another pair of localized modes. In particular, we focus on the vacuum state and examine the amount of quantum entanglement perceived by the observers. The framework is developed for three cases: the quantum scalar field in 1+1 and 3+1 dimensions and the Dirac spinor field in 1+1 dimensions. We find that in general more entanglement is seen when the accelerations of the observers increase and when the size of the modes of the observers and their central frequencies decrease. Furthermore, we extend our attention also to tripartite entanglement and investigate its extraction from the quantum vacuum by three particle detectors in a cavity, interacting with a quantum field for a finite time. Detailed maps of amounts of tripartite and bipartite entanglement extracted by the detectors, are produced and compared between two types of boundary conditions. It is found vacuum entanglement is most easily extracted in the case of periodic boundary conditions and it is easier to extract tripartite than bipartite entanglement.

arXiv:1908.06002•Aug 16, 2019•0 citations
This thesis considers entanglement, an important resource for quantum information processing tasks, while taking into account the theory of relativity. Not only is this a more complete description of quantum information, but it is necessary to fully understand quantum information processing tasks done by systems in arbitrary motion. \n \nIt is shown that accelerated measurements on the vacuum of a free Dirac spinor field results in an entangled state for an inertial observer. The physical mechanism at work is the Davies-Unruh effect. The entanglement produced increases as a function of the acceleration, reaching maximal entanglement in the asymptotic limit of infinite acceleration. \n \nThe dynamics of entanglement between two Unruh-DeWitt detectors, one stationary and the other undergoing non-uniform acceleration, was studied numerically. In the ultraweak coupling limit, the entanglement decreases as a function of time for the parameters considered and decreases faster than if the moving detector had had a uniform acceleration.
While the Unruh effect has traditionally been studied under the assumption of uniform acceleration, a simplification motivated by experimental considerations, it is not necessarily true for all non-inertial motions. We propose a novel approach for the indirect detection of the Unruh effect without relying on the former restriction. Previous studies have shown that probing the decoherence of an Unruh-DeWitt detector can significantly reduce the acceleration required for observing the effect by several orders of magnitude compared to earlier proposals. Building on this idea, we develop a theoretical framework describing a non-inertial observer equipped with a detector undergoing non-uniform, time-dependent acceleration. We show that, in a non-uniformly accelerated Rindler spacetime, the particle distribution perceived in the Minkowski vacuum acquires a time-dependent modification of the standard Unruh spectrum. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the inclusion of quantum entanglement leads to a deformation of the Minkowski vacuum into squeezed states.
Building on the well-known Unruh-Davies effect, we examine the effects of projective measurements and quantum communications between accelerated and stationary observers. We find that the projective measurement by a uniformly accelerated observer can excite real particles from the vacuum in the inertial frame, even if no additional particles are created by the measurement process in the accelerating frame. Furthermore, we show that the particles created by this accelerating measurement can be highly entangled in the inertial frame, and it is also possible to use this process to generate even maximally entangled two-qubit states by a certain arrangement of measurements. As a by-product of our analysis, we also show that a single qubit of information can be perfectly transmitted from the accelerating observer to the inertial one. In principle, such an effect could be exploited in designing an entangled-state generator for quantum communication.
We analyze the entanglement between two modes of a free Dirac field as seen by two relatively accelerated parties. The entanglement is degraded by the Unruh effect and asymptotically reaches a nonvanishing minimum value in the infinite acceleration limit. This means that the state always remains entangled to a degree and can be used in quantum information tasks, such as teleportation, between parties in relative uniform acceleration. We analyze our results from the point of view afforded by the phenomenon of entanglement sharing and in terms of recent results in the area of multiqubit complementarity.
Quantum effects in non-inertial frames and curved space-time have been studied for decades. One of the most intriguing discoveries is the existence of virtual particles in the quantum vacuum. One example in which such particles can be observed is through the Unruh effect, which predicts that a uniformly accelerated observer would see a thermal bath of (virtual) particles in the quantum vacuum. Initial doubts on the existence of these virtual particles were allayed by the Unruh De-Witt (UDW) detector, which promoted these virtual particles to real excitations of the detector. Ever since, semiclassical approaches to relativistic quantum field theory (QFT) in flat and curved space-time have been predominantly analysed through a two-level Unruh De-Witt detector utilizing perturbation theory. It is noted, however, that the change of relativistic frame preserves Gaussian properties (e.g. Gaussian distribution of the Wigner function) of the system. In this thesis, we specifically explore the effects of relativistic (non-inertial) reference frames on QFT by considering relativistic QFT in flat-space time. These systems are analysed from the perspective of Gaussian quantum information, via homodyne detection and UDW detectors with a harmonic oscillator degree of freedom.Our project starts by reviewing and developing bipartite/multi-partite entanglement measures (specifically, entanglement of formation), in the hope that we can utilize these measures to understand the entanglement properties of the quantum vacuum. In general, these measure have infinite degrees of freedom and are incomputable. In this project the multi-partite entanglement measure is applied to the Gaussian regime, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom to a finite one, hence making it a computable measure.In our next project, we attempt to understand how relativistic reference frames affect the communication between different observers. To obtain an intuition of its effect, a passive (time-delay) signal sent from a uniformly accelerated observer to a stationary observer was analysed. When we naively implemented the self-homodyne detection scheme, the signal appeared noisy. This effect was referred to as apparent decoherence, and its effect could be traced back to our naive assumption that all of the signal’s information would be stored in the time-delayed mode; the vacuum entanglement that pre-existed before the (time-delay) signal was created must be accounted for. We follow by analysing the effects that emerge due to communication between different relativistic reference frames. We then develop a communication technique referred to as ideal-homodyne which is a homodyne detection scheme robust to these effects. We used this detection scheme to analyse the correlation/entanglement properties of an accelerated signal (created via accelerated mirror, squeezer and phase shifter) sent to an inertial observer.In our last project, we utilize the knowledge that was gained through the prior projects to analyse (subcycle) electro-optic sampling. In the literature, there were doubts as to whether electro-optic sampling were truly detecting virtual particles in the quantum vacuum, or particle excitations that were created as a by-product of the detection mechanism. We were able to pin-point some similarities between electro-optic sampling and subcycle probe via the UDW detector. The regime in which the electro-optic sampling directly maps virtual particles from the vacuum into real excitations of the probe field was identified by establishing an equivalence to the UDW detector in certain parameter regimes.
In this thesis we focus on the influence of uniform acceleration on quantum states and their properties, as well as on quantum entanglement contained in the vacuum. First, we analyze a quantum clock measuring time in terms of the decay of an unstable particle. We compare the rate of ticking of a stationary clock to the one of a uniformly accelerating clock. We discover that there exists a deviation from what the discrepancy between those rates is predicted to be by special relativity. In a further part of this thesis we focus on the family of two-mode Gaussian states of two localized modes of a given quantum field. A general framework is developed for investigating the properties of such states, when observed by two uniformly accelerated observers, having access to another pair of localized modes. In particular, we focus on the vacuum state and examine the amount of quantum entanglement perceived by the observers. The framework is developed for three cases: the quantum scalar field in 1+1 and 3+1 dimensions and the Dirac spinor field in 1+1 dimensions. We find that in general more entanglement is seen when the accelerations of the observers increase and when the size of the modes of the observers and their central frequencies decrease. Furthermore, we extend our attention also to tripartite entanglement and investigate its extraction from the quantum vacuum by three particle detectors in a cavity, interacting with a quantum field for a finite time. Detailed maps of amounts of tripartite and bipartite entanglement extracted by the detectors, are produced and compared between two types of boundary conditions. It is found vacuum entanglement is most easily extracted in the case of periodic boundary conditions and it is easier to extract tripartite than bipartite entanglement.