Is quantum coherence a resource for efficient population transfer

Recent progress in resource theory of quantum coherence has resulted in measures to quantify coherence in quantum systems. Especially, the l 1 -norm and relative entropy of coherence have been shown to be proper quantifiers of coherence and have been used to investigate coherence properties in different operational tasks. Since long-lasting quantum coherence has been experimentally confirmed in a number of photosynthetic complexes, it has been debated if and how coherence is connected to the known efficiency of population transfer in such systems. In this study, we investigate quantitatively the relationship between coherence, as quantified by l 1 -norm and relative entropy of coherence, and efficiency, as quantified by fidelity, for population transfer between end-sites in a network of two-level quantum systems. In particular, we use the coherence averaged over the duration of the population transfer in order to carry out a quantitative comparison between coherence and fidelity. Our results show that although coherence is a necessary requirement for population transfer, there is no unique relation between coherence and the efficiency of the transfer process.Recent progress in resource theory of quantum coherence has resulted in measures to quantify coherence in quantum systems. Especially, the l 1 -norm and relative entropy of coherence have been shown to be proper quantifiers of coherence and have been used to investigate coherence properties in different operational tasks. Since long-lasting quantum coherence has been experimentally confirmed in a number of photosynthetic complexes, it has been debated if and how coherence is connected to the known efficiency of population transfer in such systems. In this study, we investigate quantitatively the relationship between coherence, as quantified by l 1 -norm and relative entropy of coherence, and efficiency, as quantified by fidelity, for population transfer between end-sites in a network of two-level quantum systems. In particular, we use the coherence averaged over the duration of the population transfer in order to carry out a quantitative comparison between coherence and fidelity. Our results show that although coherence is a necessary requirement for population transfer, there is no unique relation between coherence and the efficiency of the transfer process.

arXiv:1706.10238New Journal of PhysicsOct 5, 20175 citations

Distribution of entanglement in light-harvesting complexes and their quantum efficiency

Francesca Fassioli, Alexandra Olaya-Castro

Recent evidence of electronic coherence during energy transfer in photosynthetic antenna complexes has reinvigorated the discussion about whether coherence and/or entanglement have any practical functionality for these molecular systems. Here we investigate quantitative relationships between the quantum yield of a light-harvesting complex and the distribution of entanglement among its components. Our study focuses on the entanglement yield or average entanglement surviving a time scale comparable to the average excitation trapping time. We consider the Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) protein of green sulfur bacteria as a prototype system and show that there is an inverse relationship between the quantum efficiency and the average entanglement between distant donor sites. Our results suggest that long-lasting electronic coherence among distant donors might help in the modulation of the light-harvesting function.Recent evidence of electronic coherence during energy transfer in photosynthetic antenna complexes has reinvigorated the discussion about whether coherence and/or entanglement have any practical functionality for these molecular systems. Here we investigate quantitative relationships between the quantum yield of a light-harvesting complex and the distribution of entanglement among its components. Our study focuses on the entanglement yield or average entanglement surviving a time scale comparable to the average excitation trapping time. We consider the Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) protein of green sulfur bacteria as a prototype system and show that there is an inverse relationship between the quantum efficiency and the average entanglement between distant donor sites. Our results suggest that long-lasting electronic coherence among distant donors might help in the modulation of the light-harvesting function.

arXiv:1003.3610New Journal of PhysicsAug 11, 2010117 citations

Experimental test of the trade-off relation for quantum coherence

Wei-Min Lv, Chao Zhang, Xiao‐Min Hu +6 more

As one of the most essential properties of quantum mechanics, quantum coherence is also considered a key physical resource which can be used to accomplish certain tasks of quantum information processing. Significant efforts are involved in the quantification of quantum coherence using measures such as the ${l}_{1}$ -norm and the relative entropy of coherence. The quantum coherence as a physical resource is usually defined with respect to a given basis, which also arouses an issue of interest concerning the variation of quantum coherence for a quantum state in different reference bases. In this paper, using an all optical setup, we experimentally investigate a trade-off relation between the coherence measures quantified by relative entropy of coherence in two noncommuting reference bases. Our result shows that the sum of quantum coherence under these bases is bounded in a region defined by its lower bound and upper bound.As one of the most essential properties of quantum mechanics, quantum coherence is also considered a key physical resource which can be used to accomplish certain tasks of quantum information processing. Significant efforts are involved in the quantification of quantum coherence using measures such as the ${l}_{1}$-norm and the relative entropy of coherence. The quantum coherence as a physical resource is usually defined with respect to a given basis, which also arouses an issue of interest concerning the variation of quantum coherence for a quantum state in different reference bases. In this paper, using an all optical setup, we experimentally investigate a trade-off relation between the coherence measures quantified by relative entropy of coherence in two noncommuting reference bases. Our result shows that the sum of quantum coherence under these bases is bounded in a region defined by its lower bound and upper bound.

Physical Review ADec 28, 201824 citations

Thermodynamic Cost of Quantum Coherence in Photosynthetic Energy Transfer

Dhiraj Kumar, Niraj Kumar

Quantum coherence in biological systems is often assumed to be thermodynamically expensive to maintain, but its actual energy cost has never been quantified. We compute the thermodynamic cost of quantum-coherent energy transfer in the FMO photosynthetic complex using Lindblad master equation simulations. At optimal ENAQT dephasing (γ = 100 cm⁻¹), the transport efficiency reaches 29.4%, the Holevo channel capacity peaks at 2.17 bits, and the Landauer ratio—the energy cost per successfully transmitted bit relative to the fundamental thermodynamic limit kT ln 2—is ~ 390×. This is approximately 104 times more efficient than classical CMOS computing (~ 107× Landauer). The entropy production rate peaks at 1.77 kB/ps at γ = 300 cm⁻¹, and the von Neumann entropy saturates at Smax = 2.45 bits at steady state. These results provide the first quantitative thermodynamic characterization of quantum-coherent energy transfer in a pigment-protein complex.Quantum coherence in biological systems is often assumed to be thermodynamically expensive to maintain, but its actual energy cost has never been quantified. We compute the thermodynamic cost of quantum-coherent energy transfer in the FMO photosynthetic complex using Lindblad master equation simulations. At optimal ENAQT dephasing (γ = 100 cm⁻¹), the transport efficiency reaches 29.4%, the Holevo channel capacity peaks at 2.17 bits, and the Landauer ratio—the energy cost per successfully transmitted bit relative to the fundamental thermodynamic limit kT ln 2—is ~ 390×. This is approximately 104 times more efficient than classical CMOS computing (~ 107× Landauer). The entropy production rate peaks at 1.77 kB/ps at γ = 300 cm⁻¹, and the von Neumann entropy saturates at Smax = 2.45 bits at steady state. These results provide the first quantitative thermodynamic characterization of quantum-coherent energy transfer in a pigment-protein complex.

Jul 22, 20260 citations

Global coherence of quantum evolutions based on decoherent histories: Theory and application to photosynthetic quantum energy transport

Michele Allegra, Paolo Giorda, Seth Lloyd

Assessing the role of interference in natural and artificial quantum dynamical processes is a crucial task in quantum information theory. To this aim, an appropriate formalism is provided by the decoherent histories framework. While this approach has been deeply explored from different theoretical perspectives, it still lacks of a comprehensive set of tools able to concisely quantify the amount of coherence developed by a given dynamics. In this paper, we introduce and test different measures of the (average) coherence present in dissipative (Markovian) quantum evolutions, at various time scales and for different levels of environmentally induced decoherence. In order to show the effectiveness of the introduced tools, we apply them to a paradigmatic quantum process where the role of coherence is being hotly debated: exciton transport in photosynthetic complexes. To spot out the essential features that may determine the performance of the transport, we focus on a relevant trimeric subunit of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex and we use a simplified (Haken-Strobl) model for the system-bath interaction. Our analysis illustrates how the high efficiency of environmentally assisted transport can be traced back to a quantum recoil avoiding effect on the exciton dynamics, that preserves and sustains the benefits of the initial fast quantum delocalization of the exciton over the network. Indeed, for intermediate levels of decoherence, the bath is seen to selectively kill the negative interference between different exciton pathways, while retaining the initial positive one. The concepts and tools here developed show how the decoherent histories approach can be used to quantify the relation between coherence and efficiency in quantum dynamical processes.Assessing the role of interference in natural and artificial quantum dynamical processes is a crucial task in quantum information theory. To this aim, an appropriate formalism is provided by the decoherent histories framework. While this approach has been deeply explored from different theoretical perspectives, it still lacks of a comprehensive set of tools able to concisely quantify the amount of coherence developed by a given dynamics. In this paper, we introduce and test different measures of the (average) coherence present in dissipative (Markovian) quantum evolutions, at various time scales and for different levels of environmentally induced decoherence. In order to show the effectiveness of the introduced tools, we apply them to a paradigmatic quantum process where the role of coherence is being hotly debated: exciton transport in photosynthetic complexes. To spot out the essential features that may determine the performance of the transport, we focus on a relevant trimeric subunit of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex and we use a simplified (Haken-Strobl) model for the system-bath interaction. Our analysis illustrates how the high efficiency of environmentally assisted transport can be traced back to a quantum recoil avoiding effect on the exciton dynamics, that preserves and sustains the benefits of the initial fast quantum delocalization of the exciton over the network. Indeed, for intermediate levels of decoherence, the bath is seen to selectively kill the negative interference between different exciton pathways, while retaining the initial positive one. The concepts and tools here developed show how the decoherent histories approach can be used to quantify the relation between coherence and efficiency in quantum dynamical processes.

arXiv:1503.04735Physical Review AApr 8, 201611 citations

Complementarity relations for quantum coherence

Shuming Cheng, Michael J. W. Hall

Various measures have been suggested recently for quantifying the coherence of a quantum state with respect to a given basis. We first use two of these, the ${l}_{1}$ -norm and relative entropy measures, to investigate tradeoffs between the coherences of mutually unbiased bases. Results include relations between coherence, uncertainty, and purity; tight general bounds restricting the coherences of mutually unbiased bases; and an exact complementarity relation for qubit coherences. We further define the average coherence of a quantum state. For the ${l}_{1}$ -norm measure this is related to a natural ``coherence radius'' for the state and leads to a conjecture for an ${l}_{2}$ -norm measure of coherence. For relative entropy the average coherence is determined by the difference between the von Neumann entropy and the quantum subentropy of the state and leads to upper bounds for the latter quantity. Finally, we point out that the relative entropy of coherence is a special case of G-asymmetry, which immediately yields several operational interpretations in contexts as diverse as frame alignment, quantum communication, and metrology, and suggests generalizing the property of quantum coherence to arbitrary groups of physical transformations.Various measures have been suggested recently for quantifying the coherence of a quantum state with respect to a given basis. We first use two of these, the ${l}_{1}$-norm and relative entropy measures, to investigate tradeoffs between the coherences of mutually unbiased bases. Results include relations between coherence, uncertainty, and purity; tight general bounds restricting the coherences of mutually unbiased bases; and an exact complementarity relation for qubit coherences. We further define the average coherence of a quantum state. For the ${l}_{1}$-norm measure this is related to a natural ``coherence radius'' for the state and leads to a conjecture for an ${l}_{2}$-norm measure of coherence. For relative entropy the average coherence is determined by the difference between the von Neumann entropy and the quantum subentropy of the state and leads to upper bounds for the latter quantity. Finally, we point out that the relative entropy of coherence is a special case of G-asymmetry, which immediately yields several operational interpretations in contexts as diverse as frame alignment, quantum communication, and metrology, and suggests generalizing the property of quantum coherence to arbitrary groups of physical transformations.

arXiv:1508.03240Physical Review AOct 2, 2015182 citations

{l}_{1}

-norm and the relative entropy of coherence. The quantum coherence as a physical resource is usually defined with respect to a given basis, which also arouses an issue of interest concerning the variation of quantum coherence for a quantum state in different reference bases. In this paper, using an all optical setup, we experimentally investigate a trade-off relation between the coherence measures quantified by relative entropy of coherence in two noncommuting reference bases. Our result shows that the sum of quantum coherence under these bases is bounded in a region defined by its lower bound and upper bound.

Various measures have been suggested recently for quantifying the coherence of a quantum state with respect to a given basis. We first use two of these, the

{l}_{1}

-norm and relative entropy measures, to investigate tradeoffs between the coherences of mutually unbiased bases. Results include relations between coherence, uncertainty, and purity; tight general bounds restricting the coherences of mutually unbiased bases; and an exact complementarity relation for qubit coherences. We further define the average coherence of a quantum state. For the

{l}_{1}

-norm measure this is related to a natural ``coherence radius'' for the state and leads to a conjecture for an

{l}_{2}

-norm measure of coherence. For relative entropy the average coherence is determined by the difference between the von Neumann entropy and the quantum subentropy of the state and leads to upper bounds for the latter quantity. Finally, we point out that the relative entropy of coherence is a special case of G-asymmetry, which immediately yields several operational interpretations in contexts as diverse as frame alignment, quantum communication, and metrology, and suggests generalizing the property of quantum coherence to arbitrary groups of physical transformations.