Role of environmental correlations in the non-Markovian dynamics of a spin system

We study the dynamics of a chain of interacting quantum particles affected by an individual or collective environment(s), focusing on the role played by the environmental quantum correlations over the evolution of the chain. The presence of entanglement in the state of the environment magnifies the non-Markovian nature of the chain's dynamics, giving rise to structures in figures of merit such as spin entanglement and purity that are not observed under a separable environmental state. Our analysis can be relevant to problems tackling the open-system dynamics of biological complexes of strong current interest.We study the dynamics of a chain of interacting quantum particles affected by an individual or collective environment(s), focusing on the role played by the environmental quantum correlations over the evolution of the chain. The presence of entanglement in the state of the environment magnifies the non-Markovian nature of the chain's dynamics, giving rise to structures in figures of merit such as spin entanglement and purity that are not observed under a separable environmental state. Our analysis can be relevant to problems tackling the open-system dynamics of biological complexes of strong current interest.

arXiv:1106.5447Physical Review ASep 29, 201141 citations

Interaction-induced correlations and non-Markovianity of quantum dynamics

Andrea Smirne, L. Mazzola, Mauro Paternostro +1 more

We investigate the conditions under which the trace distance between two different states of a given open system increases in time due to the interaction with an environment, therefore signaling non-Markovianity. We find that the finite-time difference in trace distance is bounded by two sharply defined quantities that are strictly linked to the occurrence of system-environment correlations created throughout their interaction and affecting the subsequent evolution of the system. This allows us to shed light on the origin of non-Markovian behaviors in quantum dynamics. We best illustrate our findings by tackling two physically relevant examples: a non-Markovian dephasing mechanism that has been the focus of a recent experimental endeavor and the open-system dynamics experienced by a spin connected to a finite-size quantum spin chain.We investigate the conditions under which the trace distance between two different states of a given open system increases in time due to the interaction with an environment, therefore signaling non-Markovianity. We find that the finite-time difference in trace distance is bounded by two sharply defined quantities that are strictly linked to the occurrence of system-environment correlations created throughout their interaction and affecting the subsequent evolution of the system. This allows us to shed light on the origin of non-Markovian behaviors in quantum dynamics. We best illustrate our findings by tackling two physically relevant examples: a non-Markovian dephasing mechanism that has been the focus of a recent experimental endeavor and the open-system dynamics experienced by a spin connected to a finite-size quantum spin chain.

arXiv:1302.2055Physical Review AMay 22, 201346 citations

Dynamical role of system-environment correlations in non-Markovian dynamics

Laura Mazzola, César A. Rodríguez-Rosario, Kavan Kishore Modi +1 more

We analyze the role played by system-environment correlations in the emergence of non-Markovian dynamics. By working within the framework developed in Breuer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 210401 (2009)], we unveil a fundamental connection between non-Markovian behavior and dynamics of system-environment correlations. We derive an upper bound to the rate of change of the distinguishability between different states of the system that explicitly depends on the establishment of correlations between system and environment. We illustrate our results using a fully solvable spin-chain model, which allows us to gain insight into the mechanisms triggering non-Markovian evolution.We analyze the role played by system-environment correlations in the emergence of non-Markovian dynamics. By working within the framework developed in Breuer et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 210401 (2009)], we unveil a fundamental connection between non-Markovian behavior and dynamics of system-environment correlations. We derive an upper bound to the rate of change of the distinguishability between different states of the system that explicitly depends on the establishment of correlations between system and environment. We illustrate our results using a fully solvable spin-chain model, which allows us to gain insight into the mechanisms triggering non-Markovian evolution.

arXiv:1203.3723Physical Review AJul 30, 201281 citations

Non-Markovian dynamics in the extended cluster spin-1/2 XX chain

Maryam Mahmoudi, S. Mahdavifar, T. Mohammad Ali Zadeh +1 more

We study the dynamics of entanglement, mutual information, and quantum discord in the extended cluster spin-1/2 $\mathit{XX}$ chain, equivalent to a one-dimensional spin-1/2 $\mathit{XX}$ model with three-spin interaction (TSI). Selecting the nearest neighbor pair spins as an open quantum system, the rest of the chain plays the role of the environment. The two-point Heisenberg and the TSI are responsible for coupling between the system and the environment. Although the revival phenomenon of quantum correlations as an indication of non-Markovian dynamics is observed for TSI stronger than the Heisenberg interaction, the study of the trace distance has proven that the dynamical phase transition from the Markovian to the non-Markovian regime happens at a critical value where the TSI is equal to half of the Heisenberg interaction. By focusing on the nearest neighbor pair spins of the environment, we have also shown that the dynamics of quantum correlation in the environment is sensitive to Markovian and non-Markovian regions.We study the dynamics of entanglement, mutual information, and quantum discord in the extended cluster spin-1/2 $\mathit{XX}$ chain, equivalent to a one-dimensional spin-1/2 $\mathit{XX}$ model with three-spin interaction (TSI). Selecting the nearest neighbor pair spins as an open quantum system, the rest of the chain plays the role of the environment. The two-point Heisenberg and the TSI are responsible for coupling between the system and the environment. Although the revival phenomenon of quantum correlations as an indication of non-Markovian dynamics is observed for TSI stronger than the Heisenberg interaction, the study of the trace distance has proven that the dynamical phase transition from the Markovian to the non-Markovian regime happens at a critical value where the TSI is equal to half of the Heisenberg interaction. By focusing on the nearest neighbor pair spins of the environment, we have also shown that the dynamics of quantum correlation in the environment is sensitive to Markovian and non-Markovian regions.

arXiv:1607.02837Physical Review AJan 30, 201716 citations

System–environment correlations and non-Markovian dynamics

A Pernice, J Helm, W T Strunz

We determine the total state dynamics of a dephasing open quantum system using the standard environment of harmonic oscillators. Of particular interest are random unitary approaches to the same reduced dynamics and system–environment correlations in the full model. Concentrating on a model with an at times negative dephasing rate, the issue of 'non-Markovianity' will also be addressed. Crucially, given the quantum environment, the appearance of non-Markovian dynamics turns out to be accompanied by a loss of system–environment correlations. Depending on the initial purity of the qubit state, these system–environment correlations may be purely classical over the whole relevant time scale, or there may be intervals of genuine system–environment entanglement. In the latter case, we see no obvious relation between the build-up or decay of these quantum correlations and 'non-Markovianity'.We determine the total state dynamics of a dephasing open quantum system using the standard environment of harmonic oscillators. Of particular interest are random unitary approaches to the same reduced dynamics and system–environment correlations in the full model. Concentrating on a model with an at times negative dephasing rate, the issue of 'non-Markovianity' will also be addressed. Crucially, given the quantum environment, the appearance of non-Markovian dynamics turns out to be accompanied by a loss of system–environment correlations. Depending on the initial purity of the qubit state, these system–environment correlations may be purely classical over the whole relevant time scale, or there may be intervals of genuine system–environment entanglement. In the latter case, we see no obvious relation between the build-up or decay of these quantum correlations and 'non-Markovianity'.

arXiv:1202.4280Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 30, 201240 citations

Foundations and measures of quantum non-Markovianity

Heinz‐Peter Breuer

The basic features of the dynamics of open quantum systems, such as the dissipation of energy, the decay of coherences, the relaxation to an equilibrium or non-equilibrium stationary state, and the transport of excitations in complex structures are of central importance in many applications of quantum mechanics. The theoretical description, analysis and control of non-Markovian quantum processes play an important role in this context. While in a Markovian process an open system irretrievably loses information to its surroundings, non-Markovian processes feature a flow of information from the environment back to the open system, which implies the presence of memory effects and represents the key property of non-Markovian quantum behavior. Here, we review recent ideas developing a general mathematical definition for non-Markoviantiy in the quantum regime and a measure for the degree of memory effects in the dynamics of open systems which are based on the exchange of information between system and environment. We further study the dynamical effects induced by the presence of system-environment correlations in the total initial state and design suitable methods to detect such correlations through local measurements on the open system.The basic features of the dynamics of open quantum systems, such as the dissipation of energy, the decay of coherences, the relaxation to an equilibrium or non-equilibrium stationary state, and the transport of excitations in complex structures are of central importance in many applications of quantum mechanics. The theoretical description, analysis and control of non-Markovian quantum processes play an important role in this context. While in a Markovian process an open system irretrievably loses information to its surroundings, non-Markovian processes feature a flow of information from the environment back to the open system, which implies the presence of memory effects and represents the key property of non-Markovian quantum behavior. Here, we review recent ideas developing a general mathematical definition for non-Markoviantiy in the quantum regime and a measure for the degree of memory effects in the dynamics of open systems which are based on the exchange of information between system and environment. We further study the dynamical effects induced by the presence of system-environment correlations in the total initial state and design suitable methods to detect such correlations through local measurements on the open system.

arXiv:1206.5346Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 30, 2012223 citations

We study the dynamics of entanglement, mutual information, and quantum discord in the extended cluster spin-1/2

\mathit{XX}

chain, equivalent to a one-dimensional spin-1/2

\mathit{XX}

model with three-spin interaction (TSI). Selecting the nearest neighbor pair spins as an open quantum system, the rest of the chain plays the role of the environment. The two-point Heisenberg and the TSI are responsible for coupling between the system and the environment. Although the revival phenomenon of quantum correlations as an indication of non-Markovian dynamics is observed for TSI stronger than the Heisenberg interaction, the study of the trace distance has proven that the dynamical phase transition from the Markovian to the non-Markovian regime happens at a critical value where the TSI is equal to half of the Heisenberg interaction. By focusing on the nearest neighbor pair spins of the environment, we have also shown that the dynamics of quantum correlation in the environment is sensitive to Markovian and non-Markovian regions.