We study the relaxation dynamics of interacting one-dimensional fermions with band curvature after a weak quench in the interaction parameter at zero temperature. Our model lies within the class of interacting Luttinger liquids, where the harmonic Luttinger theory is extended by a weak-integrability-breaking phonon scattering term. In order to solve for the nonequilibrium time evolution, we use quantum kinetic equations exploiting the resonant but subleading character of the phonon interaction term. The interplay between phonon scattering and the quadratic Luttinger theory leads to the emergence of three distinct spatiotemporal regimes for the fermionic real-space correlation function. It features the crossover from a prequench to a prethermal state, finally evolving towards a thermal state on increasing length and time scales. The characteristic algebraically decaying real-space correlations in the prethermalized regime become modulated by an amplitude that is decaying in time according to a stretched exponential as an effect of the interactions. The asymptotic thermalization dynamics is governed by energy transport over large distances from the thermalized to the nonthermalized regions via macroscopic, dynamical slow modes. This is revealed in an algebraic decay of the system's effective temperature. The numerical value of the associated exponent agrees with the dynamical critical exponent of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class. We also discuss a criterion for the applicability of this theory away from the integrable limit of noninteracting fermions.

We propose the concept of vector cavity optomechanics in which the polarization behavior of light fields is introduced to achieve optomechanical control. The steady states and optomechanically induced transparency are studied in the vector regime, and we show that the polarization of optical fields may be a powerful tool to identify the underlying physical process and control the signal of optomechanically induced transparency. In particular, the conditions for obtaining a linearly polarized output probe field is given, which reveal some nontrivial polarizing effects. Despite its conceptual simplicity, vector cavity optomechanics may entail a wide range of intriguing phenomena and uncover a novel understanding for optomechanical interaction.

We propose a protocol for the deterministic preparation of entangled NOON mechanical states. The system is constituted by two identical, optically coupled optomechanical systems. The protocol consists of two steps. In the first, one of the two optical resonators is excited by a resonant external $\pi$-like Gaussian optical pulse. When the optical excitation coherently partly transfers to the second cavity, the second step starts. It consists of sending simultaneously two additional $\pi$-like Gaussian optical pulses, one at each optical resonator, with specific frequencies. In the optomechanical ultrastrong coupling regime, when the coupling strength becomes a significant fraction of the mechanical frequency, we show that NOON mechanical states with quite high Fock states can be deterministically obtained. The operating range of this protocol is carefully analyzed. Calculations have been carried out taking into account the presence of decoherence, thermal noise, and imperfect cooling.

We discuss the abstract structure of sequential weak measurement (WM) of general observables. In all orders, the sequential WM correlations without postselection yield the corresponding correlations of the Wigner function, offering direct quantum tomography through the moments of the canonical variables. Correlations in spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ sequential weak measurements coincide with those in strong measurements, they are constrained kinematically, and they are equivalent with single measurements. In sequential WMs with postselection, an anomaly occurs, different from the weak value anomaly of single WMs. In particular, the spread of polarization $\widehat{\sigma }$ as measured in double WMs of $\widehat{\sigma }$ will diverge for certain orthogonal pre- and postselected states.

The so-called NOON states are quantum optical resources known to be useful especially for quantum lithography and metrology. At the same time, they are known to be very sensitive to photon losses and rather hard to produce experimentally. Concerning the former, here we present a scheme where NOON states are the elementary resources for building quantum error-correction codes against photon losses, thus demonstrating that such resources can also be useful to suppress the effect of loss. Our NOON code is an exact code that can be systematically extended from one-photon to higher-number losses. Its loss scaling depending on the codeword photon number is the same as for some existing, exact loss codes such as bosonic and quantum parity codes, but its codeword mode number is intermediate between that of the other codes. Another generalization of the NOON code is given for arbitrary logical qudits instead of logical qubits. While, in general, the final codewords are always obtainable from multimode NOON states through application of beam splitters, both codewords for the one-photon-loss qubit NOON code can be simply created from single-photon states with beam splitters. We give various examples and also discuss a potential application of our qudit code for quantum communication.

Precisely characterizing and controlling realistic quantum systems under noises is a challenging frontier in quantum sciences and technologies. In developing reliable controls for open quantum systems, one is often confronted with the problem of the lack of knowledge on the system controllability. The purpose of this paper is to give a numerical approach to this problem, that is, to approximately compute the reachable set of states for coherently controlled quantum Markovian systems. The approximation consists of setting both upper and lower bounds for system's reachable region of states. Furthermore, we apply our reachability analysis to the control of the relaxation dynamics of a two-qubit nuclear magnetic resonance spin system. We implement some experimental tasks of quantum state engineering in this open system at a near optimal performance in view of purity: e.g., increasing polarization and preparing pseudopure states. These results demonstrate the usefulness of our theory and show interesting and promising applications of environment-assisted quantum dynamics.

Photons with complicated spatial mode structures can be applied for different quantum information tasks. Here, we show the entanglement of photons with complex singularity patterns called Hermite-Laguerre-Gaussian (HLG) modes. Measuring one photon of the entangled pairs by HLG mode basis to define its singularity pattern, we can steer the singularity structure of its partner, while the initial singularity structure of the photons is undefined. We also calculate the HLG specific quantum-correlation function. It can be used to extend the quantum key distribution protocols and to tune experiments dealing with high-order transverse modes. In addition we discuss orbital angular momentum properties of the HLG modes and summarize some features of the singularity pattern of the HLG modes with varying angle parameter.

We experimentally re-evaluate the fine structure of ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{11+}–{\mathrm{Sn}}^{14+}$ ions. These ions are essential in bright extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) plasma-light sources for next-generation nanolithography, but their complex electronic structure is an open challenge for both theory and experiment. We combine optical spectroscopy of magnetic dipole $M1$ transitions, in a wavelength range covering 260 to 780 nm, with charge-state selective ionization in an electron beam ion trap. Our measurements confirm the predictive power of ab initio calculations based on Fock space coupled cluster theory. We validate our line identification using semiempirical cowan calculations with adjustable wave-function parameters. Available Ritz combinations further strengthen our analysis. Comparison with previous work suggests that line identifications in the EUV need to be revisited.

We demonstrate the laser excitation of the $n=3$ state of positronium (Ps) in vacuum. A combination of a specially designed pulsed slow positron beam and a high-efficiency converter target was used to produce Ps. Its annihilation was recorded by single-shot positronium annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Pulsed laser excitation of the $n=3$ level at a wavelength $\lambda \approx 205$ nm was monitored via Ps photoionization induced by a second intense laser pulse at $\lambda =1064$ nm. About 15% of the overall positronium emitted into vacuum was excited to $n=3$ and photoionized. Saturation of both the $n=3$ excitation and the following photoionization was observed and explained by a simple rate equation model. The positronium's transverse temperature was extracted by measuring the width of the Doppler-broadened absorption line. Moreover, excitation to Rydberg states $n=15$ and 16 using $n=3$ as the intermediate level was observed, giving an independent confirmation of excitation to the $3{}^{3}P$ state.

Phase-space distributions are widely applied in quantum optics to access the nonclassical features of radiations fields. In particular, the inability to interpret the Glauber-Sudarshan distribution in terms of a classical probability density is the fundamental benchmark for quantum light. However, this phase-space distribution cannot be directly reconstructed for arbitrary states, because of its singular behavior. In this work, we perform a characterization of the Glauber-Sudarshan representation in terms of distribution theory. We address important features of such distributions: (i) the maximal degree of their singularities is studied, (ii) the ambiguity of representation is shown, and (iii) their dual space for nonclassicality tests is specified. In this view, we reconsider the methods for regularizing the Glauber-Sudarshan distribution for verifying its nonclassicality. This treatment is supported with comprehensive examples and counterexamples.

We propose a single-photon source based on a pair of weakly nonlinear optical cavities subject to a one-directional dissipative coupling. When both cavities are driven by mutually coherent fields, sub-Poissonian light is generated in the target cavity even when the nonlinear energy per photon is much smaller than the dissipation rate. The sub-Poissonian character of the field holds over a delay measured by the inverse photon lifetime, as in the conventional photon blockade, thus allowing single-photon emission under pulsed excitation. We discuss a possible implementation of the dissipative coupling relevant to photonic platforms.

We propose a versatile Loschmidt echo protocol to detect and quantify multiparticle entanglement. It allows us to extract the quantum Fisher information for arbitrary pure states, and finds direct application in quantum metrology. In particular, the protocol applies to states that are generally difficult to characterize, as non-Gaussian states, and states that are not symmetric under particle exchange. We focus on atomic systems, including trapped ions, polar molecules, and Rydberg atoms, where entanglement is generated dynamically via long-range interaction, and show that the protocol is stable against experimental detection errors.

Quantum steering is observed when performing appropriate local measurements on an entangled state. Here we discuss the possibility of simulating classically this effect, using classical communication instead of entanglement. We show that infinite communication is necessary for exactly simulating steering for any pure entangled state, as well as for a class of mixed entangled states. Moreover, we discuss the communication cost of steering for general entangled states, as well as approximate simulation. Our findings reveal striking differences between Bell nonlocality and steering and provide a natural way of measuring the strength of the latter.

We study entanglement generation and control in bidirectional-waveguide QED driven by a two-photon Gaussian wave packet. In particular, we focus on how increasing the number of qubits affects the overall average pairwise entanglement in the system. We also investigate how the presence of a second photon can introduce nonlinearities, thereby manipulating the generated entanglement. In addition, we show that, through the introduction of chirality and small decay rates, entanglement can be stored and enhanced up to factors of 2 and 3, respectively. Finally, we analyze the influence of finite detunings and time-delays on the generated entanglement.

We study the correction of errors intervening in two qubits dissipating into their own environments. This is done by resorting to local feedback actions with the aim of preserving as much as possible the initial amount of entanglement. Optimal control is found first by gaining insights from the subsystem purity and then by numerical analysis on the concurrence. This is tantamount to a double optimization on the actuation and on the measurement processes. Repeated feedback action is also investigated, thus paving the way for a continuous-time formulation and a solution of the problem.

Correlation spectroscopy has been proposed as a spectroscopic technique for measuring the coherence between the ground states in electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). While in the time domain the steep dispersion in the EIT condition accounts for the robustness of the correlation linewidth against power broadening, such physical insight was not directly established in the frequency domain. We propose a perturbative approach to describe the correlation spectroscopy of two noisy lasers coupled to a $\mathrm{\Lambda }$ transition in cold atoms, leading to EIT. Such approach leads to an analytical expression that maps the intensity correlation directly in terms of the absorption and dispersion of the light fields. Low and high perturbative regimes are investigated and demonstrate that, for coherent light sources, the first-order term in perturbation expansion represents a sufficient description for the correlation. Sideband resonances are also observed, showing the richness of the frequency domain approach.

The correlation spectroscopy has been successfully employed in the measurement of the intrinsic linewidth of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in time and frequency domain. We study the role of the sidebands of the intense fields in the measured spectra, analyzing the information that can be recovered working with different analysis frequencies. In this case, the nonzero one-photon detuning appears as a necessary condition for spectrally resolving the sideband resonances in the correlation coefficient. Our experimental findings are supported by the perturbative model defined in the frequency domain.

Motivated by recent interest in their applications, we report a systematic study of Cs atomic properties calculated by a high-precision relativistic all-order method. Excitation energies, reduced matrix elements, transition rates, and lifetimes are determined for levels with principal quantum numbers $n\le 12$ and orbital angular momentum quantum numbers $l\le 3$. Recommended values and estimates of uncertainties are provided for a number of electric-dipole transitions and the electric dipole polarizabilities of the $ns$, $np$, and $nd$ states. We also report a calculation of the electric quadrupole polarizability of the ground state. We display the dynamic polarizabilities of the $6s$ and $7p$ states for optical wavelengths between 1160 and 1800 nm and identify corresponding magic wavelengths for the $6s-7p_{1/2}$ and $6s-7p_{3/2}$ transitions. The values of relevant matrix elements needed for polarizability calculations at other wavelengths are provided.

We analyze the alignment-dependent dissociative and nondissociative ionization of acetylene, ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2$. Numerical models describing the yield of the singly and doubly charged ions $({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2{}^{+},{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_2{}^{2+})$ and several fragmentation and isomerization channels $({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{H}}^{+},{\mathrm{CH}}^{+}+{\mathrm{CH}}^{+},{\mathrm{CH}}_2{}^{+}+{\mathrm{C}}^{+})$ as a function of the relative alignment angle between the laser polarization axis and the molecular axis are presented. We apply and compare two different approaches. The first is based on time-dependent density functional theory. The second is a quasi-single-particle approach using the Dyson orbitals. We find good agreement between the results of both methods. A comparison of our theoretical predictions with experimental data allows us to show that the alignment-dependent yield of most reaction channels is described to high accuracy assuming sequential ionization. However, for some of the fragmentation channels, namely, ${\mathrm{CH}}^{+}+{\mathrm{CH}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{H}}^{+}$, we find non-negligible influence of recollisional ionization.

In this paper we investigate the close relationship between Dicke superradiance, originally predicted for an ensemble of two-level atoms in entangled states, and the Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect, initially established in astronomy to determine the dimensions of classical light sources such as stars. By studying the state evolution of the fields produced by classical sources—defined by a positive Glauber-Sudarshan $P$ function—when recording intensity correlations of higher order in a generalized Hanbury Brown and Twiss setup we find that the angular distribution of the last detected photon, apart from an offset, is identical to the superradiant emission pattern generated by an ensemble of two-level atoms in entangled symmetric Dicke states. We show that the phenomenon derives from projective measurements induced by the measurement of photons in the far field of the sources and the permutative superposition of quantum paths identical to those leading to superradiance in the case of single photon emitters. We thus point out an important similarity between classical sources and quantum emitters upon detection of photons if the particular photon source remains unknown. We finally present a compact result for the characteristic functional which generates intensity correlations of arbitrary order for any kind of light source.