The exchange of orbital angular momentum (OAM) between paraxial optical vortex and a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of atomic gases is well known. In this paper, we develop a theory for the microscopic interaction between matter and an optical vortex beyond paraxial approximation. We show how superposition of vortex states of BEC can be created with a focused optical vortex. Since the polarization or spin angular momentum (SAM) of the optical field is coupled with OAM of the field, in this case, these angular momenta can be transferred to the internal electronic and external center-of-mass motion of atoms provided both the motions are coupled. We propose a scheme for producing the superposition of matter-wave vortices using Gaussian and a focused Laguerre-Gaussian beam. We study how two-photon Rabi frequencies of stimulated Raman transitions vary with focusing angles for different combinations of OAM and SAM of optical states. We demonstrate the formation of vortex-antivortex structure and discuss interference of three vortex states in a BEC.

We propose a scheme in which the cooling of a mechanical resonator is achieved by exposing the optomechanical system to a non-Markovian environment. Because of the backflow from the non-Markovian environment, the phonon number can go beyond the conventional cooling limit in a Markovian environment. Utilizing the spectrum density obtained in a recent experiment [S. Gröblacher et al., Nat. Commun. 6, 7606 (2015)], we show that the cooling process is highly effective in a non-Markovian environment. Analysis of the cooling mechanism in a non-Markovian environment reveals that the non-Markovian memory effect is instrumental in the cooling process.

We examined the propagation of information encoded as nonanalytical points on temporally Gaussian-shaped optical pulses in fast- and slow-light systems. The bandwidth of the input pulses determined the sharpness of the nonanalytical points. A sharp bending nonanalytical point propagated with luminal velocity in both fast- and slow-light systems, in good agreement with relativistic causality. As the bandwidth was reduced, the bending point became broad and propagated with the relevant group velocities. This transition was, however, qualitatively different in the fast- and slow-light systems. We also examined the predictability of the future pulse shape beyond the practical nonanalytical point on the basis of the expansion. When the bandwidth was reduced below a critical value, the expansion well predicted the future pulse shape.

The problem of coupling multiple spin ensembles through cavity photons is revisited by using (3,5-dichloro-4-pyridyl)bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (PyBTM) organic radicals and a high-$T_c$ superconducting coplanar resonator. An exceptionally strong coupling is obtained and up to three spin ensembles are simultaneously coupled. The ensembles are made physically distinguishable by chemically varying the $g$ factor and by exploiting the inhomogeneities of the applied magnetic field. The coherent mixing of the spin and field modes is demonstrated by the observed multiple anticrossing, along with the simulations performed within the input-output formalism, and quantified by suitable entropic measures.

Intense spatio-spectral twin beams generated in the regime with pump depletion are analyzed applying a suggested quantum model that treats the signal, idler, and pump fields in the same way. The model assumes the signal and idler fields in the form of the generalized superposition of signal and noise and reveals nonzero signal coherent components in both fields, contrary to the models developed earlier. The influence of coherent components on the properties of intense twin beams is elucidated. The interference pattern formed in the process of sum-frequency generation and that of the Hong–Ou–Mandel interferometer are shown to be able to experimentally confirm the presence of coherent components.

We introduce a family of asymmetric Laguerre-Gaussian (aLG) laser beams. The beams have been derived via a complex-valued shift of conventional LG beams in the Cartesian plane. While propagating in a uniform medium, the first bright ring of the aLG beam becomes less asymmetric and the energy is redistributed toward peripheral diffraction rings. The projection of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) onto the optical axis is calculated. The OAM is shown to grow quadratically with increasing asymmetry parameter of the aLG beam, which equals the ratio of the shift to the waist radius. Conditions for the OAM becoming equal to the topological charge have been derived. For aLG beams with zero radial index, we have deduced an expression to define the intensity maximum coordinates and shown the crescent-shaped intensity pattern to rotate during propagation. Results of the experimental generation and rotation of aLG beams agree well with theoretical predictions.

We find that all measures of coherence are frozen for an initial state in a strictly incoherent channel if and only if the relative entropy of coherence is frozen for the state. Our finding reveals the existence of measure-independent freezing of coherence, and provides an entropy-based dynamical condition in which the coherence of an open quantum system is totally unaffected by noise.

Weyl points in three-dimensional photonic crystals behave as monopoles of Berry flux in momentum space. Here, based on general symmetry analysis, we show that a minimal number of four symmetry-related (consequently equifrequency) Weyl points can be realized in time-reversal invariant photonic crystals. We further propose an experimentally feasible way to modify double-gyroid photonic crystals to realize four equifrequency Weyl points, which is explicitly confirmed by our first-principle photonic band-structure calculations. Remarkably, photonic crystals with equifrequency Weyl points are qualitatively advantageous in applications including angular selectivity, frequency selectivity, invisibility cloaking, and three-dimensional imaging.

We present a surprisingly simple three-dimensional Bloch sphere representation of a qutrit, i.e., a single three-level quantum system. We start with a symmetric state of a two-qubit system and relate it to the spin-1 representation. Using this representation we associate each qutrit state with a three-dimensional vector $\mathbf{a}$ and a metric tensor $\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}$ which satisfy $\mathbf{a}·\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}·\mathbf{a}\le 1$. This resembles the well known condition for qubit Bloch vectors in which case $\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}=\mathbb{1}$. In our case the vector $\mathbf{a}$ corresponds to spin-1 polarization, whereas the tensor $\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}$ is a function of polarization uncertainties. Alternatively, $\mathbf{a}$ is a local Bloch vector of a symmetric two-qubit state and $\widehat{\mathrm{\Gamma }}$ is a function of the corresponding correlation tensor.

We present a model of discrete quantum evolution based on quantum correlations between the evolving system and a reference quantum clock system. A quantum circuit for the model is provided, which in the case of a constant Hamiltonian is able to represent the evolution over $2^n$ time steps in terms of just $n$ time qubits and $n$ control gates. We then introduce the concept of system-time entanglement as a measure of distinguishable quantum evolution, based on the entanglement between the system and the reference clock. This quantity vanishes for stationary states and is maximum for systems jumping onto a new orthogonal state at each time step. In the case of a constant Hamiltonian leading to a cyclic evolution it is a measure of the spread over distinct energy eigenstates and satisfies an entropic energy-time uncertainty relation. The evolution of mixed states is also examined. Analytical expressions for the basic case of a qubit clock, as well as for the continuous limit in the evolution between two states, are provided.

The staggered quantum-walk model makes it possible to establish an unprecedented connection between discrete-time quantum walks and graph theory. We call attention to the fact that a large subclass of the coined model is included in Szegedy's model, which in its turn is entirely included in the staggered model. In order to compare those three quantum-walk models, we put them in the staggered formalism and show that the Szegedy and coined models are defined on a special subclass of graphs. This inclusion scheme is also true when the searching framework is added. We use graph theory to characterize which staggered quantum walks can be reduced to the Szegedy or coined quantum-walk model. We analyze a staggered-based search that cannot be included in Szegedy's model and show numerically that this search is more efficient than a random-walk-based search.

Quantum correlations present in a broadband two-line squeezed microwave state can induce entanglement in a spatially separated bipartite system consisting of either two single qubits or two-qubit ensembles. By using an appropriate master equation for a bipartite quantum system in contact with two separate but entangled baths, the generating entanglement process in spatially separated quantum systems is thoroughly characterized. Decoherence thermal effects on the entanglement transfer are also discussed. Our results provide evidence that this entanglement transfer by dissipation is feasible, yielding to a steady-state amount of entanglement in the bipartite quantum system which can be optimized for a wide range of realistic physical systems that include state-of-the-art experiments with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, superconducting qubits, or even magnetic molecules embedded in a crystalline matrix.

In multiparty quantum systems, the monogamy inequality proposes an upper bound on the distribution of bipartite quantum correlation between a single party and each of the remaining parties in the system, in terms of the amount of quantum correlation shared by that party with the rest of the system taken as a whole. However, it is well known that not all quantum correlation measures universally satisfy the monogamy inequality. In this work, we aim at determining the nontrivial value by which the monogamy inequality can be violated by a quantum correlation measure. Using an information-theoretic complementarity relation between the normalized purity and quantum correlation in any given multiparty state, we obtain a nontrivial lower bound on the negative monogamy score for the quantum correlation measure. In particular, for the three-qubit states the lower bound is equal to the negative von Neumann entropy of the single qubit reduced density matrix. We analytically examine the tightness of the derived lower bound for certain $n$-qubit quantum states. Further, we report numerical results of the same for monogamy violating correlation measures using Haar uniformly generated three-qubit states.

Techniques for accelerating the evolutionary processes associated with an adiabatic passage have recently been developed. Given that the context for which these speeding-up protocols, such as the shortcut to adiabaticity, have been formulated, their presentation rests on the assumption of the validity of the quantum adiabatic theorem. We investigate here the possibility of extending these methods to a regime in which the adiabatic theorem cannot be applied. Using a spin chain model and a typical nonadiabatic quantum communication protocol, we determine and compare certain indicative aspects of state transfer, such as the fidelity measure of quality and communication latency, associated with both normal and pulse-assisted transmission. The fidelity is found to be effectively enhanced by increasing the pulse strength or pulse duration, indicating a shortcut to nonadiabatic quantum state transmission. Numerical calculations also reveal the inherent reliability and fault tolerance of this method.

Quantum state transfer between distant nodes is at the heart of quantum processing and quantum networking. Stimulated by this, we propose a scheme where one can achieve quantum state transfer with a high fidelity between sites in a cavity quantum optomechanical network. In our lattice, each individual site is composed of a localized mechanical mode which interacts with a laser-driven cavity mode via radiation pressure, while photons hop between neighboring sites. After diagonalization of the Hamiltonian of each cell, we show that the system can be reduced to an effective Hamiltonian of two decoupled bosonic chains, and therefore we can apply the well-known results in quantum state transfer together with an additional condition on the transfer times. In fact, we show that our transfer protocol works for any arbitrary joint quantum state of a mechanical and an optical mode. Finally, in order to analyze a more realistic scenario we take into account the effects of independent thermal reservoirs for each site. By solving the standard master equation within the Born-Markov approximation, we reassure both the effective model and the feasibility of our protocol.

In this paper, we study the monogamy inequality of Tsallis $q$-entropy entanglement. We first provide an analytic formula of Tsallis $q$-entropy entanglement in two-qubit systems for $\frac{5-\sqrt{13}}{2}\le q\le \frac{5+\sqrt{13}}{2}.$ The analytic formula of Tsallis $q$-entropy entanglement in $2\otimes d$ system is also obtained and we show that Tsallis $q$-entropy entanglement satisfies a set of hierarchical monogamy equalities. Furthermore, we prove the squared Tsallis $q$-entropy entanglement follows a general inequality in the qubit systems. Based on the monogamy relations, a set of multipartite entanglement indicators is constructed, which can detect all genuine multiqubit entangled states even in the case of $N$-tangle vanishes. Moreover, we study some examples in multipartite higher-dimensional system for the monogamy inequalities.

Geometric entanglement (GE), as a measure of multipartite entanglement, has been investigated as a universal tool to detect phase transitions in quantum many-body lattice models. In this paper we outline a systematic method to compute GE for two-dimensional (2D) quantum many-body lattice models based on the translational invariant structure of infinite projected entangled pair state (iPEPS) representations. By employing this method, the $q$-state quantum Potts model on the square lattice with $q\in \{2,3,4,5\}$ is investigated as a prototypical example. Further, we have explored three 2D Heisenberg models: the antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 $XXX$ and anisotropic $XYX$ models in an external magnetic field, and the antiferromagnetic spin-1 $XXZ$ model. We find that continuous GE does not guarantee a continuous phase transition across a phase transition point. We observe and thus classify three different types of continuous GE across a phase transition point: (i) GE is continuous with maximum value at the transition point and the phase transition is continuous, (ii) GE is continuous with maximum value at the transition point but the phase transition is discontinuous, and (iii) GE is continuous with nonmaximum value at the transition point and the phase transition is continuous. For the models under consideration, we find that the second and the third types are related to a point of dual symmetry and a fully polarized phase, respectively.

Heisenberg spin chains can act as quantum wires transferring quantum states either perfectly or with high fidelity. Gaussian packets of excitations passing through dual rails can encode the two states of a logical qubit, depending on which rail is empty and which rail is carrying the packet. With extra interactions in one or between different chains, one can introduce interaction zones in arrays of such chains, where specific one- or two-qubit gates act on any qubit which passes through these interaction zones. Therefore, universal quantum computation is made possible in a static way where no external control is needed. This scheme will then pave the way for a scalable way of quantum computation where specific hardware can be connected to make large quantum circuits. Our scheme is an improvement of a recent scheme where we borrowed an idea from quantum electrodynamics to replace nonlocal interactions between spin chains with local interactions mediated by an ancillary chain.

Superconducting magnets enable precise control of nuclear and electron spins, and are used in experiments that explore biological and condensed-matter systems, and fundamental atomic particles. In high-precision applications, a common view is that slow $(<1\mathrm{Hz})$ drift of the homogeneous magnetic-field limits control and measurement precision. We report on previously undocumented higher-frequency field noise (10–200 Hz) that limits the coherence time of ${}^9\text{Be}^{+}$ electron-spin qubits in the $4.46-\mathrm{T}$ field of a superconducting magnet. We measure a spin-echo $T_2$ coherence time of $\sim 6\text{ms}$ for the ${}^9\text{Be}^{+}$ electron-spin resonance at $124\text{GHz}$, limited by part-per-billion fractional fluctuations in the magnet's homogeneous field. Vibration isolation of the magnet improved $T_2$ to $\sim 50$ ms.

We propose a simple theoretical approach to consider negative-ion conversion of neutral atoms grazing on alkali-metal-halide crystal surfaces over the complete velocity range. The conversion process is viewed as a series of successive binary collisions between the projectile and the negatively charged sites on the surface along their trajectories due to localization of valence-band electrons at the anionic sites of the crystal. Conversion from ${\mathrm{F}}^0$ to ${\mathrm{F}}^{-}$ via grazing scattering in LiF(100) and KI(100) is demonstrated with this model, which incorporates the key factors of image interaction and Mott-Littleton polarization interaction for electron capture. It also incorporates the decrease in the electron affinity due to Coulomb barrier tunneling of large-velocity negative ions to the vacuum level near surface anion sites. The pronounced differences in the efficiency of ${\mathrm{F}}^{-}$ formation at LiF(100) and KI(100) surfaces are well explained by the proposed model. The relative efficiency and related saturation of the negative-ion formation for LiF and KI crystals compare well with experimental results.