Steady-state entanglement in open and noisy quantum systems

L. Hartmann, W. Dür, and H.-J. Briegel
Phys. Rev. A 74, 052304 – Published 3 November 2006

Abstract

We show that quantum mechanical entanglement can prevail in noisy open quantum systems at high temperature and far from thermodynamical equilibrium, despite the deteriorating effect of decoherence. The system consists of a number N of interacting quantum particles, and can interact and exchange particles with some environments. The effect of decoherence is counteracted by a simple mechanism, where system particles are randomly reset to some standard initial state, e.g., by replacing them with particles from the environment. We present a master equation that describes this process, which we can solve analytically for small N. If we vary the interaction strength and the reset against decoherence rate, we find a threshold below which the equilibrium state is classically correlated and above which there is a parameter region with genuine entanglement.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 6 February 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.052304

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

L. Hartmann1, W. Dür1,2, and H.-J. Briegel1,2

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
  • 2Institut für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Innsbruck, Austria

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 74, Iss. 5 — November 2006

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×