Typicality in random quantum scattering.

We consider scattering processes where a quantum system comprises an inner subsystem and a boundary and is subject to Haar-averaged random unitaries acting on the boundary-environment Hilbert space only. We show that, regardless of the initial state, a single scattering event will disentangle the unconditional state (i.e., the scattered state when no information about the applied unitary is available) across the inner subsystem-boundary partition. Also, we apply Lévy's lemma to constrain the trace norm fluctuations around the unconditional state. Finally, we derive analytical formulas for the mean scattered purity for initial globally pure states and provide one with numerical evidence of the reduction of fluctuations around such mean values with increasing environmental dimension.

Gravimetry through non-linear optomechanics.

Precision gravimetry is key to a number of scientific and industrial applications, including climate change research, space exploration, geological surveys and fundamental investigations into the nature of gravity.  A variety of quantum systems, such as atom interferometry and on-chip-Bose-Einstein condensates have thus far been investigated to this aim. Here, we propose a new method which involves using a quantum optomechanical system for measurements of gravitational acceleration. As a proof-of-concept, we investigate the fundamental sensitivity for gravitational accelerometry of a cavity optomechanical system with a trilinear radiation pressure light-matter interaction. The phase of the optical output encodes the gravitational acceleration g and is the only component which needs to be measured. We prove analytically that homodyne detection is the optimal readout method and we predict an ideal fundamental sensitivity of Δg = 10-15 ms-2 for state-of-the-art parameters of optomechanical systems, showing that they could, in principle, surpass the best atomic interferometers even for low optical intensities. Further, we show that the scheme is strikingly robust to the initial thermal state of the oscillator.

Necessity of Eigenstate Thermalization.

Under the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH), quantum-quenched systems equilibrate towards canonical, thermal ensembles. While at first glance the ETH might seem a very strong hypothesis, we show that it is indeed not only sufficient but also necessary for thermalization. More specifically, we consider systems coupled to baths with well-defined macroscopic temperature and show that whenever all product states thermalize then the ETH must hold. Our result definitively settles the question of determining whether a quantum system has a thermal behavior, reducing it to checking whether its Hamiltonian satisfies the ETH.

Noisy quantum cellular automata for quantum versus classical excitation transfer.

We introduce a class of noisy quantum cellular automata on a qubit lattice that includes all classical Markov chains, as well as maps where quantum coherence between sites is allowed to build up over time. We apply such a construction to the problem of excitation transfer through 1D lattices, and compare the performance of classical and quantum dynamics with equal local transition probabilities. Our discrete approach has the merits of stripping down the complications of the open system dynamics, of clearly isolating coherent effects, and of allowing for an exact treatment of conditional dynamics, all while capturing a rich variety of dynamical behaviors.

Coherently opening a high-Q cavity.

We propose a general framework to effectively "open" a high-Q resonator, that is, to release the quantum state initially prepared in it in the form of a traveling electromagnetic wave. This is achieved by employing a mediating mode that scatters coherently the radiation from the resonator into a one-dimensional continuum of modes such as a waveguide. The same mechanism may be used to "feed" a desired quantum field to an initially empty cavity. Switching between an open and "closed" resonator may then be obtained by controlling either the detuning of the scatterer or the amount of time it spends in the resonator. First, we introduce the model in its general form, identifying (i) the traveling mode that optimally retains the full quantum information of the resonator field and (ii) a suitable figure of merit that we study analytically in terms of the system parameters. Then, we discuss two feasible implementations based on ensembles of two-level atoms interacting with cavity fields. In addition, we discuss how to integrate traditional cavity QED in our proposal using three-level atoms.

Measuring Gaussian quantum information and correlations using the Rényi entropy of order 2.

We demonstrate that the Rényi-2 entropy provides a natural measure of information for any multimode Gaussian state of quantum harmonic systems, operationally linked to the phase-space Shannon sampling entropy of the Wigner distribution of the state. We prove that, in the Gaussian scenario, such an entropy satisfies the strong subadditivity inequality, a key requirement for quantum information theory. This allows us to define and analyze measures of Gaussian entanglement and more general quantum correlations based on such an entropy, which are shown to satisfy relevant properties such as monogamy.

Dynamical recurrence and the quantum control of coupled oscillators.

Controllability--the possibility of performing any target dynamics by applying a set of available operations--is a fundamental requirement for the practical use of any physical system. For finite-dimensional systems, such as spin systems, precise criteria to establish controllability, such as the so-called rank criterion, are well known. However, most physical systems require a description in terms of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space whose controllability properties are poorly understood. Here, we investigate infinite-dimensional bosonic quantum systems--encompassing quantum light, ensembles of bosonic atoms, motional degrees of freedom of ions, and nanomechanical oscillators--governed by quadratic Hamiltonians (such that their evolution is analogous to coupled harmonic oscillators). After having highlighted the intimate connection between controllability and recurrence in the Hilbert space, we prove that, for coupled oscillators, a simple extra condition has to be fulfilled to extend the rank criterion to infinite-dimensional quadratic systems. Further, we present a useful application of our finding, by proving indirect controllability of a chain of harmonic oscillators.

Determination of maximal Gaussian entanglement achievable by feedback-controlled dynamics.

We determine a general upper bound for the steady-state entanglement achievable by continuous feedback for a system of any number of bosonic degrees of freedom. We apply such a bound to the specific case of parametric interactions--the most common practical way to generate entanglement in quantum optics--and single out optimal feedback strategies that achieve the maximal entanglement. We also consider the case of feedback schemes entirely restricted to local operations and compare their performance to the optimal, generally nonlocal, schemes.

Multimode uncertainty relations and separability of continuous variable states.

A multimode uncertainty relation (generalizing the Robertson-Schrödinger relation) is derived as a necessary constraint on the second moments of n pairs of canonical operators. In turn, necessary conditions for the separability of multimode continuous variable states under (m+n)-mode bipartitions are derived from the uncertainty relation. These conditions are proven to be necessary and sufficient for (1+n)-mode Gaussian states and for (m+n)-mode bisymmetric Gaussian states.

Distributed quantum computation via optical fibers.

We investigate the possibility of realizing effective quantum gates between two atoms in distant cavities coupled by an optical fiber. We show that highly reliable swap and entangling gates are achievable. We exactly study the stability of these gates in the presence of imperfections in coupling strengths and interaction times and prove them to be robust. Moreover, we analyze the effect of spontaneous emission and losses and show that such gates are very promising in view of the high level of coherent control currently achievable in optical cavities.

Quantification and scaling of multipartite entanglement in continuous variable systems.

We present a theoretical method to determine the multipartite entanglement between different partitions of multimode, fully or partially symmetric Gaussian states of continuous variable systems. For such states, we determine the exact expression of the logarithmic negativity and show that it coincides with that of equivalent two-mode Gaussian states. Exploiting this reduction, we demonstrate the scaling of the multipartite entanglement with the number of modes and its reliable experimental estimate by direct measurements of the global and local purities.

Determination of continuous variable entanglement by purity measurements.

We classify the entanglement of two-mode Gaussian states according to their degree of total and partial mixedness. We derive exact bounds that determine maximally and minimally entangled states for fixed global and marginal purities. This characterization allows for an experimentally reliable estimate of continuous variable entanglement based on measurements of purity.