Efficient two-step entanglement concentration for arbitrary W states

We present two two-step practical entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) for concentrating an arbitrary three-particle less-entangled W state into a maximally entangled W state assisted with single photons. The first protocol uses the linear optics and the second protocol adopts the cross-Kerr nonlinearity to perform the protocol. In the first protocol, based on the post-selection principle, three parties say Alice, Bob and Charlie in different distant locations can obtain the maximally entangled W state from the arbitrary less-entangled W state with a certain success probability. In the second protocol, it dose not require the parties to posses the sophisticated single-photon detectors and the concentrated photon pair can be retained after performing this protocol successfully. Moreover, the second protocol can be repeated to get a higher success probability. Both protocols may be useful in practical quantum information applications.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Semiclassical Fourier Transform for Quantum Computation

Shor's algorithms for factorization and discrete logarithms on a quantum computer employ Fourier transforms preceding a final measurement. It is shown that such a Fourier transform can be carried out in a semi-classical way in which a ``classical'' (macroscopic) signal resulting from the measurement of one bit (embodied in a two-state quantum system) is employed to determine the type of measurement carried out on the next bit, and so forth. In this way the two-bit gates in the Fourier transform can all be replaced by a smaller number of one-bit gates controlled by classical signals. Success in simplifying the Fourier transform suggests that it may be worthwhile looking for other ways of using semi-classical methods in quantum computing.Comment: Latex 6 pages, two figures on one page in uuencoded Postscrip

Non-linear supersymmetric Sigma-Model for Diffusive Scattering of Classical Waves with Resonance Enhancement

We derive a non-linear sigma-model for the transport of light (classical waves) through a disordered medium. We compare this extension of the model with the well-established non-linear sigma-model for the transport of electrons (Schroedinger waves) and display similarities of and differences between both cases. Motivated by experimental work (M. van Albada et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 66 (1991) 3132), we then generalize the non-linear sigma-model further to include resonance scattering. We find that the form of the effective action is unchanged but that a parameter of the effective action, the mean level density, is modified in a manner which correctly accounts for the data.Comment: 4 pages, 1 Figure, to be published in Europhysics Letter

Likelihood-based statistical estimation from quantized data

Most standard statistical methods treat numerical data as if they were real (infinitenumber- of-decimal-places) observations. The issue of quantization or digital resolution is recognized by engineers and metrologists, but is largely ignored by statisticians and can render standard statistical methods inappropriate and misleading. This article discusses some of the difficulties of interpretation and corresponding difficulties of inference arising in even very simple measurement contexts, once the presence of quantization is admitted. It then argues (using the simple case of confidence interval estimation based on a quantized random sample from a normal distribution as a vehicle) for the use of statistical methods based on rounded data likelihood functions as an effective way of dealing with the issue. --

Classification of Quench Dynamical Behaviours in Spinor Condensates

Thermalization of isolated quantum systems is a long-standing fundamental problem where different mechanisms are proposed over time. We contribute to this discussion by classifying the diverse quench dynamical behaviours of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates, which includes well-defined quantum collapse and revivals, thermalization, and certain special cases. These special cases are either nonthermal equilibration with no revival but a collapse even though the system has finite degrees of freedom or no equilibration with no collapse and revival. Given that some integrable systems are already shown to demonstrate the weak form of eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH), we determine the regions where ETH holds and fails in this integrable isolated quantum system. The reason behind both thermalizing and nonthermalizing behaviours in the same model under different initial conditions is linked to the discussion of `rare' nonthermal states existing in the spectrum. We also propose a method to predict the collapse and revival time scales and how they scale with the number of particles in the condensate. We use a sudden quench to drive the system to non-equilibrium and hence the theoretical predictions given in this paper can be probed in experiments.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figure

Stabilization of Quantum Spin Hall Effect by Designed Removal of Time-Reversal Symmetry of Edge States

The quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect is known to be unstable to perturbations violating time-reversal symmetry. We show that creating a narrow ferromagnetic (FM) region near the edge of a QSH sample can push one of the counterpropagating edge states to the inner boundary of the FM region, and leave the other at the outer boundary, without changing their spin polarizations and propagation directions. Since the two edge states are spatially separated into different "lanes", the QSH effect becomes robust against symmetry-breaking perturbations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Colossal infrared and terahertz magneto-optical activity in a two-dimensional Dirac material

When two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) are exposed to magnetic field, they resonantly absorb electromagnetic radiation via electronic transitions between Landau levels (LLs). In 2DEGs with a Dirac spectrum, such as graphene, theory predicts an exceptionally high infrared magneto-absorption, even at zero doping. However, the measured LL magneto-optical effects in graphene have been much weaker than expected because of imperfections in the samples available so far for such experiments. Here we measure magneto-transmission and Faraday rotation in high-mobility encapsulated monolayer graphene using a custom designed setup for magneto-infrared microspectroscopy. Our results show a strongly enhanced magneto-optical activity in the infrared and terahertz ranges characterized by a maximum allowed (50%) absorption of light, a 100% magnetic circular dichroism as well as a record high Faraday rotation. Considering that sizeable effects have been already observed at routinely achievable magnetic fields, our findings demonstrate a new potential of magnetic tuning in 2D Dirac materials for long-wavelength optoelectronics and plasmonics.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure