Dynamics of quantum correlations under intrinsic decoherence in a Heisenberg spin chain model with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

Abstract

By taking into account the effect of intrinsic decoherence and by using Milburn’s dynamical master equation, we study the temporal evolution of quantum correlations in a two-qubit XXZ Heisenberg spin chain model with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction and an external nonuniform magnetic field both directed along the z-axis. We use the concurrence (C) to detect entanglement and the local quantum uncertainty (LQU) to measure discord-like correlations. We consider three cases of initial quantum states: the mixed state, the Werner state and the pure state. For the mixed initial state and the Werner initial state, our results show that the external magnetic field strongly stimulates the effect of intrinsic decoherence which can highlight the entanglement sudden death phenomenon, while the LQU is resistant to sudden death. In addition, the DM interaction makes the effect of intrinsic decoherence more pronounced. However, a weak DM interaction can markedly improve quantum correlations and thus cause the phenomenon of entanglement sudden revival. On the other hand, and especially for the initial “uncorrelated” state (in terms of entanglement and LQU) with a zero nonuniform magnetic field and no DM interaction, it is easier to generate a strong entanglement, but it is difficult to generate LQU. Finally, we have found that when the system is initially “uncorrelated,” the nonuniform magnetic field can make the system strongly correlated for very remarkable steady-state values (in particular entanglement). Other results will also be discussed.