Entanglement in open quantum dynamics

Abstract

In the framework of the theory of open systems based on completely positive quantum dynamical semigroups, we give a description of the continuous-variable entanglement for a system consisting of two independent harmonic oscillators interacting with a general environment. Using the Peres–Simon necessary and sufficient criterion for separability of two-mode Gaussian states, we describe the generation and evolution of entanglement in terms of the covariance matrix for an arbitrary Gaussian input state. For some values of diffusion and dissipation coefficients describing the environment, the state keeps for all times its initial type: separable or entangled. In other cases, entanglement generation or entanglement collapse (entanglement sudden death) takes place or even a periodic collapse and revival of entanglement takes place. We show that for certain classes of environments, the initial state evolves asymptotically to an entangled equilibrium bipartite state, whereas for other values of the coefficients describing the environment, the asymptotic state is separable. We calculate also the logarithmic negativity characterizing the degree of entanglement of the asymptotic state.