Investigating entangled photons to quantify quantum correlations in dual optomechanical cavities.

Abstract

Quantum correlations that go beyond quantum entanglement have a significant role in the fields of quantum information processing and quantum computation. In essence, when we describe a quantum system using pure states, quantum entanglement and quantum correlation are essentially indistinguishable. However, this equivalence breaks down when dealing with general mixed states. To contribute to understanding this distinction, we have considered a straightforward model for both generating and measuring these quantum correlations. We focus on two macroscopic mechanical resonators situated in separate Fabry–Perot cavities and coupled through the photon hopping process. Our model allows us to conduct a comprehensive examination and quantification of quantum correlations that extend beyond entanglement between these mechanical modes. Our approach begins with the determination of the global covariance matrix, serving as the foundation for calculating two key metrics: the Entropy of Formation and the Gaussian quantum Discord. These metrics enable us to quantify the extent of quantum entanglement and quantum correlations, respectively. Our analysis, based on these quantifiers, reveals that quantum discord serves as a more appropriate metric for characterizing the quantum correlations between the mechanical modes in an optomechanical quantum system, especially in the presence of robust photon hopping.