Steered quantum coherence as a signature of quantum phase transitions in spin chains

Abstract

We propose to use the steered quantum coherence (SQC) as a signature of quantum phase transitions (QPTs). By considering various spin chain models, including the transverse-field Ising model, \textit{XY} model, and \textit{XX} model with three-spin interaction, we showed that the SQC and its first-order derivative succeed in signaling different critical points of QPTs. In particular, the SQC method is effective for any spin pair chosen from the chain, and the strength of SQC, in contrast to entanglement and quantum discord, is insensitive to the distance (provided it is not very short) of the tested spins, which makes it convenient for practical use as there is no need for careful choice of two spins in the chain.