Relativistic Quantum Information Research Articles

Bosonic and fermionic coherence of N-partite states in the background of a dilaton black hole

We study the N-partite coherences of GHZ and W states for free bosonic and fermionic fields when any n observers hover near the event horizon of a Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger (GHS) dilaton black hole. We derive the more general analytical expressions for N-partite coherence, encompassing both physically accessible and inaccessible coherences in the context of the dilaton black hole. It has been found that the coherence of the bosonic field is greater than that of the fermionic field, while the entanglement of the fermionic field is greater than that of the bosonic field in dilaton spacetime. Additionally, the coherence of the W state is greater than that of the GHZ state, whereas the entanglement of the GHZ state is greater than that of the W state in curved spacetime. These results suggest that we should utilize suitable quantum resources and different types of particles for relativistic quantum information tasks.

Physically accessible and inaccessible quantum correlations of Dirac fields in Schwarzschild spacetime

In this study, we investigate the influence of Hawking decoherence on the quantum correlations of Dirac fields between Alice and Bob. Initially, they share a Gisin state near the Schwarzschild black hole (SBH) in an asymptotically flat region. Then, Alice remains stationary in this region, while Bob hovers near the event horizon (EH) of the SBH. We expect that Bob, using his excited detector, will detect a thermal Fermi-Dirac particle distribution. We assess the quantum correlations in the evolved Gisin state using quantum consonance and uncertainty-induced non-locality across physically accessible, physically inaccessible, and spacetime regions. Our investigation examines how these measures vary with Hawking temperature, Dirac particle frequency, and the parameters of the initial Gisin state. Additionally, we analyze the distribution of these quantum correlation measures across all possible regions, noting a redistribution towards the physically inaccessible region. Our findings demonstrate that Hawking decoherence reduces the quantum correlations of Dirac fields in the physically accessible region, with the extent of reduction depending on the initial state parameters. Moreover, as Hawking decoherence intensifies in the physically inaccessible and spacetime regions, the quantum correlations of Dirac fields reemerge and ultimately converge to specific values at infinite Hawking temperature. These results contribute to our understanding of quantum correlation dynamics within the framework of relativistic quantum information (RQI).

Closed-form expressions for smeared bidistributions of a massless scalar field: Nonperturbative and asymptotic results in relativistic quantum information

Closed-form expressions for smeared bidistributions of a massless scalar field: Nonperturbative and asymptotic results in relativistic quantum information

Towards a Field-Theory based Relativistic Quantum Information

We present our program for the development of quantum informational concepts in relativistic systems in terms of the unequal-time correlation functions of quantum fields. We employ two formalisms that provide the basis for further developments. (i) The Quantum Temporal Probabilities (QTP) Method for quantum field measurements and (ii) the Closed-Time-Path (CTP) formalism for causal time evolutions. We present the main ideas of QTP and we show how it relates to the CTP formalism, allowing us to express concepts of measurement theory in terms of path-integrals. We also present many links of our program to non-equilibrium quantum field theories. Details can be found in a recent paper by the authors [1].

Bundle theoretic descriptions of massless single-particle state spaces; how do we perceive a moving quantum particle

Recently, a bundle theoretic description of massive single-particle state spaces, which is better suited for Relativistic Quantum Information Theory than the ordinary Hilbert space description, has been suggested. However, the mathematical framework presented in that work does not apply to massless particles. It is because, unlike massive particles, massless particles cannot assume the zero momentum state and hence the mass shell associated with massless particles has non-trivial cohomology. To overcome this difficulty, this paper suggests a new framework that can be applied to massless particles. Applications to the cases of massless particles with spin-1 and 2, namely photon and graviton, will reveal that the field equations, the gauge conditions, and the gauge freedoms of Electromagnetism and General Relativity naturally arise as manifestations of an inertial observer’s perception of the internal quantum states of a photon and a graviton, respectively. Finally, we show that gauge freedom is exhibited by all massless particles, except those with spin-0 and 1/2.

Entanglement structure of quantum fields through local probes

We present a framework to study the entanglement structure of a quantum field theory inspired by the formalism of particle detectors in relativistic quantum information. This framework can in principle be used to faithfully capture entanglement in a QFT between arbitrary-shaped regions of spacetime without encountering UV divergences, bypassing many of the issues typically present in other approaches. Our results also establish the limits of the efficiency of entanglement harvesting, and may also be used to motivate an operational definition of entanglement between spacetime subregions in field theory.

Role of quantum degrees of freedom of relativistic fields in quantum information protocols

We analyze the differences between relativistic fields with or without quantum degrees of freedom in relativistic quantum information protocols. We classify the regimes where the existence of quantum degrees of freedom is necessary to explain the phenomenology of interacting quantum systems. We also identify the precise regimes where quantum fields can be well approximated by quantum-controlled classical fields in relativistic quantum information protocols. Our results can be useful to discern which features are fundamentally different in classical and quantum field theory.

Considerations on the Relativity of Quantum Irrealism

The study of quantum resources in the relativistic limit has attracted attention over the last couple of decades, mostly due to the observation that the spin-momentum entanglement is not Lorentz covariant. In this work, we take the investigations of relativistic quantum information a step further, bringing the foundational question of realism to the discussion. In particular, we examine whether Lorentz boosts can affect quantum irrealism-an instance related to the violations imposed by quantum mechanics onto a certain notion of realism. To this end, we adopt as a theoretical platform a model of a relativistic particle traveling through a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We then compare the quantum irrealism assessed from two different inertial frames in relative motion. In consonance with recent findings in the context of quantum reference frames, our results suggest that the notion of physical realism is not absolute.

Quantum entanglement for continuous variables sharing in an expanding spacetime

Detecting the structure of spacetime with quantum technologies has always been one of the frontier topics of relativistic quantum information. Here, we analytically study the generation and redistribution of Gaussian entanglement of the scalar fields in an expanding spacetime. We consider a two-mode squeezed state via a Gaussian amplification channel that corresponds to the time-evolution of the state from the asymptotic past to the asymptotic future. Therefore, the dynamical entanglement of the Gaussian state in an expanding universe encodes historical information about the underlying spacetime structure, suggesting a promising application in observational cosmology. We find that quantum entanglement is more sensitive to the expansion rate than the expansion volume. According to the analysis of quantum entanglement, choosing the particles with the smaller momentum and the optimal mass is a better way to extract information about the expanding universe. These results can guide the simulation of the expanding universe in quantum systems.

Quantum field theory based quantum information: Measurements and correlations

This is the first in a series of papers aiming to develop a relativistic quantum information theory in terms of unequal-time correlation functions in quantum field theory. In this work, we highlight two formalisms which together can provide a useful theoretical platform suitable for further developments: (1) Quantum field measurements using the Quantum Temporal Probabilities (QTP) method; (2) Closed-Time-Path (CTP) formalism for causal time evolutions. QTP incorporates the detector into the quantum description, while emphasizing that the records of measurement are macroscopic and can be expressed in terms of classical spacetime coordinates. We first present a new, elementary derivation of the QTP formulas for the probabilities of n measurement events. We then demonstrate the relation of QTP with the Closed-Time-Path formalism, by writing an explicit formula that relates the associated generating functionals. We exploit the path integral representation of the CTP formalism, in order to express the measured probabilities in terms of path integrals. After this, we provide some simple applications of the QTP formalism. In particular, we show how Unruh–DeWitt detector models and Glauber’s photodetection theory appear as limiting cases. Finally, with quantum correlation being the pivotal notion in relativistic quantum information and measurements, we highlight the role played by the CTP two-particle irreducible effective action which enables one to tap into the resources of non-equilibrium quantum field theory for our stated purpose.

Genuine tripartite entanglement of W state subject to Hawking effect of a Schwarzschild black hole

We study the genuine tripartite entanglement (GTE), one-tangle and two-tangle of W state of fermionic fields in the background of a Schwarzschild black hole. We find that, with the increase of the Hawking temperature, the GTE of W state first decreases and then tends to zero, while the GTE of GHZ state first decreases and then freezes. We also find that the Hawking effect can completely destroy the two-tangle of W state, while one-tangle first decreases and then the freezing phenomenon appears with the growth of the Hawking temperature. These results are helpful to guide us to select appropriate quantum states and quantum resources to deal with relativistic quantum information tasks.

Bundle theoretic descriptions of massive single-particle state spaces; with a view toward relativistic quantum information theory

Relativistic Quantum Information Theory (RQI) is a flourishing research area of physics, yet, there has been no systematic mathematical treatment of the field. In this paper, we suggest bundle theoretic descriptions of massive single-particle state spaces, which are basic building blocks of RQI. In the language of bundle theory, one can construct a vector bundle over the set of all possible motion states of a massive particle, in whose fibers the moving particle’s internal quantum state as perceived by a fixed inertial observer is encoded. A link between the usual Hilbert space description is provided by a generalized induced representation construction on the L 2-section space of the bundle. The aim of this paper is two-fold. One is to communicate the basic ideas of RQI to mathematicians and the other is to suggest an improved formalism for single-particle state spaces that encompasses all known massive particles including those which have never been dealt with in the RQI literature. Some of the theoretical implications of the formalism will be explored at the end of the paper.

Quantum teleportation with relativistic communication from first principles

In this work we provide a genuine relativistic quantum teleportation protocol whose classical communication component makes use of relativistic causal propagation of a quantum field. Consequently, the quantum teleportation is fully relativistic by construction. Our scheme is based on Unruh-DeWitt qubit detector model, where the quantum state being teleported is associated to an actual qubit rather than a field mode considered by Alsing and Milburn [PRL 91, 180404 (2003)]. We show that the existing works in (relativistic) quantum information, including good definitions of one-shot and asymptotic channel capacities, as well as algebraic formulation of quantum field theory, already provide us with all the necessary ingredients to construct fundamentally relativistic teleportation protocol in relatively straightforward manner.

Fermi two-atom problem: Nonperturbative approach via relativistic quantum information and algebraic quantum field theory

In this work we revisit the famous Fermi two-atom problem, which concerns how relativistic causality impacts atomic transition probabilities, using the tools from relativistic quantum information and algebraic quantum field theory. The problem has sparked different analyses from many directions and angles since the proposed solution by Buchholz and Yngvason [Phys. Rev. Lett. 73, 613 (1994)]. Some of these analyses employ various approximations, heuristics, and perturbative methods, which tends to render some of the otherwise useful insights somewhat obscured. It is also noted that they are all studied in flat spacetime. We show that current tools in relativistic quantum information, combined with an algebraic approach to quantum field theory, are now powerful enough to provide fuller and cleaner analysis of the Fermi two-atom problem for arbitrary curved spacetimes in a completely nonperturbative manner. Our result gives the original solution of Buchholz and Yngvason a very operational reinterpretation in terms of qubits interacting with a quantum field and allows for various natural generalizations and inclusion of detector-based local measurement for the quantum field [Phys. Rev. D 105, 065003 (2022)].

Genuine N-partite entanglement and distributed relationships in the background of dilation black holes

With the complexity of information tasks, the bipartite and tripartite entanglement can no longer meet our needs, and we need more entangled particles to process relativistic quantum information. In this paper, we study the genuine N-partite entanglement and distributed relationships for Dirac fields in the background of dilaton black holes. We present the general analytical expression including all physically accessible and inaccessible entanglement in curved spacetime. We find that the accessible N-partite entanglement exhibits irreversible decoherence as the increase of black hole’s dilaton, and on the other hand the inaccessible N-partite entanglement increases from zero monotonically or non-monotonically, depending on the relative numbers of the accessible to the inaccessible modes, which forms a sharp contrast with the cases of bipartite and tripartite entanglement where the inaccessible entanglement increase only monotonically. We also find two distributed relationships between accessible and inaccessible N-partite entanglement in curved spacetime. The results give us a new understanding of the Hawking radiation.

Correlation redistribution by causal horizons

The Minkowski vacuum |0rangle _M, which for an inertial observer is devoid of particles, is perceived as a thermal bath by Rindler observers living in a single Rindler wedge (Unruh in Phys Rev D 14:870, 1976) as a result of the discrepancy in the definition of positive frequency between the two classes of observers and a strong entanglement between degrees of freedom in the left and right Rindler wedges. We revisit the problem of quantification of the correlations in a two-mode state of a free neutral scalar field which is observed by an inertial observer Alice and left/right Rindler observers Rob/AntiRob, a problem that pertains to the field of relativistic quantum information and has been previously studied in Martin-Martinez et al. (Phys Rev D 82:064006, 2010) and Datta (Phys Rev A 80:052304, 2009). We focus on the analysis of informational quantities like the locally accessible and locally inaccessible information (Koashi and Winter in Phys Rev A 69:022309, 2004; Fanchini et al. in Phys Rev A 84:012313, 2011; Fanchini et al. in New J Phys 14:013027, 2012) and a closely associated entanglement measure, the entanglement of formation. We conclude that, with respect to the correlation structure probed by inertial observers alone, the introduction of a Rindler observer gives rise to a correlation redistribution which can be quantified by the entanglement of formation. Given the informational meaning of the derived correlations, we discuss on the capacity of a quantum channel to communicate classical information between accelerated parties.

Relativistic massive particle with spin-1/2: A vector bundle point of view

Recently, in the context of Relativistic Quantum Information Theory (RQI) of massive spin-1/2 particles, it has been suggested that it is impossible to perform a momentum-independent spin measurement, showing the inadequacy of the spin reduced density matrix as a legitimate information resource. This is because there is an unavoidable ambiguity in the definition of the spin of a moving particle. In this paper, by introducing a vector bundle theoretic way to view the single-particle state space, we try to rule out this ambiguity. The discrete degree of freedom of the resulting representation space contains information about the Pauli–Lubanski four-vector of the particle instead of the ambiguous spin. Comparing this representation with the standard one used in the RQI literature, we show that the discrete degree of freedom of the standard representation space attains the meaning of the Newton–Wigner spin. In addition, using this viewpoint, we give a mathematical proof of why the spin reduced density matrix is meaningless, which is stronger than the previous claims in that it asserts that the matrix is void of any meaning at all, not just in terms of the impossibility of measurement or Lorentz non-covariance. We give a way (which turns out to be the only way) to modify it to obtain the Pauli–Lubanski reduced density matrix, which is covariant under Lorentz transformations.

CGHS Black Hole Analog Moving Mirror and Its Relativistic Quantum Information as Radiation Reaction.

The Callan–Giddings–Harvey–Strominger black hole has a spectrum and temperature that correspond to an accelerated reflecting boundary condition in flat spacetime. The beta coefficients are identical to a moving mirror model, where the acceleration is exponential in laboratory time. The center of the black hole is modeled by the perfectly reflecting regularity condition that red-shifts the field modes, which is the source of the particle creation. In addition to computing the energy flux, we find the corresponding moving mirror parameter associated with the black hole mass and the cosmological constant in the gravitational analog system. Generalized to any mirror trajectory, we derive the self-force (Lorentz–Abraham–Dirac), consistently, expressing it and the Larmor power in connection with entanglement entropy, inviting an interpretation of acceleration radiation in terms of information flow. The mirror self-force and radiative power are applied to the particular CGHS black hole analog moving mirror, which reveals the physics of information at the horizon during asymptotic approach to thermal equilibrium.

When entanglement harvesting is not really harvesting

We revisit the entanglement harvesting protocol when two detectors are in causal contact. We study the role of field-mediated communication in generating entanglement between the two detectors interacting with a quantum field. We provide a quantitative estimator of the relative contribution of communication versus genuine entanglement harvesting. For massless scalar fields in flat spacetime, we show that when two detectors can communicate via the field, the detectors do not really harvest entanglement from the field, and instead they get entangled only via the field-mediated communication channel. In other words, in these scenarios the entanglement harvesting protocol is truly "harvesting entanglement" from the field only when the detectors are not able to communicate. In contrast, for massive scalar fields both communication and genuine harvesting contribute equally to the bipartite entanglement when the detectors are causally connected. These results emphasize the importance of taking into account the causal relationships between two parties involved in this relativistic quantum information protocol before we can declare that it is truly entanglement harvesting.

Thermality, causality, and the quantum-controlled Unruh–deWitt detector

Particle detector models such as the Unruh-deWitt detector are widely used in relativistic quantum information and field theory to probe the global features of spacetime and quantum fields. These detectors are typically modelled as coupling locally to the field along a classical worldline. In this paper, we utilize a recent framework which enables us to prepare the detector in a quantum-controlled superposition of trajectories, and study its response to the field in finite-temperature Minkowski spacetime and an expanding de Sitter universe. Unlike a detector on a classical path which cannot distinguish these spacetimes, the superposed detector can do so by acquiring nonlocal information about the geometric and causal structure of its environment, demonstrating its capability as a probe of these global properties.