Work

Quantum macroscopicity measure for arbitrary spin systems and its application to quantum phase transitions

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: We explore a previously unknown connection between two important problems in physics, i.e., quantum macroscopicity and the quantum phase transition. We devise a general and computable measure of quantum macroscopicity that can be applied to arbitrary spin states. We find that a macroscopic quantum superposition of an extremely large size arises during the quantum phase transition of the transverse Ising model in contrast to some seeming macroscopic quantum phenomena such as superconductivity, superfluidity, and Bose-Einstein condensates. Our result may be an important step forward in understanding macroscopic quantum properties of many-body systems.

Source: Physical Review A

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.94.052105

Authors: Chae-Yeun Park, Minsu Kang, Chang-Woo Lee, Jeongho Bang, Seung-Woo Lee, Hyunseok Jeong

Institutions: Seoul National University, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Hanyang University

Language: English

Topic: Quantum many-body systems

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Korea Institute of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation of Korea

Awards: G1196747305, G3153627906