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Superdensity operators for spacetime quantum mechanics

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

Jordan Cotler
Chao-Ming Jian
Xiao-Liang Qi
Frank Wilczek

Abstract

We introduce superdensity operators as a tool for analyzing quantum information in spacetime. Superdensity operators encode spacetime correlation functions in an operator framework, and support a natural generalization of Hilbert space techniques and Dirac’s transformation theory as traditionally applied to standard density operators. Superdensity operators can be measured experimentally, but accessing their full content requires novel procedures. We demonstrate these statements on several examples. The superdensity formalism suggests useful definitions of spacetime entropies and spacetime quantum channels. For example, we show that the von Neumann entropy of a super-density operator is related to a quantum generalization of the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy, and compute this for a many-body system. We also suggest experimental protocols for measuring spacetime entropies. © 2018, The Author(s).

Date Published

Journal

Journal of High Energy Physics

Volume

2018

Issue

9

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85053496562&doi=10.1007%2fJHEP09%282018%29093&partnerID=40&md5=035763d012ad0f1865f90685021bbe6f

DOI

10.1007/JHEP09(2018)093

Group (Lab)

Chao-Ming Jian Group

Funding Source

PHY-1720504
DE-SC0012567
GBMF4304
742104
335-2014-7424

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