The theory of decoherence aims to explain how macroscopic quantum objects become effectively classical. Understanding this process could help in the search for the quantum theory underlying gravity, and suggest new schemes for preserving the coherence of technological quantum devices. The process of decoherence is best understood in terms of information flow within a quantum system, and between the system and its environment. We develop a novel way of characterizing this information, and give a sufficient condition for its classicality. These results generalize previous models of decoherence, clarify the process by which a phase-space based on non-commutative quantum variables can emerge, and provide a possible explanation for the universality of the phenomenon of decoherence. In addition, the tools developed in this approach generalize the theory of quantum error correction to infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. We characterize the nature of the information preserved by a quantum channel by the observables which exist in its image (in the Heisenberg picture). The sharp observables preserved by a channel form an operator algebra which can be characterized in terms of the channel's elements. The effect of the channel on these observables can be reversed by another physical transformation. These results generalize the theory of quantum error correction to codes characterized by arbitrary von Neumann algebras, which can represent hybrid quantum-classical information, continuous variable systems, or certain quantum field theories. The preserved unsharp observables (positive operator-valued measures) allow for a finer characterization of the information preserved by a channel. We show that the only type of information which can be duplicated arbitrarily many times consists of coarse-grainings of a single POVM. Based on these results, we propose a model of decoherence which can account for the emergence of a realistic classical phase-space. This model supports the view that the quantum-classical correspondence is given by a quantum-to-classical channel, which is another way of representing a POVM.

The theory of decoherence aims to explain how macroscopic quantum objects become effectively classical. Understanding this process could help in the search for the quantum theory underlying gravity, and suggest new schemes for preserving the coherence of technological quantum devices. The process of decoherence is best understood in terms of information flow within a quantum system, and between the system and its environment. We develop a novel way of characterizing this information, and give a sufficient condition for its classicality. These results generalize previous models of decoherence, clarify the process by which a phase-space based on non-commutative quantum variables can emerge, and provide a possible explanation for the universality of the phenomenon of decoherence. In addition, the tools developed in this approach generalize the theory of quantum error correction to infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. We characterize the nature of the information preserved by a quantum channel by the observables which exist in its image (in the Heisenberg picture). The sharp observables preserved by a channel form an operator algebra which can be characterized in terms of the channel's elements. The effect of the channel on these observables can be reversed by another physical transformation. These results generalize the theory of quantum error correction to codes characterized by arbitrary von Neumann algebras, which can represent hybrid quantum-classical information, continuous variable systems, or certain quantum field theories. The preserved unsharp observables (positive operator-valued measures) allow for a finer characterization of the information preserved by a channel. We show that the only type of information which can be duplicated arbitrarily many times consists of coarse-grainings of a single POVM. Based on these results, we propose a model of decoherence which can account for the emergence of a realistic classical phase-space. This model supports the view that the quantum-classical correspondence is given by a quantum-to-classical channel, which is another way of representing a POVM.

Nesta dissertação estudamos, no âmbito teórico, algumas propostas recentes de processamento de informação quântica passiva, isto é, descartando protocolos de correção de erros. Recorrendo à criação de subespaços livres de decoerência através de um sistema físico de quatro spins acoplados ao resto do universo por um agente degenerado, mostramos ser possível construir um conjunto universal de portas lógicas (C-NOT, T e Hadamard) neste mesmo subespaço, alcançando, por conseguinte, a realização de qualquer operação computacional, insensivelmente ao resto do universo. Partimos de um hamiltoniano geral com interações individuais de cada spin com campos externos, além de acoplamentos controlados entre pares de spins. Experimentalmente, hamiltonianos deste tipo são comuns no contexto de junções Josephson, motivo pelo qual tratamos esta implementação em um capítulo especial. Introduzindo perturbativamente ao hamiltoniano operadores espúrios ao subespaço livre de decoerência, incluímos sensibilidade do sistema frente ao ambiente, criando a possibilidade da incursão de erros através de mecanismos de dissipação. Tais mecanismos foram investigados em termos da intensidade do parâmetro de acoplamento entre o sistema e o ambiente, revelando uma clara evidência teórica do Efeito Zenão Quântico, através da excelente concordância entre resultados de operações realizadas em subespaços livres de decoerência e operações realizadas em sistemas fortemente acoplados ao resto do universo. Neste sentido, selecionamos a fidelidade como medida de distância entre um estado em evolução a partir de um certo estado inicial do subespaço livre de decoerência (e submetido a dissipação), e um estado em evolução regida pela mesma operação quântica e a partir das mesmas condições iniciais no caso ideal, livre de decoerência. Essa abordagem explícita permitiu-nos obter a razão necessária entre os parâmetros associados a perturbação (que remove o estado do subespaço original) e acoplamento (entendido como a freqüência entre as medidas promovidas pelo resto do universo), para alcançar a eficiência desejada na realização de uma certa porta lógica. Tecnicamente, o trabalho envolveu vários resultados matemáticos novos e operacionalmente úteis, levando a simplificações importantes durante os cálculos envolvidos. / In this dissertation we studied theoretical aspects of some recent proposals of passive quantum information processing, that is, discarding error correction protocols. Falling back upon the creation of decoherence-free subspaces through a physical system of four spins coupled to the rest of the universe by a degenerate agent, we showed to be possible to build a universal set of logical quantum gates (C-NOT, T and Hadamard) in this same subspace, reaching, consequently, the accomplishment of any computational operation, callously to the rest of the universe. We started from a general Hamiltonian with individual interactions of each spin with external fields, besides controlled couplings between spin pairs. Experimentally, Hamiltonians like this are common in the context of Josephson junctions and, therefore, we treated this implementation in a special chapter. Perturbatively introducing spurious operators to the hamiltonian in the decoherence-free subspace, we included sensibility of the system to the environment, creating the possibility of the incursion of errors through dissipation mechanisms. Such mechanisms were investigated in terms of the intensity of the coupling parameter between the system and the environment, revealing an obvious theoretical evidence of the Quantum Zeno Effect, through the excellent agreement between the results of operations accomplished in decoherence-free subspace and operations accomplished in systems strongly coupled to the rest of the universe. In this sense, we selected the fidelity as the distance measure between a state in evolution starting from a certain initial state of the decoherence-free subspace (and submitted to the dissipation), and a state in evolution governed by the same quantum operation and starting from the same initial conditions in the ideal decoherence-free case. This explicit approach allowed us to obtain the necessary quotient between the associated disturbance parameter (that removes the state from the original subspace) and coupling parameter (understood as the frequency between the measurements promoted by the rest of the universe), to reach the efficiency desired in the accomplishment of a logic gate. Technically, the work involved several new operationally useful mathematical results, leading to important simplifications during the involved calculations.

In this thesis quantum-classical dynamics is applied to the study of quantum condensed phase processes. This approach is based on the quantum-classical Liouville equation where the dynamics of a small subset of the degrees of freedom are treated quantum mechanically while the remaining degrees of freedom are treated by classical mechanics to a good approximation. We use this approach as it is computationally tractable, and the resulting equation of motion accurately accounts for the quantum and classical dynamics, as well as the coupling between these two components of the system. By recasting the quantum-classical Liouville equation into the form of a generalized master equation we investigate connections to surface-hopping. The link between these approaches is decoherence arising from interaction of the subsystem with the environment. We derive an evolution equation for the subsystem which contains terms accounting for the effects of the environment. One of these terms involves a memory kernel that accounts for the coherent dynamics. If this term decays rapidly, a Markovian approximation can be made. By lifting the resulting subsystem master equation into the full phase space, we obtain a Markovian master equation that prescribes surface-hopping-like dynamics. Our analysis outlines the conditions under which such a description is valid. Next, we consider the calculation of the rate constant for a quantum mechanical barrier crossing process. Starting from the reactive-flux autocorrelation function, we derive a quantum-classical expression for the rate kernel. This expression involves quantum-classical evolution of a species operator averaged over the initial quantum equilibrium structure of the system making it possible to compute the rate constant via computer simulation. Using a simple model for a proton transfer reaction we compare the results of the rate calculation obtained by quantum-classical Liouville dynamics with that of master equation dynamics. The master equation provides a good approximation to the full quantum-classical Liouville calculation for our model and a more stable algorithm results due to the elimination of oscillating phase factors in the simulation. Finally, we make use of the theoretical framework established in this thesis to analyze some aspects of decoherence used in popular surface-hopping techniques.

Donors in silicon, which combine an electron and nuclear spin, are some of the most promising candidates for quantum information. The electron spin has been proposed as a register with fast manipulation and the nuclear spin as a memory with long coherence times. However, this division reduces the complexity of the donor system, in particular behaviors emerging from their interaction. In natural silicon, there is also the presence of ²⁹Si nuclear spins in the donor environment; though they are generally seen as a source of decoherence, they are quantum systems that can be investigated too. The main subject of this thesis is the study of the interactions between these various spins, using different methods to probe and control them. I first concentrate on the coupling between the donor and the ²⁹Si spins. This coupling can be perturbed by the application of dynamical decoupling on the donor electron spin, whose evolution can be made sensitive to the number of ²⁹Si spins interacting together. I then propose an error correction scheme using the donor and ²⁹Si spins, showing key requirements such as coherence times and methods for manipulation and initialization. Secondly, I focus on the donor itself, in a regime where the hyperfine and Zeeman couplings compete with each other. Here, the spin transitions can have different sensitivities to the magnetic environment, and can even be suppressed to first order, resulting in coherence times up to seconds with electron spin-like manipulation times. Controlling this sensitivity was also used to probe the effect of the donor on the ²⁹Si spin bath evolution. Finally, I use electric fields to modulate the hyperfine coupling within the donor. I first characterize the spins’ sensitivity to the electric field, and then demonstrate electrical switching of the nuclear spin response to an external magnetic excitation.

On considère un analogue électronique de l'interféromètre de Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM), dans lequel deux électrons uniques propagent selon des états de bords chiraux opposés et rentrent en collision au niveau d'un point contact quantique. En étudiant le bruit de courant, on montre qu'en raison des interactions entre les canaux co-propageant, le degré d'indistinctibilité entre deux paquets d'ondes électroniques est dramatiquement réduit, ce qui résulte en un contraste réduit pour le signal HOM. Ce phénomène de décohérence dépend fortement de la résolution en énergie des paquets. Étant donné que les interactions provoquent la fractionalisation de la charge, on montre que le mode de charge et le mode neutre interfèrent l'un avec l'autre, ce qui crée des creux ou des pics satellites dans le bruit de courant. Nos calculs expliquent de récents résultats expérimentaux qui révèlent un signal électronique HOM avec un contraste réduit. / We consider an electronic analog of the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer, where two single electrons travel along opposite chiral edge states and collide at a Quantum Point Contact. Studying the current noise, we show that because of interactions between co-propagating edge states, the degree of indistinguishability between the two electron wavepackets is dramatically reduced, leading to reduced contrast for the HOM signal. This decoherence phenomenon strongly depends on the energy resolution of the packets. Insofar as interactions cause charge fractionalization, we show that charge and neutral modes interfere with each other, leading to satellite dips or peaks in the current noise. Our calculations explain recent experimental results where an electronic HOM signal with reduced contrast was observed.

Cette thèse théorique s'inscrit dans l'univers de l'Informatique quantique et celui du transfert d'énergie. Nous étudions le transport quantique d'un exciton utilisé dans le but de véhiculer une information quantique, ou de l'énergie, sur des graphes moléculaires complexes. Dans ce contexte, nous nous intéressons aux effets de différents environnements quantiques pouvant moduler le transport excitonique. Une première partie du manuscrit porte sur le transport d'information quantique en pré­sence d'un environnement de phonons locaux. Dans ce contexte, nous introduisons une ap­proche théorique appelée PT* permettant de traiter sur un pied d'égalité exciton et pho­nons. Cette théorie est tout d'abord appliquée au cas particulier du graphe en étoile. Par la suite, PT* est comparée à des calculs exacts menés sur une collection de graphes variés. Nous montrons ainsi que la théorie PT* possède une très grande force de prédictibilité et de multiples avantages théoriques et numériques ( durée de simulation, interprétations liées à l'intrication ... ) . Dans une deuxième partie du manuscrit, nous étudions le transport quantique d'énergie sur un graphe complexe en contact avec un système externe absorbant. Nous nous intéressons tout particulièrement à la caractérisation du phénomène d'absorption énergétique et son opti­misation (transition de superradiance). Nous mettons en évidence l'impact de la topologie du réseau sur l'évolution du processus d'absorption. Pour étendre cette étude, nous considérons ensuite la présence d'un désordre local brisant la symétrie du réseau de base. Nous montrons alors que le désordre peut influencer positivement l'évolution du processus d'absorption. / The scope of this PhD is twofold and can be integrated simultaneously in quantum infor­mation theory and energy transport. We theoretically study the excitonic quantum transport in order to transmit either quantum information or energy on complex molecular networks. In this context, we pay a special attention to the modulations that different quantum envi­ronments can generate on the excitonic transport. In a first part of the manuscript, we focus on the quantum transport of information in the presence of a local phononic environment. In this context, we introduce a theoretical approach, named PT*, treating on an equal footing exciton and phonons. Firstly, this theory is applied to a particular case : the star graph. Then, PT* is compared to exact numerical calculations realized on a collection of different graphs. In this context, we demonstrate that the PT* approach shows a very strong predictability but also several theoretical and numerical advantages (simulation duration, entanglement interpretations ... ). In a second part of the manuscript, we study the quantum transport of energy on a complex graph in contact with an external absorbing system. We focus on the optimisation of the absorption process ("superradiance transition"). We demonstrate that the topology of the considered network influences the absorption evolution. In order to extend this study, we then consider the presence of a local disorder breaking the inner symetry of the graph. In this context, we show that the disorder can benefically influence the absorption process.

Num primeiro momento, abordamos neste trabalho as correlações Eistein-Podolsky-Rosen quando simuladas no âmbito da teoria clássica da radiação. Pretendemos com isso investigar o fenômeno da polarização da luz em um e outro domínios da sua descrição. Continuando em teoria da medida, através de uma implementação no modelo de colapso da função de onda proposto por Zurek, onde se observa a reversibilidade da coerência de fase, apresentamos expressões para os tempos de decoerência e recorrência associados. Outro tópico considerado diz respeito ao hamiltoniano quadrático dependente do tempo. Procedendo-se a uma transformação unitária associada ao método dos invariantes desenvolvido por Lewis e Riesenfeld, solucionamos a equação de Schrödinger e apresentamos o operador de evolução. Uma análise dos estados \"squeezed\" da radiação é apresentada segundo trajetórias no espaço de fase. A consideração do método empregado, segundo algumas aproximações, possibilita a abordagem do processo de dissipação/flutuação junto ao hamiltoniano original, numa análise mais realista do que compreende um amplo espectro de modelos físicos, tais como o oscilador ou partícula carregada em presença de um campo eletromagnético não homogêneo e as armadilhas de Paul. / At the beging, we tackle in this work the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations when simulated in the radiation classic theory. We attempt in this way to study the light polarization phenomenon in both aproaches of its descriptions. Still in measurement theory, through a wave function Zurek colapse model implementation, where there is observed a phase coherence reversibility, we introduce expression for the associated decoherence and recurrence tymes. Another considered topic deals with the time-dependent quadratic hamiltonian. Carrying out a unitary transformation associated with the invariants method developed by Lewis and Riesenfeld, we solved the Schrödinger equation and we introduced the evolution operator. An squeezed states of radiation analysis is also included in the phases space trajectories. The considerations of the attempted method according to same approximations makes it possible to deal with the processes of dissipation/flutuation in the original hamiltonian, in a more realistic analysis of those physical models, such as the oscillator or charged particle in a non-homogeneous electromagnetic field and in the Paul trap.

A aplicação da Mecânica Quântica para o processamento de informação chamou a atenção para o problema da perda de características quânticas e, consequentemente, estimulou os estudos de tal fenômeno. Desde então, uma das maiores dificuldades neste campo é responder a pergunta: Como entender a interação entre sistema e ambiente? Em sistemas quânticos abertos tal interação é responsável pelo fenômeno da decoerência, que transforma um estado quântico inicialmente puro em uma mistura estatística de estados possíveis. Banhos térmicos são comumente utilizados para modelar a influência inevitável do ambiente e descrever matematicamente seus efeitos. Muitos estudos têm sido realizados no sentido de construir mecanismos que evitam a perda de informação para o ambiente, recuperando-se a potencialidade oferecida pelo mundo quântico. Assim, seria possível a utilização de um ruído estocástico para anular os efeitos do ruído térmico? Em outras palavras, queremos construir um ambiente artificial onde a ação do banho térmico é minimizada devido à presença de um campo estocástico. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a influência da injeção de um ruído estocástico colorido na dinâmica de um oscilador harmônico em contato com um banho térmico, quando o sistema de interesse é preparado em um estado coerente. Nós faremos isso através de uma equação mestra quântica, abordando-a com o auxílio da representação P de Glauber-Sudarshan. Será sugerido que a recoerência causada pelo ruído estocástico colorido é uma assinatura da não-Markovianidade. / The application of Quantum Mechanics to information processing called attention to the problem of losing quantum characteristics and, consequently, stimulated the studies of such phenomenon. Since then, one of the biggest difficulties in this field is to answer the question: How can the interaction between system and environment be understood? In open quantum systems such interaction is responsible for the decoherence phenomenon, which turns a quantum pure initial states into a statistical mixture of possible states. Thermal environments are commonly used to model the unavoidable influence of the environment and to mathematically describe its effects. Many studies have been done in order to build a mechanism that avoids the loss of information to the environment, recovering the potentiality offered by the quantum world. Thus, would be possible to use a stochastic noise to cancel the thermal noise effects? In other words, we want to build an artificial environment where the action of the thermal bath is minimized due to the presence of a stochastic field. The purpose of this work is to investigate the influence of the injection of a colored stochastic noise in the dynamics of a harmonic oscillator in contact with a thermal bath, when the system of interest is initially prepared in a coherent state. We are going to do this through a Glauber-Sudarshan P-representation approach to a quantum master equation. It will be suggested that the recoherence caused by the colored stochastic noise is a signature of non-Markovianity.

A existência de Correlações Quânticas de Caráter Geral (CQCGs) - discórdia e coerência quântica, baseadas em argumentos entrópicos e geométricos, tem sido extensamente investigada e caracterizada nas últimas décadas. Estudar o efeito dinâmico da decoerência sobre estas medidas é um ponto chave em teoria de informação quântica, já que fenômenos de mudança súbita (sudden-change) e congelamento (freezing) na dinâmica das CQCGs podem ser úteis na exploração destes recursos. Do ponto de vista experimental, spins nucleares se apresentam como excelentes candidatos para testar fenômenos relacionados às CQCGs, tendo em vista a sua fácil manipulação através do método de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN). Além disso, neste contexto, os spin nucleares estão naturalmente sujeitos a ambientes bem caracterizados pelos canais de atenuação de fase (PD) e atenuação de amplitude generalizada (GAD). A proposta deste trabalho consiste em, a partir de uma revisão teórica dos desenvolvimentos na área de caracterização da decoerência das CQCGs, fornecer provas experimentais destas previsões empregando-se o método de RMN. O foco do trabalho se baseia em estados Bell diagonais (sistemas de 2 q-bits), ou, para casos mais gerais, em estados MN3 . Primeiramente, investigamos o fenômeno de duplo sudden-change em dois sistemas distintos de 2 q-bits, mas cada um sujeito ao efeito de um dos canais de atenuação: PD ou GAD. Estes sistemas permitiram a observação do aparecimento da base ponteiro quando o canal PD atua sobre o sistema. Em segundo lugar, as condições para o aparecimento do fenômeno de freezing são investigadas para sistemas contendo 2, 3 e 4 q-bits, todos associados à spins nucleares distintos e sujeitos a canais de PD independentes. O fenômeno de freezing foi observado nos casos de sistemas com número par de q-bits. Para medidas de dicórdia quântica, o freezing permanece constante por um período de tempo determinado pelas características do estado inicial, já para medidas de coerência, o freezing se mantém por tempo indeterminado. Todos estes resultados estão de acordo com as previsões teóricas encontradas na literatura. Com o objetivo de generalizar estes resultados, demonstramos ainda que estados Bell diagonais fornecem um limite inferior para a coerência presente em estados mais gerais. / Recently, the different formulations of General Quantum Correlations (GQCs) - quantum discord and quantum coherence, based on entropic and geometric arguments, have been extensively investigated and characterized. Following their behavior under decoherence is one of the remarkable points in quantum information theory, as the presence of surprisingly phenomena like sudden-change and freezing can be useful to exploit those resources. From the experimental side, nuclear spins appear as excellent candidates to test benching GQCs related phenomena, since they are easily manipulated by the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method and, in this context, are naturally subject to well characterized environments equivalent to Phase Damping (PD) and Generalized Amplitude Damping (GAD) Channels. Our proposal here is, after an overview of theoretical developments in GQCs decoherence characterization, provide experimental proofs through NMR. All the characterization is made for Bell diagonal states (2 qubit systems), or, in more general cases, for MN3 states. First of all, the double sudden-change phenomenon is investigated in two different 2 qubit systems, each one affected by PD and GAD separately. This allowed the observation of the pointer basis emergence in the PD case, as theoretically predicted. Second, the freezing phenomenon appearence conditions are investigated in 2, 3 and 4 qubit systems, where heteronuclear molecules were employed as setup and independent PD channels act on. The freezing phenomenon is experimentally observed in systems with an even number of qubits. For discord-like measures, the freezing remains constant an amount of time determined by the initial state, however in the coherence-like case it endures forever. All those results agree with the theoretical predictions. To generalize those results, it was also proved that Bell diagonal states provide a lower bond of coherence to general states that are characterized for the same correlation triple.