Quantum chaos and entanglement in spin-chains : dynamics of a periodically kicked Heisenberg ferromagnet

• Main Author: Boness, T. O.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2009
• Subjects: 500
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.625257

The Heisenberg spin-chain and the Quantum Kicked Rotor (QKR) are key models in condensed matter and quantum chaos respectively. The former, consisting of a line of qubits that interact with their neighbours through an exchange interaction, has recently received much attention in the context of quantum information and communication. In particular, it has been shown that a Heisenberg chain can be used as a channel for the transfer quantum states and the sharing of entanglement. The QKR, on the other hand, is a paradigm of quantum chaos. It is one of a valuable collection of quantum systems with a well dened classical limit that shows both regular and chaotic dynamics. This thesis investigates the dynamics of a Heisenberg chain subjected to periodic ±-kicks from a parabolic magnetic eld. It will be shown that, when perturbed in this way, spin-chains can provide realizations of QKR systems. Using this connection, well-known features of the dynamics of kicked rotors can be used to manipulate the evolution of excitations and entanglement in the spin-chain. Conversely, results from the spin-chain analysis can inform our knowledge of the kicked rotor systems. The focus of the rst part of this thesis is the dynamics of singly excited chains. In this case, the kicked Heisenberg chain is shown to be dynamically equivalent to a QKR. Similar correspondences can be found. Two examples, spin-chain realizations of the Double-Kicked Rotor and a double-well kicked rotor, are explored. Later sections are concerned with the dynamics of multiple excitations. These excitations interact - scattering or forming bound states of inverted spins. The kicked chain now corresponds to a system of coupled kicked rotors. It will be shown that by tuning the parameters it is possible to control the time-evolution of correlations in the chain.