Entangling two distant oscillators with a quantum reservoir

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates theoretically that two distant oscillators can become entangled through a common quantum reservoir modeled as a harmonic crystal, even at finite temperature and large separation.

Contribution

It introduces a model showing entanglement generation between distant oscillators via a thermalized quantum reservoir, with potential experimental realization in ion chains.

Findings

Entanglement can form after a transient time proportional to thermalization.

Distant oscillators become entangled at finite temperature.

Physical mechanisms involve collective variable dynamics and squeezing.

Abstract

The generation of entanglement between two oscillators that interact via a common reservoir is theoretically studied. The reservoir is modeled by a one-dimensional harmonic crystal initially in thermal equilibrium. Starting from a separable state, the oscillators can become entangled after a transient time, that is of the order of the thermalization time scale. This behavior is observed at finite temperature even when the oscillators are at a distance significantly larger than the crystal's interparticle spacing. The underlying physical mechanisms can be explained by the dynamical properties of the collective variables of the two oscillators which may decouple from or be squeezed by the reservoir. Our predictions can be tested with an ion chain in a linear Paul trap.