Linear Optics Simulation of Non-Markovian Quantum Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates an experimental photonic quantum simulation of non-Markovian quantum dynamics, highlighting the role of system-environment correlations in memory effects within open quantum systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel photonic quantum simulator to experimentally investigate non-Markovianity and system-environment interactions in quantum processes.

Findings

Confirmed the presence of non-Markovian memory effects.

Showed the influence of system-environment correlations.

Validated the simulation of transverse Ising model dynamics.

Abstract

The simulation of quantum processes is a key goal for the grand programme aiming at grounding quantum technologies as the way to explore complex phenomena that are inaccessible through standard, classical calculators. Some interesting steps have been performed in this direction and this scenario has recently been extended to open quantum evolutions, marking the possibility to investigate important features of the way a quantum system interacts with its environment. Here we demonstrate experimentally the (non-)Markovianity of a process where system and environment are coupled through a simulated transverse Ising model. By engineering the evolution in a fully controlled photonic quantum simulator, we assess and demonstrate the role that system-environment correlations have in the emergence of memory effects.