Almost local generation of EPR entanglement in non-equilibrium

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that cooperative effects between local control and a common heat bath can generate and preserve entanglement in a minimal Gaussian system, even under non-equilibrium conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal model showing how combined local control and environmental interaction produce entanglement through dynamical symmetry breaking.

Findings

Entanglement arises only from the combined effect of control and environment.

Optimal control protocols significantly enhance entanglement.

Entanglement persists after control is turned off, even at higher temperatures.

Abstract

The generation of entanglement is studied in a minimal model consisting of two independent Gaussian parties embedded in a common heat bath and subject to local control signals. Neither the reservoir alone nor the external driving can induce quantum non-locality but only the cooperative impact of both in non-equilibrium. It is shown that this corresponds to a dynamical symmetry breaking between the modes. By applying optimal control protocols substantial entanglement is generated even for single-site control and at higher temperatures and is preserved after the control is switched off.