Evolution equation for quantum coherence

TL;DR

This paper derives simple relations for the evolution of quantum coherence in open systems, enabling easier estimation of decoherence processes and conditions for maintaining coherence.

Contribution

It proves a factorization relation for the $l_1$ norm of coherence and identifies conditions for its permanent freezing under quantum channels.

Findings

Established a simple factorization relation for coherence evolution.

Derived conditions for permanent freezing of coherence.

Applied results to general $N$-qubit states.

Abstract

The estimation of the decoherence process of an open quantum system is of both theoretical significance and experimental appealing. Practically, the decoherence can be easily estimated if the coherence evolution satisfies some simple relations. Based on the coherence quantification method, we prove a simple factorization relation for the $l_1$ norm measure of coherence, and analyze under which condition this relation holds. We also obtain a more general relation which applies to arbitrary $N$-qubit state, and determine a condition for the transformation matrix of the quantum channel which can support permanently freezing of the $l_1$ norm of coherence. These results simplify determination of a general decoherence dynamics to that the investigation of evolution about the representative probe state.