Basis-independent quantum coherence and its distribution under relativistic motion

TL;DR

This paper investigates how relativistic acceleration affects basis-independent quantum coherence, revealing that total and collective coherence diminish significantly with acceleration, while localized coherence remains relatively stable, highlighting the impact of Unruh thermal noise.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of basis-independent quantum coherence under relativistic motion, including effects of acceleration and coupling strength.

Findings

Total and collective coherence decrease with acceleration and vanish at high levels.

Localized coherence remains stable until extreme acceleration.

All types of coherence satisfy the triangle inequality.

Abstract

Recent studies have increasingly focused on the effect of relativistic motion on quantum coherence. Prior research predominantly examined the influence of relative motion on basis-dependent quantum coherence, underscoring its susceptibility to decoherence under accelerated conditions. Yet, the effect of relativistic motion on basis-independent quantum coherence, which is critical for understanding the intrinsic quantum features of a system, remains an interesting open question. This paper addresses this question by examining how total, collective, and localized coherence are affected by acceleration and coupling strength. Our analysis reveals that both total and collective coherence significantly decrease with increasing acceleration and coupling strength, ultimately vanishing at high levels of acceleration. This underscores the profound impact of Unruh thermal noise. Conversely, localized coherence exhibits relative stability, decreasing to zero only under the extreme condition of infinite acceleration. Moreover, we demonstrate that collective, localized, and basis-independent coherence collectively satisfy the triangle inequality. These findings are crucial for enhancing our understanding of quantum information dynamics in environments subjected to high acceleration and offer valuable insights on the behavior of quantum coherence under relativistic conditions.