Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Bipartite Systems: Entanglement

In course

PHYS-454: Quantum optics and quantum information

This lecture describes advanced concepts and applications of quantum optics. It emphasizes the connection with ongoing research, and with the fast growing field of quantum technologies. The topics cover some aspects of quantum information processing, quant ...

Description

This lecture delves into the concept of bipartite systems and entanglement, starting with the definition of density matrix and pure mixed states. The instructor explains how to define entanglement properly, interpret measurements, and discusses the importance of density matrix in quantum information and optics. The lecture covers the operational definition of entanglement, the partial trace operation, pure states, product states, and entangled states. It emphasizes the significance of density matrices in representing ensembles of states and explores the concept of purity trace to determine the purity of a density matrix.

Instructor

Jean-Philippe Brantut

I did my PhD at the Institut d'Optique under the direction of Philippe Bouyer and Alain Aspect, before moving to ETHZ in the group of Tilman Esslinger, first as a post-doc then as a senior scientist. There I developed in particular the method allowing for a quantum simulation of nano-electronic devices with ultracold quantum gases.Since september 2016, I hold the Fondation Sandoz chair in physics of quantum gases at EPFL. There, my group has developed the first cold atoms machine combining Fermi gases with cavity-quantum electrodynamics. We use it to explore new ways of measuring and manipulating quantum matter.

Official source

Related concepts (11)

Quantum information

Quantum information is the information of the state of a quantum system. It is the basic entity of study in quantum information theory, and can be manipulated using quantum information processing techniques. Quantum information refers to both the technical definition in terms of Von Neumann entropy and the general computational term. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves quantum mechanics, computer science, information theory, philosophy and cryptography among other fields.

Quantum entanglement

Quantum entanglement is the phenomenon that occurs when a group of particles are generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in a way such that the quantum state of each particle of the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, including when the particles are separated by a large distance. The topic of quantum entanglement is at the heart of the disparity between classical and quantum physics: entanglement is a primary feature of quantum mechanics not present in classical mechanics.

Quantum information science

Quantum information science is a field that combines the principles of quantum mechanics with information science to study the processing, analysis, and transmission of information. It covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum physics, including the limits of what can be achieved with quantum information. The term quantum information theory is sometimes used, but it does not include experimental research and can be confused with a subfield of quantum information science that deals with the processing of quantum information.

Quantum optics

Quantum optics is a branch of atomic, molecular, and optical physics dealing with how individual quanta of light, known as photons, interact with atoms and molecules. It includes the study of the particle-like properties of photons. Photons have been used to test many of the counter-intuitive predictions of quantum mechanics, such as entanglement and teleportation, and are a useful resource for quantum information processing. Light propagating in a restricted volume of space has its energy and momentum quantized according to an integer number of particles known as photons.

Density matrix

In quantum mechanics, a density matrix (or density operator) is a matrix that describes the quantum state of a physical system. It allows for the calculation of the probabilities of the outcomes of any measurement performed upon this system, using the Born rule. It is a generalization of the more usual state vectors or wavefunctions: while those can only represent pure states, density matrices can also represent mixed states.

Related lectures (32)

Quantum Entropy

Covers quantum entropy, density matrices, and entanglement in quantum information theory.

Quantum Entanglement: From Einstein to Bell

Delves into the journey from Einstein and Bell's debates to the practical applications of quantum entanglement, including quantum teleportation and key distribution.

Quantum Information: Polarisation

Explores quantum information on polarisation experiments and peculiar observations in photon behaviour.

Double Slit Experiment and Quantum Information Processing

Explores the historical development of quantum mechanics and information theory, focusing on the double slit experiment and quantum phenomena.

Bipartite systems - Entanglement