An Unexpected Question

https://quantumfrontiers.com/2018/09/23/doctrine-of-the-measurement-mean/

"Four-point [out-of-time-ordered] correlators ... signal quantum chaos and information scrambling." Can we measure them?"

Nicole Yunger Halpern

What is an Out-of-Time-Ordered Correlator (OTOC)?
(and why should I care?)

Idea (Kitaev) :

Poisson brackets of canonically conjugated variables at different times signal classical chaos as Lyapunov exponential divergence
Promoting brackets to quantum case suggests we examine the (average of the square of) the commutator instead to isolate such behavior
For commutators of unitary operators, an OTOC is the only nontrivial quantity that remains
Since persistent information scrambling is a hallmark of classical chaos, we guess that the OTOC witnesses quantum information scrambling

\displaystyle \{ x(t), p(0) \}_{P.B.} \propto e^{\lambda t}

\displaystyle \{ x(t), p(0) \}_{P.B.} \propto e^{\lambda t}

\displaystyle \langle [ \hat{x}(t), \hat{p}(0) ]^\dagger [ \hat{x}(t), \hat{p}(0) ]\rangle_{\rho} \overset{?}{\propto} \hbar^2e^{2\lambda t} \geq 0

\displaystyle \langle [ \hat{x}(t), \hat{p}(0) ]^\dagger [ \hat{x}(t), \hat{p}(0) ]\rangle_{\rho} \overset{?}{\propto} \hbar^2e^{2\lambda t} \geq 0

\hat{x}(t) = \hat{U}^\dagger_t\,\hat{x}\,\hat{U}_t

\hat{x}(t) = \hat{U}^\dagger_t\,\hat{x}\,\hat{U}_t

\displaystyle C(t) \equiv \langle [ \hat{W}(t), \hat{V} ]^\dagger [ \hat{W}(t), \hat{V} ]\rangle_{\rho} = 2[1 - \text{Re}F(t)]

\displaystyle C(t) \equiv \langle [ \hat{W}(t), \hat{V} ]^\dagger [ \hat{W}(t), \hat{V} ]\rangle_{\rho} = 2[1 - \text{Re}F(t)]

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \langle \hat{W}^\dagger(t)\hat{V}^\dagger\hat{W}(t)\hat{V}\rangle_{\rho}

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \langle \hat{W}^\dagger(t)\hat{V}^\dagger\hat{W}(t)\hat{V}\rangle_{\rho}

\displaystyle C(t) \geq 0 \implies \text{Re}F(t) \leq 1

\displaystyle C(t) \geq 0 \implies \text{Re}F(t) \leq 1

Noncommutativity causes decay

Non-integrable spin chain example

Integrable

Non-Integrable

H = -J \sum_{i=1}^{N-1}Z_iZ_{i+1} - h\sum_{i=1}^N Z_i - g\sum_{i=1}^N X_i

H = -J \sum_{i=1}^{N-1}Z_iZ_{i+1} - h\sum_{i=1}^N Z_i - g\sum_{i=1}^N X_i

\rho_0 \propto \exp(-H/kT)

\rho_0 \propto \exp(-H/kT)

V and W of OTOC are spin Z operators at opposite ends of a 5-spin chain

persistent decay

But is such an OTOC measurable in the lab?
(after all, it's non-Hermitian)

Initial Answer :

This looks suspiciously similar to the non-Hermitian structure of the Kirkwood-Dirac (KD) quasiprobability distribution
KD is closely related to the quantum weak value, and can be determined from weak measurements
The OTOC is similarly measurable using weak measurement sequences, and is determined by an extended KD quasiprobability distribution

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \langle \hat{W}^\dagger(t)\hat{V}^\dagger\hat{W}(t)\hat{V}\rangle_{\rho}

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \langle \hat{W}^\dagger(t)\hat{V}^\dagger\hat{W}(t)\hat{V}\rangle_{\rho}

OTOC:

\displaystyle \langle \hat{B}\hat{A}\rangle_{\rho} = \sum_b b\,P(b)\,A_w(b) = \sum_{b,a}b\,a\,\tilde{P}(b,a)

\displaystyle \langle \hat{B}\hat{A}\rangle_{\rho} = \sum_b b\,P(b)\,A_w(b) = \sum_{b,a}b\,a\,\tilde{P}(b,a)

\displaystyle P(b) = \langle b|\hat{\rho}|b \rangle

\displaystyle P(b) = \langle b|\hat{\rho}|b \rangle

\displaystyle A_w(b) = \frac{\langle b|\hat{A}\hat{\rho}|b \rangle}{\langle b |\hat{\rho}|b\rangle}

\displaystyle A_w(b) = \frac{\langle b|\hat{A}\hat{\rho}|b \rangle}{\langle b |\hat{\rho}|b\rangle}

\displaystyle \tilde{P}(b,a) = \langle b|a\rangle\langle a |\hat{\rho}|b \rangle

\displaystyle \tilde{P}(b,a) = \langle b|a\rangle\langle a |\hat{\rho}|b \rangle

(probability of b)

(quantum weak value)

(KD distribution)

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \sum_{w,v,w',v'}w^*\,v^*\,w'\,v'\,\langle w | v\rangle\langle v | w' \rangle \langle w' | v \rangle\langle v | \hat{\rho} | w \rangle

\displaystyle F(t) \equiv \sum_{w,v,w',v'}w^*\,v^*\,w'\,v'\,\langle w | v\rangle\langle v | w' \rangle \langle w' | v \rangle\langle v | \hat{\rho} | w \rangle

\displaystyle \tilde{P}(w,v,w',v')

\displaystyle \tilde{P}(w,v,w',v')

Yunger Halpern, Swingle, JD PRA 9, 042105 (2018)

Non-integrable spin chain: OTOC revisited

Blue : Ideal Orange : Weak Measurement

With finite temperature and decoherence added, OTOC as witness is less convincing

Gonzalez Alonso, JD et al. PRL 122, 040404 (2019)

Non-integrable spin chain: OTOC KD QPD

Timescales in OTOC extended KD QPD Nonclassicality still clearly distinguish two dynamical cases

\mathcal{N}(t) \equiv \sum_{w,v,w',v'}|\tilde{P}(w,v,w',v')| - 1

\mathcal{N}(t) \equiv \sum_{w,v,w',v'}|\tilde{P}(w,v,w',v')| - 1

Gonzalez Alonso, JD et al. PRL 122, 040404 (2019)

Recall (Weak) Indirect Measurement

Measurement produces a channel-valued measure (instrument), not just POVM

This procedure can be repeated many times in a row

Easy circuit : prepare ancilla, entangling gate, measure ancilla

Pang, Dressel, Brun, PRL 113, 030401 (2014)

The most interesting measurement in the world

\hat{M} = \langle \psi_f | \exp(-i (g'/2) \hat{A}\otimes \hat{F} ) |\psi_i \rangle \approx \sqrt{p}\,\hat{1} + (g/2)\,\hat{A} + O(g^2)

\hat{M} = \langle \psi_f | \exp(-i (g'/2) \hat{A}\otimes \hat{F} ) |\psi_i \rangle \approx \sqrt{p}\,\hat{1} + (g/2)\,\hat{A} + O(g^2)

Crude idea : measurement operator approximately linearizes in weak measurement regime (linear response regime)

Post-interaction system state couples to anticommutator to linear order in coupling:

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger) \approx p + g\sqrt{p}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\hat{A}\hat{\rho}+\hat{\rho}\hat{A}}{2}\right] + O(g^2)

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger) \approx p + g\sqrt{p}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\hat{A}\hat{\rho}+\hat{\rho}\hat{A}}{2}\right] + O(g^2)

Sequences of measurements create nested anticommutator terms to lowest order in the joint couplings

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{N}\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger\hat{N}^\dagger) \approx p_1p_2 + g_1\sqrt{p_1}p_2\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_2\sqrt{p_2}p_1\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_1g_2\sqrt{p_1p_2}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}}{4}\right] + \cdots

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{N}\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger\hat{N}^\dagger) \approx p_1p_2 + g_1\sqrt{p_1}p_2\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_2\sqrt{p_2}p_1\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_1g_2\sqrt{p_1p_2}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}}{4}\right] + \cdots

Anticommutator for measurement

"Non-Hermitian" term:
real part of KD distribution

Background terms, can be subtracted away once measured independently

"small"

Note: unitary transformation yields commutator instead

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{N}\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger\hat{N}^\dagger) \approx p_1p_2 + g_1\sqrt{p_1}p_2\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_2\sqrt{p_2}p_1\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_1g_2\sqrt{p_1p_2}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}}{4}\right] + \cdots

\displaystyle \text{Tr}(\hat{N}\hat{M}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}^\dagger\hat{N}^\dagger) \approx p_1p_2 + g_1\sqrt{p_1}p_2\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_2\sqrt{p_2}p_1\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\hat{\rho}\}}{2}\right] + g_1g_2\sqrt{p_1p_2}\,\text{Tr}\left[\frac{\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}}{4}\right] + \cdots

Benefit : Isolating such a nested commutator term in measurement sequence gives access to interesting non-Hermitian terms like those that appear in OTOCs and the weak value
Annoyance : Isolating this term means subtracting away unwanted terms, including the calibrated background and any higher-order terms, which is difficult in practice
Miracle : For qubits, the anticommutator terms can be isolated exactly using any measurement strengths g

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

\displaystyle \frac{\text{Tr}[\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}]}{4} = \text{Re}\langle \hat{A}_1\hat{A}_2\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \frac{\text{Tr}[\{\hat{A}_2,\{\hat{A}_1,\hat{\rho}\}\}]}{4} = \text{Re}\langle \hat{A}_1\hat{A}_2\rangle_\rho

Arbitrary Strength Qubit Measurements

Informative Measurement:

Non-Informative Measurement:

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right] = \frac{\exp[i\phi(-1)^a\,\hat{A}]}{\sqrt{2}}

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right] = \frac{\exp[i\phi(-1)^a\,\hat{A}]}{\sqrt{2}}

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

Generalized spectral decomposition

(Works for observables A that square to the identity)

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{0}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{0}

Tested in the Laboratory!

Informative Measurement:

White, Mutus, JD, et al. npj Quantum Information 2, 15022 (2016)

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

Generalized spectral decomposition
"rescales response curves"

Generalized measurement method used experimentally with superconducting qubits (Google)

Bell-Leggett-Garg Inequality violation with weak measurements

Informative Measurement:

White, Mutus, JD, et al. npj Quantum Information 2, 15022 (2016)

Avoids "clumsiness loophole" by only correlating nonlocal measurements
Avoids "fair sampling" loophole by using one experimental ensemble
Requires weak measurements to see violation (preserve entanglement)

Informative Qubit Measurements

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

Useful corollaries:

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \hat{A}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{\{\hat{A},\hat{\rho}\}}{2}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{\{\hat{A},\hat{\rho}\}}{2}

Anticommutators isolated perfectly for any coupling strength

\displaystyle \sum_{a_1,\ldots,a_m=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_1,a_1}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_m,a_m}\,P(a_1,\ldots,a_m) = \left\langle\frac{\{\cdots\{\{\hat{A}_m,\hat{A}_{m-1}\},\hat{A}_{m-2}\}\cdots,\hat{A}_1\}}{2^{m-1}}\right\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \sum_{a_1,\ldots,a_m=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_1,a_1}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_m,a_m}\,P(a_1,\ldots,a_m) = \left\langle\frac{\{\cdots\{\{\hat{A}_m,\hat{A}_{m-1}\},\hat{A}_{m-2}\}\cdots,\hat{A}_1\}}{2^{m-1}}\right\rangle_\rho

Nested anticommutator averages can be measured directly for any coupling strength

Non-Informative Qubit Measurements

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

Useful corollaries:

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{[\hat{A},\hat{\rho}]}{2i}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{[\hat{A},\hat{\rho}]}{2i}

Commutators also isolated perfectly for any coupling strength

\displaystyle \sum_{\tilde{a}_1,\ldots,a_m=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_1,\tilde{a}_1}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_m,a_m}\,P(\tilde{a}_1,\ldots,a_m) = \left\langle\frac{[\cdots\{\{\hat{A}_m,\hat{A}_{m-1}\},\hat{A}_{m-2}\}\cdots,\hat{A}_1]}{2^{m-2}(2i)}\right\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \sum_{\tilde{a}_1,\ldots,a_m=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_1,\tilde{a}_1}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_m,a_m}\,P(\tilde{a}_1,\ldots,a_m) = \left\langle\frac{[\cdots\{\{\hat{A}_m,\hat{A}_{m-1}\},\hat{A}_{m-2}\}\cdots,\hat{A}_1]}{2^{m-2}(2i)}\right\rangle_\rho

Nested commutator averages can also be measured directly for any coupling strength

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

Any strength? What happened to state collapse?

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \alpha_{\phi,a} = \frac{(-1)^{a+1}}{\sin\phi}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{[\hat{A},\hat{\rho}]}{2i}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{[\hat{A},\hat{\rho}]}{2i}

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{N}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} +i(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^a \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{A}\right]

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{\{\hat{A},\hat{\rho}\}}{2}

\displaystyle \sum_{a=0,1} \alpha_{\phi,a}\,\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{(A)}\hat{\rho}\hat{M}_{\phi,a}^{\dagger(A)} = \frac{\{\hat{A},\hat{\rho}\}}{2}

Why does this work? Examine full transformation:

(Lindblad) decoherence terms from the measurement cancel in Pauli-like averages

However, marginalization of results will reveal the collapse-based disturbance

Application: Strongly Measured 2-Point Correlator

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

\displaystyle \hat{U}_t^\dagger\hat{M}_{\phi,b}^{(B)}\hat{U}_t = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^b \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{B}(t)\right]

\displaystyle \hat{U}_t^\dagger\hat{M}_{\phi,b}^{(B)}\hat{U}_t = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left[ \cos\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{1} -(-1)^b \sin\frac{\phi}{2}\hat{B}(t)\right]

2-point temporal qubit correlators may be indirectly measured using any coupling strength

These are common theoretical objects that are usually considered inaccessible to measurement

Bracketing measurement by unitary evolutions probes a Heisenberg-evolved operator

The final unitary may be omitted as inconsequential to the measured average

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,a}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\,P(a,b) = \left\langle\frac{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\}}{2}\right\rangle_\rho = \text{Re}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,a}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\,P(a,b) = \left\langle\frac{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\}}{2}\right\rangle_\rho = \text{Re}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,\tilde{a}}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\,P(\tilde{a},b) = \left\langle\frac{[\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}]}{2i}\right\rangle_\rho = \text{Im}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,\tilde{a}}\cdots\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\,P(\tilde{a},b) = \left\langle\frac{[\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}]}{2i}\right\rangle_\rho = \text{Im}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho

Application: Strongly Measured 4-Point Correlator

JD, et al. PRA 98, 012032 (2018)

4-point temporal qubit out-of-time-ordered correlators may be directly measured using any measurement strength

This directly recovers the desired OTOC and squared commutator connected with information scrambling and chaos

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b,a',b'=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,a}\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\alpha_{\phi_{a'},a'}\alpha_{\phi_{b'},b'}\,P(a,b,a',b') = \left\langle\frac{\{\{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\},\hat{B}(t)\},\hat{A}\}}{2^3}\right\rangle_\rho = \frac{1 + \text{Re}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho}{2} = \frac{1 + \text{Re}F(t)}{2} = 1 - \frac{C(t)}{4}

\displaystyle \sum_{a,b,a',b'=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,a}\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\alpha_{\phi_{a'},a'}\alpha_{\phi_{b'},b'}\,P(a,b,a',b') = \left\langle\frac{\{\{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\},\hat{B}(t)\},\hat{A}\}}{2^3}\right\rangle_\rho = \frac{1 + \text{Re}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho}{2} = \frac{1 + \text{Re}F(t)}{2} = 1 - \frac{C(t)}{4}

\displaystyle \sum_{\tilde{a},b,a',b'=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,\tilde{a}}\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\alpha_{\phi_{a'},a'}\alpha_{\phi_{b'},b'}\,P(\tilde{a},b,a',b') = \left\langle\frac{[\{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\},\hat{B}(t)\},\hat{A}]}{2^2(2i)}\right\rangle_\rho = \frac{\text{Im}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho}{2} = \frac{\text{Im}F(t)}{2}

\displaystyle \sum_{\tilde{a},b,a',b'=0,1} \alpha_{\phi_a,\tilde{a}}\alpha_{\phi_b,b}\alpha_{\phi_{a'},a'}\alpha_{\phi_{b'},b'}\,P(\tilde{a},b,a',b') = \left\langle\frac{[\{\{\hat{B}(t),\hat{A}\},\hat{B}(t)\},\hat{A}]}{2^2(2i)}\right\rangle_\rho = \frac{\text{Im}\langle\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\hat{B}(t)\hat{A}\rangle_\rho}{2} = \frac{\text{Im}F(t)}{2}

(one reversed evolution needed)

Conclusions

Out-of-time-ordered correlators roughly witness information scrambling
Nested (anti)commutators are measurable for qubits with any strength
2- and 4-point qubit correlators can be directly measured
Follow-up research in preparation:
- Measuring qubit quasiprobabilities strongly with several techniques
- Measuring qutrit correlators with arbitrary strength
- Investigation of out-of-time-ordered correlators experimentally

Thank you!

Superconducting Qubits

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

Mesoscopic quantum coherence of collective charge motion at $\mu$ m scale

EM Fields produced by charge motion described by Circuit QED

Lowest levels of anharmonic oscillator potentials treated as artificial atoms

Typical Transmon Parameters

\displaystyle \hat{H} = \hbar\hat{\Omega} = \frac{\hbar\omega_q}{2}\hat{\sigma}_z

\displaystyle \hat{H} = \hbar\hat{\Omega} = \frac{\hbar\omega_q}{2}\hat{\sigma}_z

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

\omega_q/2\pi \sim \text{4--7GHz}

\omega_q/2\pi \sim \text{4--7GHz}

\delta_q/2\pi \sim \text{100--300MHz}

\delta_q/2\pi \sim \text{100--300MHz}

"3D Transmon"

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar\omega_q

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - \delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

\hbar(\omega_q - 2\delta_q)

\displaystyle \hat{H}_r = \hbar\omega_r\hat{a}^\dagger\hat{a}

\displaystyle \hat{H}_r = \hbar\omega_r\hat{a}^\dagger\hat{a}

Cavity mode:

\omega_r/2\pi \sim \text{5--7GHz}

\omega_r/2\pi \sim \text{5--7GHz}

|\Delta|\equiv|\omega_q-\omega_r| \gg g

|\Delta|\equiv|\omega_q-\omega_r| \gg g

\displaystyle \hat{H}_{c} = \hbar g(\hat{a}+\hat{a}^\dagger)\hat{\sigma}_x

\displaystyle \hat{H}_{c} = \hbar g(\hat{a}+\hat{a}^\dagger)\hat{\sigma}_x

g/2\pi \sim \text{100MHz}

g/2\pi \sim \text{100MHz}

Detuned (dispersive) regime (RWA):

\displaystyle \hat{H}_c \sim \hbar \chi\,\hat{a}^\dagger\hat{a}\,\hat{\sigma}_z

\displaystyle \hat{H}_c \sim \hbar \chi\,\hat{a}^\dagger\hat{a}\,\hat{\sigma}_z

X-X Coupling:

\displaystyle \chi \sim \left[\frac{g}{\Delta}\right]^2\!\delta_q \sim 1\text{MHz}

\displaystyle \chi \sim \left[\frac{g}{\Delta}\right]^2\!\delta_q \sim 1\text{MHz}

\displaystyle {\small \chi \neq \frac{g^2}{|\Delta|}}

\displaystyle {\small \chi \neq \frac{g^2}{|\Delta|}}

Korotkov group, Phys. Rev. A 92, 012325 (2015)

Martinis group, Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 190503 (2016)

2D planar chip schematic

Bus acts as Purcell filter, coupled to traveling wave parametric amplifier (TWPA)

\omega_r/2\pi \sim \text{5--7GHz}

\omega_r/2\pi \sim \text{5--7GHz}

g/2\pi \sim \text{100MHz}

g/2\pi \sim \text{100MHz}

\displaystyle \chi \sim \left[\frac{g}{\Delta}\right]^2\!\delta_q \sim 1\text{MHz}

\displaystyle \chi \sim \left[\frac{g}{\Delta}\right]^2\!\delta_q \sim 1\text{MHz}

\omega_q/2\pi \sim \text{4--7GHz}

\omega_q/2\pi \sim \text{4--7GHz}

\delta_q/2\pi \sim \text{100--300MHz}

\delta_q/2\pi \sim \text{100--300MHz}

Similar parameters:

v1

v3

Coming soon: two-layer design of 20+ qubits
separated from control circuitry
(similar to Google Bristlecone + IBM Q)

Now on v8+

T_2 \sim 100\mu\text{s}

T_2 \sim 100\mu\text{s}

T_1 \sim 60\mu\text{s}

T_1 \sim 60\mu\text{s}

UCB 2D planar chip

Multiplexed 10 qubit control and readout

Single shot "projective" readout :
typical quantum computing goal

Strengthening weak measurements for qubit multitime correlators

An Unexpected Question

Non-integrable spin chain example

Non-integrable spin chain: OTOC revisited

Non-integrable spin chain: OTOC KD QPD

Recall (Weak) Indirect Measurement

Bell-Leggett-Garg Inequality violation with weak measurements

Conclusions

Superconducting Qubits

Typical Transmon Parameters

"3D Transmon"

2D planar chip schematic

UCB 2D planar chip

Microwave Measurement