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Gaussian quantum channels are relevant operations in continuous variable systems. In general, given an arbitrary state, the action on it is well-known provided that the quantum channels are completely characterized. In this work, we consider the inverse problem, i.e., the estimation of channel parameters employing probes in which quantum coherence is used as a resource. Two paradigmatic bosonic Gaussian channels are treated, the thermal attenuator and the thermal amplifier. We also consider the degradation of the coherence due to a Markovian bath. The quantum Fisher information for each relevant parameter is computed and we observed that the rate of change of coherence concerning the channel parameter, rather than the amount of coherence, can produce a parameter estimation gain. Finally, we obtain a direct relation between the quantum Fisher information and the relative entropy or coherence, allowing in principle an experimental implementation based on the measurement of the covariance matrix of the probe system.

In the present work, we obtain and analyze a new class of analytical solutions of magnetically charged black bounces in k-essence theory, spherically symmetric in (3+1)-dimensions, coupled to nonlinear electrodynamics (NED). We consider two metric models, Simpson-Visser and Bardeen, for the k-essence configurations n = 1/3 and n = 1/5. We obtain in an analytical way which scalar field, field potential, and Lagrangian NED are necessary to support the metrics. We analyze the behavior of these quantities and the energy conditions due to the scalar field and the NED.

Quantum metrology offers significant improvements in several quantum technologies. In this work, we propose a Gaussian quantum metrology protocol assisted by initial position-momentum correlations (PM). We employ a correlated Gaussian wave packet as a probe to examine the dynamics of Quantum Fisher Information (QFI) and purity based on PM correlations to demonstrate how to estimate the PM correlations and, more importantly, to unlock its potential applications such as a resource to enhance quantum thermometry. In the low-temperature regime, we find an improvement in the thermometry of the surrounding environment when the original system exhibits a non-null initial correlation (correlated Gaussian state). In addition, we explore the connection between the loss of purity and the gain in QFI during the process of estimating the effective environment coupling and its effective temperature.

We have investigated bound state solutions for a scalar particle described in the spacetime of a chiral cosmic string subjected to rotational effects in a Kaluza-Klein theory. We saw that combinations between the parameters that describe the generalized spacetime impose upper and lower limits for the radial coordinate leading to well-established boundary conditions.

This study deals with a piecewise $\phi^2$ scalar field theory in $(1+1)$ dimensions. The scalar field potential is designed with a triple-well shape, engendering kink solutions with asymmetric square-well linearized potentials. Thus, the localized and delocalized modes in this model can be obtained analytically in terms of transcendental equations. This allows us to explore kink-antikink and antikink-kink collisions with any desired number of localized and delocalized modes. We obtain new scenarios of resonance windows suppression, shedding light on the role of higher excited modes in kink scattering.

In the present study, we generalize the possible ghost field configurations within the framework of $k$-essence theory to the Simpson-Visser metric area function $\Sigma^2=x^2+a^2$. Our analysis encompasses field configurations for the region-defined metric function $dA_\pm$ as well as the general solution that asymptotically behaves as Schwarzschild-de Sitter for $x\to-\infty$. Specifically, we investigate two scalar field configurations and define the associated potential for each one. Through rigorous calculations, we verify that all equations of motion are satisfied. Notably, our findings indicate that even when proposing new configurations of ghost scalar fields, the energy conditions remain unchanged. This result serves to validate the wormhole solutions obtained in previous studies., Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures

We explore the effects of Markovian bath coupling and initial position-momentum correlations on the coherence and purity of Gaussian quantum states. Our analysis focuses on the roles these factors play in the dynamics of quantum coherence, coherence lengths, and state purity. Our results reveal that initial position-momentum correlations have a remarkable impact on the quantum properties of the mixed state. These correlations lead to opposing behaviors in coherence and purity: as quantum coherence increases in response to stronger correlations, purity diminishes, and vice versa. This inverse relationship illustrates the phenomenon where, governed by these initial correlations, a state with greater mixing can display enhanced quantum coherence compared to a less mixed state. We also observe an unanticipated coherence freezing phenomenon, quantified by the relative entropy of coherence. Notably, this freezing is driven by initial position-momentum correlations, although the final frozen value is independent of these correlations.

Quantum thermal machines are powerful platforms for investigating how quantum effects impact the energy flow between different systems. Here, we investigate a two-stroke cycle in which spin-squeezing effects are intrinsically switched on during the entire operation time. By using Kitagawa and Ueda's parameter and the l1-norm to compute the degree of spin squeezing and the quantum coherence, we first show that the greater the spin squeezing effect, the greater the amount of coherence in the energy basis. Then, we investigate the engine performance given the amount of spin squeezing into the system. Our results show that even assuming an always-on spin squeezing, which is directly associated with the amount of entropy production in the cycle, it is possible to find a better set of efficiency and extracted power for the engine provided a high level of control over the relevant parameters, i.e., the operation time and the squeezing intensity.

We consider Klein-Gordon (KG) particles in a global monopole (GM) spacetime within Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity (EiBI-gravity) and in a Wu-Yang magnetic monopole (WYMM). We discuss a set of KG-oscillators in such spacetime settings. We propose a textbook power series expansion for the KG radial wave function that allows us to retrieve the exact energy levels for KG-oscillators in a GM spacetime and a WYMM without EiBI-gravity. We, moreover, report some \textit{conditionally exact}, closed form, energy levels (through some parametric correlations) for KG-oscillators in a GM spacetime and a WYMM within EiBI-gravity, and for massless KG-oscillators in a GM spacetime and a WYMM within EiBI-gravity under the influence of a Coulomb plus linear Lorentz scalar potential. We study and discuss the effects of the Eddington parameter $\kappa$, GM-parameter $\alpha$, WYMM strength $\sigma$, KG-oscillators' frequency $\Omega$, and the coupling parameters of the Coulomb plus linear Lorentz scalar potential, on the spectroscopic structure of the KG-oscillators at hand. Such effects are studied over a vast range of the radial quantum number $n_r\geq 0$ and include energy levels clustering at $\kappa>>1$ (i.e., extreme EiBI-gravity), and at $|\sigma|>>1$ (i.e., extreme WYMM strength)., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures

The Gouy phase is essential for accurately describing various wave phenomena, ranging from classical electromagnetic waves to matter waves and quantum optics. In this work, we employ phase-space methods based on the cross-Wigner transformation to analyze spatial and temporal interference in the evolution of matter waves characterized initially by a correlated Gaussian wave packet. First, we consider the cross-Wigner of the initial function with its free evolution, and second for the evolution through a double-slit arrangement. Different from the wave function which acquires a global Gouy phase, we find that the cross-Wigner acquires a Gouy phase difference due to different evolution times. The results suggest that temporal like-Gouy phases are important for an accurate description of temporal interference. Furthermore, we propose a technique based on the Wigner function to reconstruct the cross-Wigner from the spatial intensity interference term in a double-slit experiment with matter waves.

Intermolecular charge transfer reactions are key processes in physical chemistry. The electron-transfer rates depend on a few system's parameters, such as temperature, electromagnetic field, distance between adsorbates and, especially, the molecular reorganization energy. This microscopic greatness is the energetic cost to rearrange each single$-$molecule and its surrounding environment when a charge is transferred. Reorganization energies are measured by electrochemistry and spectroscopy techniques as well as at the single-molecule limit using atomic force microscopy approaches, but not from temperature$-$dependent charge transport measurements nor in a monolithically$-$integrated molecular device. Nowadays self$-$rolling nanomembrane (rNM) devices, with strain$-$engineered mechanical properties, on$-$a$-$chip monolithic integration, and operable in distinct environments, overcome those challenges. Here, we investigate the charge transfer reactions occurring within a ca. 6 nm thick copper$-$phthalocyanine (CuPc) film employed as electrode-spacer in a monolithically integrated nanocapacitor. Employing the rNM technology allows us to measure the molecules' charge$-$transport dependence on temperature for different electric fields. Thereby, the CuPc reorganization energy is determined as (930 $\pm$ 40) meV, whereas density functional theory (DFT) calculations support our findings with the atomistic picture of the CuPc charge transfer reaction. Our approach presents a consistent route towards electron transfer reaction characterization using current$-$voltage spectroscopy and provides insight into the role of the molecular reorganization energy when it comes to electrochemical nanodevices., Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures

In January 2020, a workshop was held at EMBL-EBI (Hinxton, UK) to discuss data requirements for deposition and validation of cryoEM structures, with a focus on single-particle analysis. The meeting was attended by 45 experts in data processing, model building and refinement, validation, and archiving of such structures. This report describes the workshop's motivation and history, the topics discussed, and consensus recommendations resulting from the workshop. Some challenges for future methods-development efforts in this area are also highlighted, as is the implementation to date of some of the recommendations., Comment: Outcomes of a wwPDB/EMDB workshop on cryoEM data management, deposition and validation

Multifunctional coatings are central for information, biomedical, transportation and energy technologies. These coatings must possess hard-to-attain properties and be scalable, adaptable, and sustainable, which makes layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) of nanomaterials uniquely suitable for these technologies. What remains largely unexplored is that LBL enables computational methodologies for structural design of these composites. Utilizing silver nanowires (NWs), we develop and validate a graph theoretical (GT) description of their LBL composites. GT successfully describes the multilayer structure with nonrandom disorder and enables simultaneous rapid assessment of several properties of electrical conductivity, electromagnetic transparency, and anisotropy. GT models for property assessment can be rapidly validated due to (1) quasi-2D confinement of NWs and (2) accurate microscopy data for stochastic organization of the NW networks. We finally show that spray-assisted LBL offers direct translation of the GT-based design of composite coatings to additive, scalable manufacturing of drone wings with straightforward extensions to other technologies.

In the present work, we construct black-bounce configurations in the context of $k$-essence theory. The solutions have a regular metric function at the origin. The area metric function is linked to the black-bounce area initially considered by Simpson-Visser, $\Sigma^2=x^2+a^2$. Subsequently, the expressions for the scalar field and scalar potential corresponding to the found solutions are determined, exhibiting phantom behavior everywhere due to violation of Null Energy Condition $(NEC^\phi)$. The Kretschmann scalar is regular throughout spacetime, and the geodesics are complete. The energy conditions are analyzed, verifying that the null $(NEC^\phi_1)$ and dominant energy conditions $(DEC^\phi_1)$ are violated inside and outside the event horizon. Finally, the extrinsic curvature method was applied to determine the sign of the mass on the junction surface., Comment: 13 pages, 15 figures

We study the P\"oschl-Teller potential $V(x) = \alpha^2 g_s \sinh^{-2}(\alpha x) + \alpha^2 g_c \cosh^{-2}(\alpha x)$, for every value of the dimensionless parameters $g_s$ and $g_c$, including the less usual ranges for which the regular singularity at the origin prevents the Hamiltonian from being self-adjoint. We apply a renormalization procedure to obtain a family of well-defined energy eigenfunctions, and study the associated renormalization group (RG) flow. We find an anomalous length scale that appears by dimensional transmutation, and spontaneously breaks the asymptotic conformal symmetry near the singularity, which is also explicitly broken by the dimensionful parameter $\alpha$ in the potential. These two competing ways of breaking conformal symmetry give the RG flow a rich structure, with phenomena such as a possible region of walking coupling, massive phases, and non-trivial limits even when the anomalous dimension is absent. We show that supersymmetry of the potential, when present, is also spontaneously broken, along with asymptotic conformal symmetry. We use the family of eigenfunctions to compute the S-matrix in all regions of parameter space, for any value of anomalous scale, and systematically study the poles of the S-matrix to classify all bound, anti-bound and metastable states, including quasi-normal modes. The anomalous scale, as expected, changes the spectra in non-trivial ways., Comment: 42 pages, 16 figures. V2 - Improved version: new discussions added in Sect.4, introduction and conclusion

Quantum thermodynamics seeks to extend non-equilibrium stochastic thermodynamics to small quantum systems where non-classical features are essential to its description. Such a research area has recently provided meaningful theoretical and experimental advances by exploring the wealth and the power of quantum features along with informational aspects of a system's thermodynamics. The relevance of such investigations is related to the fact that quantum technological devices are currently at the forefront of science and engineering applications. This short review article provides an overview of some concepts in quantum thermodynamics highlighting test-of-principles experiments using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques.

We study the effect of the intermode coupling in the generation of coherence when two bosonic modes are bilinearly coupled. We consider the case for which the two modes are weakly coupled and the rotating-wave approximation (RWA) applies and the case for which they are strongly coupled and the (RWA) does not apply. Then, in the regime of validity of (RWA), there is no coherence generation solely due to squeezing effects, which means there is an exchange of excitation between the modes and negligible squeezing. On the other hand, if the two modes are strongly coupled coherence is generated by the squeezing interaction. For the system of two bosonic modes weakly coupled with a Markovian bath at temperature $T$ the coherence decreases with $T$. In general, when both kinds of couplings (exchange of excitation and squeezing) are turned on the exchange of excitation contributes to generating more coherence in comparison with a purely squeezing coupling. Thus, the coherence decreases more slowly with the temperature when both couplings are present. Finally, we explore the case when only one of the two coupled modes interacts with a Markovian bath while the other one remains free from the environment. We observe that the intermode coupling induces oscillations in the coherence and fidelity dynamics similar to the behavior for the coupling with a non-Markovian environment.