Parrondo's effect in continuous-time quantum walks

Abstract

We present the first manifestation of a Parrondo's effect in a continuous-time quantum walk (CTQW). In our protocol we consider a CTQW in the presence of time-dependent transition defect. Our results show that the alternation between defects, that individually are detrimental to the wavepacket spreading, can paradoxically enhance overall wavepacket propagation. Our findings pave the way for the exploration of unconventional mechanisms that can potentially harness the adverse effects of defects to enhance quantum transport.

6 pages, 6 figures