Quantum spin chains with fractional revival

Abstract

A systematic study of fractional revival at two sites in $XX$ quantum spin chains is presented and analytic models with this phenomenon are exhibited. The generic models have two essential parameters and a revival time that does not depend on the length of the chain. They are obtained by combining two basic ways of realizing fractional revival in a spin chain each bringing one parameter. The first proceeds through isospectral deformations of spin chains with perfect state transfer. The second arises from the recurrence coefficients of the para-Krawtchouk polynomials with a bi-lattice orthogonality grid. It corresponds to an analytic model previously identified that can possess perfect state transfer in addition to fractional revival.