Von Neumann Entropy from Mean Spin Vector (2005.09647v2)

Abstract: We show for a general pure entangled state of two two-level atoms, the von Neumann entropy of the partial traces can be directly measured from the magnitude of the mean spin vector of a single atom of the pair. We emphasize the fact that the von Neumann entropy of the partial traces for such a system can be obtained without knowing the exact form of the quantum state of the two atoms, if we have the value of the magnitude of the mean spin vector of a single atom of the pair. Mean spin vector, used in the context of spin squeezing and spectroscopic squeezing in population spectroscopy, is experimentally measurable and provides an exact measure of von Neumann entropy of the partial traces for such a system. The idea developed in this paper can be used in the context of other quantum mechanical two level systems as the algebra of two level systems can be described by that of spin- $\frac{1}{2}$ particles.