Quantum correlations in general qubit–qudit axially symmetric states

The development and improvement of analytical methods for evaluating nonclassical correlations is one of the most important tasks in quantum information science. In this paper, we investigate a mixed spin-(1/2, S) system with an arbitrary spin S, where the interactions satisfy the U(1) axial symmetry. Analytical formulas for the local quantum uncertainty (LQU) and local quantum Fisher information (LQFI) are derived directly from the elements and eigenvalues of the density matrix. These results are then used to conduct a comparative analysis of the discord-like quantum correlations, LQU and LQFI, in the system at thermal equilibrium. The high-temperature asymptotics of both quantum correlations are found explicitly. Despite the destructive role of temperature in general, the calculations show that the quantum correlations can increase with temperature in local intervals. Under certain conditions, temperature even generates quantum correlations from uncorrelated ground states. Further, as the system cools, quantum correlations can undergo a series of abrupt transitions with a smooth temperature change. These phenomena are demonstrated for different choices of coupling parameters and spin lengths S.