Enhancement of geometric phase by frustration of decoherence: A Parrondo-like effect

Geometric phase plays an important role in evolution of pure or mixed quantum states. However, when a system undergoes decoherence the development of geometric phase may be inhibited. Here we show that when a quantum system interacts with two competing environments there can be enhancement of geometric phase. This effect is akin to a Parrondo-like effect on the geometric phase which results from quantum frustration of decoherence. Our result suggests that the mechanism of two competing decoherence can be useful in fault-tolerant holonomic quantum computation. © 2013 American Physical Society.