Quantum non-Markovianity represents memory during system dynamics, which is typically weakened by temperature. We study here the effects of environmental temperature on the non-Markovianity of an open quantum system by virtue of collision models. The environment is simulated by a chain of ancillary qubits that are prepared in thermal states with a finite temperature $T$. Two distinct non-Markovian mechanisms are considered via two types of collision models, one where the system $S$ consecutively interacts with ancillas and a second where $S$ collides only with an intermediate system $S^{\prime }$, which in turn interacts with the ancillas. We show that in both models the relation between non-Markovianity and temperature is nonmonotonic. In particular, revivals of non-Markovianity may occur as temperature increases. We find that the physical reason behind this behavior can be revealed by examining a peculiar system-environment coherence exchange, leading to ancillary qubit coherence larger than system coherence, which triggers information backflow from the environment to the system. These results provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the counterintuitive phenomenon of temperature-enhanced quantum memory effects.

• Received 17 April 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.97.062104