Quantum chimera states

• We propose a spin chain model with long range couplings having purely quantum states similar to the classical chimera states.
• The quantum chimera states are characterized by the coexistence of strongly entangled and non-entangled spins in the same chain.
• The quantum chimera states present some characteristics of quantum chaos.

We study a theoretical model of closed quasi-hermitian chain of spins which exhibits quantum analogues of chimera states, i.e. long life classical states for which a part of an oscillator chain presents an ordered dynamics whereas another part presents a disordered dynamics. For the quantum analogue, the chimera behaviour deals with the entanglement between the spins of the chain. We discuss the entanglement properties, quantum chaos, quantum disorder and semi-classical similarity of our quantum chimera system. The quantum chimera concept is novel and induces new perspectives concerning the entanglement of multipartite systems.