Maximizing Thermal Entanglement of XY Model Using Site-Dependent Magnetic Fields in Specific Directions

We study the thermal entanglement by means of concurrence in a two-qubit isotropic XY model in the presence of site-dependent external magnetic fields in arbitrary directions. We find that at a given temperature and magnetic field strength, the mirror symmetry of the two fields about the x-y plane is a necessary condition for maximum entanglement. However, if there is no constraint on the field strengths, then the necessary condition for maximum entanglement reduces to the configuration that the two fields are vertical, anti-parallel and with the same strength. We also investigate the anisotropic XY model and find that the above conclusion more or less holds.