Spectroscopy and coherent manipulation of single and coupled flux qubits

Measurements of three-junction flux qubits, both single flux qubits and coupled flux qubits, using a coupled direct current superconducting quantum interference device （dc-SQUID） for readout are reported. The measurement procedure is described in detail. We performed spectroscopy measurements and coherent manipulations of the qubit states on a single flux qubit, demonstrating quantum energy levels and Rabi oscillations, with Rabi oscillation decay time TRabi =- 78 ns and energy relaxation time T~ = 315 ns. We found that the value of TRabi depends strongly on the mutual inductance between the qubit and the magnetic coil. We also performed spectroscopy measurements on inductively coupled flux qubits.     

Parametric control of a superconducting flux qubit

Parametric control of a superconducting flux qubit has been achieved by using two-frequency microwave pulses. We have observed Rabi oscillations stemming from parametric transitions between the qubit states when the sum of the two microwave frequencies or the difference between them matches the qubit Larmor frequency. We have also observed multiphoton Rabi oscillations corresponding to one- to four-photon resonances by applying single-frequency microwave pulses. The parametric control demonstrated in this work widens the frequency range of microwaves for controlling the qubit and offers a high quality testing ground for exploring nonlinear quantum phenomena of macroscopically distinct states.     

Excitonic Rabi oscillations in a quantum dot: local field impact

The influence of local fields on the excitonic Rabi oscillations in an isolated, arbitrary shaped quantum dot (QD) has been theoretically investigated. QD interaction with both a classical electromagnetic field and quantum light has been considered. In the classical light, time harmonic and ultrashort pulse excitations are analyzed. The general formalism has been formulated for quantum light and applied to the case of a Fock qubit. Noticeable modification of the Rabi oscillation dynamics induced by the local fields is predicted to be observable in QDs exposed to both classical and quantum light. In particular, the bifurcation and anharmonism in the Rabi oscillations have been revealed under time harmonic excitation and a dependence of the Rabi oscillation period on the QD depolarization has been obtained.     

Temperature dependence of coherent oscillations in Josephson phase qubits

We experimentally investigate the temperature dependence of Rabi oscillations and Ramsey fringes in superconducting phase qubits. In a wide range of temperatures, we find that both the decay time and the amplitude of these coherent oscillations remain nearly unaffected by thermal fluctuations. In the two-level limit, coherent qubit response rapidly vanishes as soon as the energy of thermal fluctuations k(B)T becomes larger than the energy level spacing variant Planck's over h omega of the qubit. In contrast, a sample of much shorter coherence times displayed semiclassical oscillations very similar to Rabi oscillation, but showing a qualitatively different temperature dependence. Our observations shed new light on the origin of decoherence in superconducting qubits. The experimental data suggest that, without degrading already achieved coherence times, phase qubits can be operated at temperatures much higher than those reported till now.     

Single-qubit lasing and cooling at the Rabi frequency

For a superconducting qubit driven to perform Rabi oscillations and coupled to a slow electromagnetic or nanomechanical oscillator we describe previously unexplored quantum optics effects. When the Rabi frequency is tuned to resonance with the oscillator, the latter can be driven far from equilibrium. Blue detuned driving leads to a population inversion in the qubit and a bistability with lasing behavior of the oscillator; for red detuning the qubit cools the oscillator. This behavior persists at the symmetry point where the qubit-oscillator coupling is quadratic and decoherence effects are minimized. There the system realizes a "single-atom-two-photon laser."     

Rabi oscillations in a large Josephson-junction qubit

We have designed and operated a circuit based on a large-area current-biased Josephson junction whose two lowest energy quantum levels are used to implement a solid-state qubit. The circuit allows measurement of the qubit states with a fidelity of 85% while providing sufficient decoupling from external sources of relaxation and decoherence to allow coherent manipulation of the qubit state, as demonstrated by the observation of Rabi oscillations. This qubit circuit is the basis of a scalable quantum computer.     

Gate control of quantum dot-based electron spin–orbit qubits

We investigate theoretically the coherent spin dynamics of gate control of quantum dot-based electron spin–orbit qubits subjected to a tilted magnetic field under electric-dipole spin resonance (EDSR). Our results reveal that Rabi oscillation of qubit states can be manipulated electrically based on rapid gate control of SOC strength. The Rabi frequency is strongly dependent on the gate-induced electric field, the strength and orientation of the applied magnetic field. There are two major EDSR mechanisms. One arises from electric field-induced spin–orbit hybridization, and the other arises from magnetic field-induced energy-level crossing. The SOC introduced by the gate-induced electric field allows AC electric fields to drive coherent Rabi oscillations between spin-up and -down states. After the crossing of the energy-levels with the magnetic field, the spin-transfer crossing results in Rabi oscillation irrespective of whether or not the external electric field is present. The spin–orbit qubit is transferred into the orbit qubit. Rabi oscillation is anisotropic and periodic with respect to the tilted and in-plane orientation of the magnetic field originating from the interplay of the SOC, orbital, and Zeeman effects. The strong electrically-controlled SOC strength suggests the possibility for scalable applications of gate-controllable spin–orbit qubits.     

Universal phase shift and nonexponential decay of driven single-spin oscillations

We study, both theoretically and experimentally, driven Rabi oscillations of a single electron spin coupled to a nuclear-spin bath. Because of the long correlation time of the bath, two unusual features are observed in the oscillations. The decay follows a power law, and the oscillations are shifted in phase by a universal value of approximately pi/4. These properties are well understood from a theoretical expression that we derive here in the static limit for the nuclear bath. This improved understanding of the coupled electron-nuclear system is important for future experiments using the electron spin as a qubit.     

Tunneling spectroscopy of two-level systems inside a Josephson junction

We consider a two-level system (TLS) with energy level separation plankvOmega0 inside a Josephson junction. The junction is shunted by a resistor R and is voltage V biased. If the TLS modulates the Josephson energy and/or is optically active, it is Rabi driven by the Josephson oscillations in the running phase regime near the resonance 2eV=plankvOmega0. The Rabi oscillations, in turn, translate into oscillations of current and voltage that can be detected in noise measurements. This effect provides an option to fully characterize the TLS inside Josephson junction and to find the TLS's contribution to the decoherence when the junction is used as a qubit.     

Quantum information,oscillations and the psyche

In this paper, taking the theory of quantum information as a model, we consider the human unconscious, pre-consciousness and consciousness as sets of quantum bits (qubits). We view how there can be communication between these various qubit sets. In doing this we are inspired by the theory of nuclear magnetic resonance. In this way we build a model of handling a mental qubit with the help of pulses of a mental field. Starting with an elementary interaction between two qubits we build two-qubit quantum logic gates that allow information to be transferred from one qubit to the other. In this manner we build a quantum process that permits consciousness to “read” the unconscious and vice versa. The elementary interaction, e.g. between a pre-consciousness qubit and a consciousness one, allows us to predict the time evolution of the pre-consciousness + consciousness system in which pre-consciousness and consciousness are quantum entangled. This time evolution exhibits Rabi oscillations that we name mental Rabi oscillations. This time evolution shows how for example the unconscious can influence consciousness. In a process like mourning the influence of the unconscious on consciousness, as the influence of consciousness on the unconscious, are in agreement with what is observed in psychiatry.     

Coherent manipulation of electron spins up to ambient temperatures in Cr5+ (S = 1/2) doped K3NbO8

We report coherent spin manipulation on Cr(5+) (S = 1/2, I = 0) doped K(3)NbO(8), which constitutes a dilute two-level model relevant for use as a spin qubit. Rabi oscillations are observed for the first time in a spin system based on transition metal oxides up to room temperature. At liquid helium temperature the phase coherence relaxation time T2 reaches approximately 10 micros and, with a Rabi frequency of 20 MHz, yields a single-qubit figure of merit Q(M) of about 500. This shows that a diluted ensemble of Cr(5+) (S = 1/2) doped K(3)NbO(8) is a potential candidate for solid-state quantum information processing.     

Rabi oscillations in two-level semiconductor systems

Rabi oscillations in coherent optical excitations in bulk GaAs and quantum dot two-level systems may be converted into deterministic photocurrents, with the impurities or dots providing the tag for each qubit. Here we perform a theoretical analysis of the damping of Rabi oscillations in two-level semiconductor systems. Present calculations, through optical Bloch equations on excitonic two-level In_xGa_1−xAs quantum-dot systems, are found in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. Calculated results indicate that the nature underlying the dephasing mechanism associated to the damping of the measured Rabi oscillations, which has previously remained as an open question, may be associated with a field-dependent recombination rate related to the inhomogeneous broadening of the excitonic lines in the In_xGa_1−xAs two-level QD system.     

High-contrast dispersive readout of a superconducting flux qubit using a nonlinear resonator

We demonstrate high-contrast state detection of a superconducting flux qubit. Detection is realized by probing the microwave transmission of a nonlinear resonator, based on a SQUID. Depending on the driving strength of the resonator, the detector can be operated in the monostable or the bistable mode. The bistable operation combines high-sensitivity with intrinsic latching. The measured contrast of Rabi oscillations is as high as 87%; of the missing 13%, only 3% of the loss of contrast is unaccounted for. Experiments involving two consecutive detection pulses are consistent with preparation of the qubit state by the first measurement.     

Decoherence in josephson phase qubits from junction resonators

Although Josephson junction qubits show great promise for quantum computing, the origin of dominant decoherence mechanisms remains unknown. Improving the operation of a Josephson junction based phase qubit has revealed microscopic two-level systems or resonators within the tunnel barrier that cause decoherence. We report spectroscopic data that show a level splitting characteristic of coupling between a two-state qubit and a two-level system. Furthermore, we show Rabi oscillations whose "coherence amplitude" is significantly degraded by the presence of these spurious microwave resonators. The discovery of these resonators impacts the future of Josephson qubits as well as existing Josephson technologies.     

Approaching unit visibility for control of a superconducting qubit with dispersive readout

In a Rabi oscillation experiment with a superconducting qubit we show that a visibility in the qubit excited state population of more than 95% can be attained. We perform a dispersive measurement of the qubit state by coupling the qubit non-resonantly to a transmission line resonator and probing the resonator transmission spectrum. The measurement process is well characterized and quantitatively understood. In a measurement of Ramsey fringes, the qubit coherence time is larger than 500 ns.     

Temporal Behavior of Rabi Oscillation in Nanomechanical QED System with a Nonlinear Resonator

In nanomechanical QED system,consisting of a charge qubit and a nanomechanical resonator with intrinsic nonlinearity,we study the temporal behavior of Rabi oscillation in the nonlinear Jaynes-Cummings model.Using microscopic master equation approach,we solve time evolution of the density operator describing this model.Also,the probability of excited state of charge qubit is calculated.These analytic calculations show how nonlinearity parameter and decay rates of two different excited states of the qubit-resonator system affect time-oscillating and decaying of Rabi oscillation.     

Fabrication and characterization of superconducting multiqubit device with niobium base layer

Superconducting transmon qubits are the leading platform in solid-state quantum computing and quantum simulation applications. In this work, we develop a fabrication process for the transmon multiqubit device with a niobium base layer,shadow-evaporated Josephson junctions, and airbridges across the qubit control lines to suppress crosstalk. Our results show that these multiqubit devices have well-characterized readout resonators, and that the energy relaxation and Ramsey(spin-echo) dephasing times are up to ～40 μs and 14(47) μs, respectively. We perform single-qubit gate operations that demonstrate a maximum gate fidelity of 99.97%. In addition, two-qubit vacuum Rabi oscillations are measured to evaluate the coupling strength between qubits, and the crosstalk among qubits is found to be less than 1% with the fabricated airbridges. Further improvements in qubit coherence performance using this fabrication process are also discussed.     

Charge and current beats in T-shaped qubit–detector systems

The time evolution of a charge qubit coupled electrostatically with different detectors in the forms of single, double and triple quantum dot linear systems in the T-shaped configuration between two reservoirs is theoretically considered. The correspondence between the qubit quantum dot oscillations and the detector current is studied for different values of the inter-dot tunneling amplitudes and the qubit–detector interaction strength. We have found that even for a qubit coupled with a single QD detector, the coherent beat patterns appear in the oscillations of the qubit charge. This effect is more evident for a qubit coupled with double or triple-QD detectors. The beats can be also observed in both the detector current and the detector quantum dot occupations. Moreover, in the presence of beats the qubit oscillations hold longer in time in comparison with the beats-free systems with monotonously decaying oscillations. The dependence of the qubit dynamics on different initial occupations of the detector sites (memory effect) is also analyzed.     

Driven dynamics and rotary echo of a qubit tunably coupled to a harmonic oscillator

We have investigated the driven dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit that is tunably coupled to a microwave resonator. We find that the qubit experiences an oscillating field mediated by off-resonant driving of the resonator, leading to strong modifications of the qubit Rabi frequency. This opens an additional noise channel, and we find that low-frequency noise in the coupling parameter causes a reduction of the coherence time during driven evolution. The noise can be mitigated with the rotary-echo pulse sequence, which, for driven systems, is analogous to the Hahn-echo sequence.     

Optimal control of quantum rings by terahertz laser pulses

Complete control of single-electron states in a two-dimensional semiconductor quantum-ring model is established, opening a path into coherent laser-driven single-gate qubits. The control scheme is developed in the framework of optimal-control theory for laser pulses of two-component polarization. In terms of pulse lengths and target-state occupations, the scheme is shown to be superior to conventional control methods that exploit Rabi oscillations generated by uniform circularly polarized pulses. Current-carrying states in a quantum ring can be used to manipulate a two-level subsystem at the ring center. Combining our results, we propose a realistic approach to construct a laser-driven single-gate qubit that has switching times in the terahertz regime.