Decoherence in elastic and polaronic transport via discrete quantum states

In this work we study the effect of decoherence on elastic and polaronic transport via discrete quantum states. Calculations are performed with the help of a nonperturbative computational scheme, based on Green’s function theory within the framework of polaron transformation (GFT-PT), where the many-body electron-phonon interaction problem is mapped exactly into a single-electron multi-channel scattering problem. In particular, the influence of dephasing and relaxation processes on the shape of the electrical current and shot noise curves is discussed in detail under linear and nonlinear transport conditions.     

Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction algorithm for three-dimensional discrete vortices

We address the persistence and stability of three-dimensional vortex configurations in the discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation and develop a symbolic package based on Wolfram’s MATHEMATICA for computations of the Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method. The Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction method is a theoretical tool which enables us to study continuations and terminations of the discrete vortices for small coupling between lattice nodes as well as the spectral stability of the persistent configurations. The method was developed earlier in the context of the two-dimensional lattice and applied to the onsite and offsite configurations (called the vortex cross and the vortex cell) by using semianalytical computations [D.E. Pelinovsky, P.G. Kevrekidis, D. Frantzeskakis, Physica D 212 (2005) 20-53; P.G. Kevrekidis, D.E. Pelinovsky, Proc. R. Soc. A 462 (2006) 2671-2694]. The present treatment develops a full symbolic computational package which takes a desired waveform at the anticontinuum limit of uncoupled sites, performs a required number of Lyapunov-Schmidt reductions and outputs the predictions on whether the configuration persists, for finite coupling, in the three-dimensional lattice and whether it is stable or unstable. It also provides approximations for the eigenvalues of the linearized stability problem. We report a number of applications of the algorithm to important multisite three-dimensional configurations, such as the simple cube, the double cross and the diamond. For each configuration, we identify exactly one solution, which is stable for small coupling between lattice nodes.     

Dynamics of quantum vortices in two-dimensional superconductors

The dynamics of rigid vortex translations in two-dimensional arrays of Josephson junctions is shown to be equivalent to the motion of a mass, proportional to the junction capacitance, in a periodic pinning potential. The quantum tunneling of the vortex through the potential barriers is predicted of importance in the existing Nb-arrays at very low temperatures. Above the vortex unbinding temperature there is a plasma resonance of the free vortices leading to an anomaly in the vortex frequency dependent dielectric constant, which could be observed via a radio frequency impedance measurement.     

Stability of giant vortices in quantum liquids

We show how giant vortices can be stabilized for strong external potentials in Bose-Einstein condensates. We illustrate the formation of these vortices thanks to the Ginzburg-Landau dissipative dynamics for two typical potentials in two spatial dimensions. The giant vortex stability is studied for the particular case of a rotating cylindrical hard wall. Due to axial symmetry the minimization of the perturbed energy is simplified into a one dimensional relaxation dynamics. Solving this 1D minimization problem, we observe that giant vortices are either never stable, or only stable in a finite frequency range. Finally we obtain the marginal curve for the minimum frequency needed to observe a giant vortex.     

On quantum fluctuations of instantons

The determinants arising by calculation of Schwinger functions in gauge theories are studied.     

Probing the discrete motion of vortices with rf excitations

In this work we present experimental results on the rectification of vortices in a superconductor/ferromagnet system under a high frequency drive. The two-dimensional pinning landscape, induced by the stray fields of the ferromagnetic template, has no intrinsic asymmetry. Nevertheless, an asymmetric potential is artificially induced by an applied dc bias. The experimental results unambiguously show a biased, discrete motion of the vortices in the periodic potential at frequencies above 10 MHz. This synchronized motion is very sensitive to the external applied field. Increasing temperature leads to a reduction of the pinning potential, which in turn results in a lower ac power needed to drive the vortex lattice.     

Algebraic structure of quantum fluctuations

On the basis of the existence of second and third moments of fluctuations, we prove a theorem about the Lie-algebraic structure of fluctuation operators. This result gives insight into the quantum character of fluctuations. We illustrate the presence of a Lie algebra of fluctuation operators in a model of the anharmonic crystal, and show the dependence of the Lie-algebra structure on the fine structure of the fluctuation operator algebra. The result is also applied to construct the normal Goldstone mode in the ideal Bose gas for Bose-Einstein condensation     

Pair interactions of heavy vortices in quantum fluids

The dynamics of quantum vortex pairs carrying heavy doping matter trapped inside their cores is studied. The nonlinear classical matter field formalism is used to build a universal mathematical model of a heavy vortex applicable to different types of quantum mixtures. It is shown how the usual vortex dynamics typical for undoped pairs qualitatively changes when heavy dopants are used: heavy vortices with opposite topological charges (chiralities) attract each other, while vortices with the same charge are repelled. The force responsible for such behavior appears as a result of superposition of vortices velocity fields in the presence of doping substance and can be considered as a special realization of the Magnus effect. The force is evaluated quantitatively and its inverse proportionality to the distance is demonstrated. The mechanism described in this paper gives an example of how a light nonlinear classical field may realize repulsive and attractive interactions between embedded heavy impurities.     

Control of four-level quantum coherence via discrete spectral shaping of an optical frequency comb

We present experiments demonstrating high-resolution and wide-bandwidth coherent control of a four-level atomic system in a diamond configuration. A femtosecond frequency comb is used to excite a specific pair of two-photon transitions in cold 87Rb. The optical-phase-sensitive response of the closed-loop diamond system is studied by controlling the phase of the comb modes with a pulse shaper. Finally, the pulse shape is optimized resulting in a 256% increase in the two-photon transition rate by forcing constructive interference between the mode pairs detuned from an intermediate resonance.     

Capacitance fluctuations in quantum dots

We discuss fluctuations of the charging energy E_C and gate voltage spacings between Coulomb oscillation conductance peaks, as computed within spin density functional theory for a realistic GaAs–AlGaAs dot. We explicitly exhibit the fluctuations in the portion of the total free energy which incorporate the interaction between the dot and its surroundings. These variations in the dot capacitance show a dispersion which is typically greater than the dispersion of the total dot charging energy.     

Comment on vortex mass and quantum tunneling of vortices

Vortex mass in Fermi superfluids and superconductors and its influence on quantum tunneling of vortices are discussed. The vortex mass is essentially enhanced due to the fermion zero modes in the core of the vortex: the bound states of the Bogoliubov quasiparticles localized in the core. These bound states form the normal component, which is nonzero even in the low-temperature limit. In the collisionless regime ω ₀ τ≫1 the normal component trapped by the vortex is unbound from the normal component in a bulk superfluid/superconductor and adds to the inertial mass of the moving vortex. In a d-wave superconductor the vortex mass has an additional factor of (B _c2/B)^1/2 due to the gap nodes. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 2, 201–206 (25 January 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Chiral vacuum fluctuations in quantum gravity

We examine tensor perturbations around a de?Sitter background within the framework of Ashtekar's variables and its cousins parameterized by the Immirzi parameter γ. At the classical level we recover standard cosmological perturbation theory, with illuminating insights. Quantization leads to real novelties. In the low energy limit we find a second quantized theory of gravitons which displays different vacuum fluctuations for right and left gravitons. Nonetheless right and left gravitons have the same (positive) energies, resolving a number of paradoxes suggested in the literature. The right-left asymmetry of the vacuum fluctuations depends on γ and the ordering of the Hamiltonian constraint, and it would leave a distinctive imprint in the polarization of the cosmic microwave background, thus opening quantum gravity to observational test.     

From quantum fluctuations to large-scale structures

An acceleration phase in the early universe allows microscopic quantum fluctuations inside a causal domain to expand into macroscopic ripples in the spacetime metric. These, in turn, can evolve into large-scale structures in the universe. After its generation from quantum fluctuations, a ripple in the metric spends a long period outside the causal domain where its evolution is characterized by a conserved amplitude, a fact closely related to the large-scale Friedmann-like evolution of the perturbed Friedmann universe. We show that, under the assumption of linear processes, the generation and evolution of large-scale structures can be described quite simply.     

Relation between quantum and thermal fluctuations

A relation between quantum and thermal fluctuations, called the generalized uncertainty relation, is derived and discussed. It is given in the terminology of thermo field dynamics. The relation enables us to separate the purely thermal fluctuation from the total fluctuation.     

Critical fluctuations for quantum mean-field models

We propose a Ginzburg-Landau-type approximation for the local Gibbs states for quantum mean-field models that leads to the exact thermodynamics. Using this approach, we compute the spin fluctuations for some spin-1/2 models. At the critical temperature we find explicitly the distribution function showing abnormal fluctuations.On leave from the University of Torun, Poland.