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.     

On the role of electron-hole pair excitation in the kinetics of atom recombination at metal surfaces

The dynamics of energy relaxation of the adspecies in exoergic processes at metal surfaces has been modeled by means of the master equation approach. The effect of energy disposal to the solid via electron-hole (e-h) pair excitation on the rate of adatom recombination, has been investigated in the case of a discrete set of vibrational levels of the adspecies. The kinetics is solved, analytically, for two recombination channels and by taking into account two energy dissipation pathways of the adspecies. It is shown that dissipation pathways, characterized by a sizable energy transfer per scattering event, affect the kinetics leading to enhanced recombination rates. The kinetic model has been applied to describe experimental data on H(D)-adatom abstraction and recombination at metal surfaces. The rate coefficient of the process is shown to be proportional to the energy power transferred to the solid, owing to the reaction exothermicity, and correlates to the surface electron density.     

Surface properties of titanium nitride: A first-principles study

The low-index surfaces of TiN are calculated using the first-principles method based on density functional theory. It is found that the relaxation effect is mainly localized in the outmost three layers for all surfaces, and the distance reduction of the outmost interlayer for the N-terminated (111) surface is much larger than other surfaces. The N-terminated (111) surface is thermodynamically favorable at high nitrogen chemical potential, which is consistent with the experimental results.     

Hyperfine-interaction studies of surfaces

Applications of hyperfine-interaction techniques, like NMR, PAC and Mößbauer spectroscopy, to well-characterized surfaces are discussed and the present knowledge of surface hyperfine fields is reviewed. Measurements of nuclear spin relaxation permit to extract the local density of electron states at the Fermi level of adsorbed alkali atoms. From the observed electric-field-gradient properties surface probe sites and diffusion processes can be inferred; the experimentally determined magnetic hyperfine fields give access to the electron-spin behaviour at magnetic surfaces.     

Three-wave nonlinear interactions of disturbances in supersonic boundary layer on the solid and porous surfaces

The interaction of disturbances in supersonic boundary layer is considered within the framework of the weakly nonlinear stability theory for the Mach number M = 2 on the solid and porous surfaces. The interrelations in several triplets composed of two- and three-dimensional waves at the frequencies related by the phase synchronization conditions were modelled. It was found that their interactions on the solid surface are much stronger in the asymmetric triplet. It was found that on a porous surface, the linear increments of vortex disturbances increase considerably, the region of dangerous frequencies widens, and the spatial extension of the existence of growing oscillations increases. Nonlinear interactions are, as a rule, much more intense in comparison with the case of an solid surface; they realize in a broad frequency range, which results to a broadband growth of the Tollmien — Schlichting subharmonic vortex waves. An increase in the surface porosity leads to the intensification of nonlinear processes.     

Relaxation of pseudo pure states: the role of cross-correlations

In quantum information processing by NMR one of the major challenges is relaxation or decoherence. Often it is found that the equilibrium mixed state of a spin system is not suitable as an initial state for computation and a definite initial state is required to be prepared prior to the computation. As these preferred initial states are non-equilibrium states, they are not stationary and are destroyed with time as the spin system relaxes toward its equilibrium, introducing error in computation. Since it is not possible to cut off the relaxation processes completely, attempts are going on to develop alternate strategies like quantum error correction codes or noiseless subsystems. Here we study the relaxation behavior of various pseudo pure states and analyze the role of cross-terms between different relaxation processes, known as cross-correlation. It is found that while cross-correlations accelerate the relaxation of certain pseudo pure states, they retard that of others.     

Relaxation and electronic states of Au(100), (110) and (111) surfaces

Using a first-principles method based on density functional theory, we investigate the surface relaxation and electronic states of Au(100), (110) and (111) surfaces. The calculated results show that the relaxations of the (100) and (110) surfaces of the metal are inward relaxations. However, the Au(111) surface shows an ‘anomalous’ outward relaxation, although several previous theoretical studies have predicted inward relaxations that are contrary to the experimental measurements. Electronic densities of states and the respective charge density distribution along the Z-axis of the relaxed surfaces are analyzed, and the origin of inward and outward relaxation is discussed in detail.     

Frequently Asked Questions About Decoherence

We give a short, critical review of the issue of decoherence. We establish the most general framework in which decoherence can be discussed, how it can be quantified, and how it can be measured. We focus on environment induced decoherence and its degree of usefulness for the interpretation of quantum theory. We finally discuss the emergence of a classical world. An overall emphasis is given in pointing at common fallacies and misconceptions.     

Features of atomic processes at the formation of a wetting layer and nucleation of three-dimensional Ge islands on Si(111) and Si(100) surfaces

The intermediate stages of the formation of a Ge wetting layer on Si(111) and Si(100) surfaces under quasiequilibrium grow conditions have been studied by means of scanning tunneling microscopy. The redistribution of Ge atoms and relaxation of mismatch stresses through the formation of surface structures of decreased density and faces different from the substrate orientation have been revealed. The sites of the nucleation of new three-dimensional Ge islands after the formation of the wetting layer have been analyzed. Both fundamental differences and common tendencies of atomic processes at the formation of wetting layers on Si(111) and Si(100) surfaces have been demonstrated. The density of three-dimensional nuclei on the Si(111) surface is determined by changed conditions for the surface diffusion of Ge adatoms after change in the surface structure. Transition to three-dimensional growth on the Si(100) surface is determined by the nucleation of single {105} faces on the rough Ge(100) surface.     

Defects at surfaces and interfaces — A scattering theoretical approach

A theory for isolated defects at surfaces and interfaces of semiinfinite solids is presented and applied to vacancies at or near surfaces. Vacancy-induced changes in the surface electronic structure of a simple cubic s-band model are discussed in detail and are found to converge very slowly to corresponding bulk vacancy results when the defect is moved into the solid. Results for Ga and As vacancies at GaAs surfaces are discussed in connection with recent experimental data.     

Laser-induced desorption and etching processes on chlorinated Cu and solid CuCl surfaces

Time-resolved mass spectrometry is used to study the desorbed species due to laser-induced etching of a solid CuCl and a chlorinated Cu surface. The observed desorption threshold, mass distribution and kinetic energies of the desorbed atoms and molecules at 355 and 532 nm radiation show that the laser-induced etching process is not simply thermal evaporation. It is suggested that competing nonthermal mechanisms due to electronic excitations may be very important in laser-induced desorption and etching. These processes are different for a solid CuCl and a chlorinated Cu surface. For laser-induced etching of Cu surfaces, chlorination of Cu is essential; however, formation of stoichiometric CuCl is not necessary. Excess Cu in the surface layer is responsible for the observed different etching behavior of a chlorinated Cu and a solid CuCl surface. The effect of laser radiation on these surfaces and possible etching mechanisms are discussed based on the experimental observations.     

Spin relaxation and decoherence of holes in quantum dots

We investigate heavy-hole spin relaxation and decoherence in quantum dots in perpendicular magnetic fields. We show that at low temperatures the spin decoherence time is 2 times longer than the spin relaxation time. We find that the spin relaxation time for heavy holes can be comparable to or even longer than that for electrons in strongly two-dimensional quantum dots. We discuss the difference in the magnetic-field dependence of the spin relaxation rate due to Rashba or Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling for systems with positive (i.e., GaAs quantum dots) or negative (i.e., InAs quantum dots) g factor.     

Multilayer relaxation of fcc metals (001) surface: A modified embedded atom method study

The (001) surface multilayer relaxation results calculated by the modified embedded atom method (MEAM) show that Ni, Al, Rh and Ir (001) surface are ‘anomalous’ outward relaxation, while Cu, Ag, Au, Pd, Pt and Pb (001) surface are inward relaxation. For the inward relaxation metals, the relaxation between the first two layers increase for the 3d, 4d and 5d metals at the same column in the periodic table, successively. The expansion (contraction) between the first two layers at fcc (001) surfaces is accompanied by the decrease (increase) in the electronic density at the lattice of the first two layers. The surface energies results show that the surface energies decrease for all fcc (001) surfaces due to relaxation, whereas the changes not more than 5%.     

Surface relaxation and surface stress of 4d transition metals

Using the density functional theory formulated within the framework of the exact muffin-tin orbitals method, we present a systematic study of the top layer relaxation and surface stress of 4d transition metals. Our calculations predict layer contractions for most surfaces. We also find that the relaxations of the close packed surfaces decrease with increasing atomic number through the 4d series. We propose that the relaxation is mainly due to the reduction of the number of sp electrons in the surface layer relative to bulk. The surface stress is found to be very sensitive to the relaxation and, therefore, an accurate determination of the layer relaxation is necessary for obtaining reliable values for the surface stress. Comparing the top layer relaxations for the close packed surfaces, we see essential deviations between data derived in different ab initio calculations. At the same time, the overall trend for the present surface stress of 4d metals is in reasonable agreement with recent full-potential data.     

Relaxation and decoherence of orbital and spin degrees of freedom in quantum dots

The phonon induced mechanisms of relaxation/decoherence in quantum dots are analysed. A non-perturbative technique - a modification of the Davydov transformation appropriate to the localised particles is applied for solving the electron-phonon eigenvalue problem in a quantum dot at magnetic field presence. The decay rates for polaron relaxation via the anharmonicity induced channel are analysed in details. In particular, it is indicated that previous, of perturbative type, estimations of the anharminicity induced relaxation rates were too severe and after including the coherence effects they are of, at least, one order longer. The process of exciton dressing with phonons is also analysed as the unavoidable source of picosecond scale decoherence in optically driven nanostructures. A break-down of an instant Pauli spin blocking mechanism and a large enhancement of the Fröhlich constant for confined electrons are also addressed.