Dynamics of quantum phase transition in an array of Josephson junctions

We study the dynamics of the Mott insulator-superfluid quantum phase transition in a periodic 1D array of Josephson junctions. We show that crossing the critical point at a finite rate with a quench time tau(Q) induces finite quantum fluctuations of the current around the loop proportional to tau(-1/6)(Q). This scaling could be experimentally verified with an array of weakly coupled Bose-Einstein condensates or superconducting grains.     

Bloch inductance in small-capacitance Josephson junctions

We show that the electrical impedance of a small-capacitance Josephson junction also includes, in addition to the capacitive term -i/(omega)CB, an inductive term i(omega)LB. Similar to the known Bloch capacitance CB(q), the Bloch inductance LB(q) also depends periodically on the quasicharge, q, and its maximum value achieved at q=e(mod 2e) always exceeds the value of the Josephson inductance of this junction LJ(phi) at fixed phi=0. The effect of the Bloch inductance on the dynamics of a single junction and a one-dimensional array is described.     

Correlated quantum transport of density wave electrons

Recently observed Aharonov-Bohm quantum interference of the period h/2e in charge density wave rings strongly suggests that correlated density wave electron transport is a cooperative quantum phenomenon. The picture discussed here posits that quantum solitons nucleate and transport current above a Coulomb blockade threshold field. We propose a field-dependent tunneling matrix element and use the Schr?dinger equation, viewed as an emergent classical equation as in Feynman's treatment of Josephson tunneling, to compute the evolving macrostate amplitudes, finding excellent quantitative agreement with voltage oscillations and current-voltage characteristics in NbSe(3). A proposed phase diagram shows the conditions favoring soliton nucleation versus classical depinning.     

Nanoscale superconducting quantum bits

Various physical systems were proposed for quantum information processing. Among those nanoscale devices appear most promising for integration in electronic circuits and large-scale applications. We discuss Josephson junction circuits in two regimes where they can be used for quantum computing. These systems combine intrinsic coherence of the superconducting state with control possibilities of single-charge circuits. In the regime where the typical charging energy dominates over the Josephson coupling, the low-temperature dynamics is limited to two states differing by a Cooper-pair charge on a superconducting island. In the opposite regime of prevailing Josephson energy, the phase (or flux) degree of freedom can be used to store and process quantum information. Under suitable conditions the system reduces to two states with different flux configurations. Several qubits can be joined together into a register. The quantum state of a qubit register can be manipulated by voltage and magnetic field pulses. The qubits are inevitably coupled to the environment. However, estimates of the phase coherence time show that many elementary quantum logic operations can be performed before the phase coherence is lost. In addition to manipulations, the final state of the qubits has to be read out. This quantum measurement process can be accomplished using a single-electron transistor for charge Josephson qubits, and a d.c.-SQUID for flux qubits. Recent successful experiments with superconducting qubits demonstrate for the first time quantum coherence in macroscopic systems.     

Quantum transitions of a small Josephson junction array

We have experimentally studied a small Josephson junction array in the presence of microwave irradiation. The array has comparable energy scales for single-charge effects and the Josephson effect, resulting in a discrete set of macroscopic eigenenergy levels. Excitation of the array by low-power microwaves is possible at frequencies where the photon energy matches the level spacing. The microwave frequency and amplitude dependence show that the excitation mechanism involves resonant quantum coherent dynamics of the array.     

Observation of quantum capacitance in the Cooper-pair transistor

We have fabricated a Cooper-pair transistor (CPT) with parameters such that for appropriate voltage biases, it behaves essentially like a single Cooper-pair box (SCB). The effective capacitance of a SCB can be defined as the derivative of the induced charge with respect to gate voltage and has two parts, the geometric capacitance, C(geom), and the quantum capacitance C(Q). The latter is due to the level anticrossing caused by the Josephson coupling and is dual to the Josephson inductance. It depends parametrically on the gate voltage and its magnitude may be substantially larger than C(geom). We have detected C(Q) in our CPT, by measuring the in phase and quadrature rf signal reflected from a resonant circuit in which the CPT is embedded. C(Q) can be used as the basis of a charge qubit readout by placing a Cooper-pair box in such a resonant circuit.     

Critical current and order parameter in Josephson arrays

We give a definition of the order parameter for the paracoherent-ferrocoherent phase transition in a Josephson array and we show that the amplitude of the critical current in the array is proportional to this order parameter. We then discuss some qualitative properties of a Josephson array.     

Coherent motion of vortices driven by both dc and ac current in a Josephson junction ratchet array

We have studied the vortex dynamics in a ratchet array of Josephson junctions in the presence of magnetic field of 1/5 flux quantum per plaquette. The ratchet potential consists of both alternate critical currents for all the vertical junctions and alternate shunt capacitances for all the horizontal junctions. The vortices driven by an ac current in some parameters are found to show the directional motion as well as the asymmetric current-voltage characteristics. We use the time-dependent vorticity and the time-dependent vorticity-vorticity correlation function to analyze the motion of vortices on a few fractional Shapiro steps. We have found that vortices on a fractional Shapiro n/5-step move coherently through n plaquettes during a single ac cycle. The asymmetric features of the ratchet array gradually disappear as finite temperature increases.     

Non-Abelian holonomies,charge pumping,and quantum computation with Josephson junctions

Non-Abelian holonomies can be generated and detected in certain superconducting nanocircuits. Here we consider an example where the non-Abelian operations are related to the adiabatic charge dynamics of the Josephson network. We demonstrate that such a device can be applied both for adiabatic charge pumping and as an implementation of a quantum computer.     

Scalable quantum computing with Josephson charge qubits

A goal of quantum information technology is to control the quantum state of a system, including its preparation, manipulation, and measurement. However, scalability to many qubits and controlled con-nectivity between any selected qubits are two of the major stumbling blocks to achieve quantum com-puting (QC). Here we propose an experimental method, using Josephson charge qubits, to efficiently solve these two central problems. The proposed QC architecture is scalable since any two charge qubits can be effectively coupled by an experimentally accessible inductance. More importantly, we formulate an efficient and realizable QC scheme that requires only one (instead of two or more) two-bit operation to implement conditional gates.     

Observation of soliton fusion in a Josephson array

The behavior of topological solitons in a parallel array of a Josephson junction is studied experimentally. We observe the fusion of two relativistic solitons of the same polarity into a single soliton. The soliton carries two quanta of magnetic flux and, most strikingly, travels 18% faster than an ordinary soliton under the same driving force. We also find a variety of bunched states composed of solitons of the same polarity, moving with fixed separation.     

Unitary Evolution and Quantum Fluctuation in SQUID

bstractA circular superconductor with a weak-link junction is considered in the presence of a dc voltage bias. Using a time-dependent perturbed method, we obtain a unitary evolution operator of the driven SQUID system. We investigate the step structure of the screening current in the system and show that, due to the Josephson nonlinear term, the Aux and charge can exhibit reduced quantum fluctuation behavior.     

Bound fluxon pair in one-dimensional SQUID array

We propose a one-dimensional array of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) composed of three asymmetrically positioned Josephson junctions to realize a discrete double sine-Gordon (DSG) model. Two fluxons in this SQUID array attract each other and form bound states with internal oscillation modes. We conduct numerical simulations of a discrete DSG equation, and show that the period of the internal oscillation of a moving fluxon pair exhibits relativistic time dilation except near the speed of light. We also show that driving with a pure alternating current causes progressive motion of the bound fluxon pair even in the presence of dissipation.     

Enhanced macroscopic quantum tunneling in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + delta intrinsic Josephson-junction stacks

We have investigated macroscopic quantum tunneling in Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8 + delta) intrinsic Josephson junctions at millikelvin temperatures using microwave irradiation. Measurements show that the escape rate for uniformly switching stacks of Nu junctions is about Nu(2) times higher than that of a single junction having the same plasma frequency. We argue that this gigantic enhancement of the macroscopic quantum tunneling rate in stacks is boosted by current fluctuations which occur in the series array of junctions loaded by the impedance of the environment.     

用热场动力学理论研究介观电路的Wigner函数

利用热场动力学及相干热态表象理论,重构了有限温度下介观RLC电路的Wigner函数,研究了有限温度下介观RLC电路的量子涨落.借助于Weyl-Wigner理论讨论了有限温度下介观RLC电路Wigner函数的边缘分布,并进一步阐明了Wigner函数边缘分布统计平均的物理意义.结果表明: 有限温度下介观RLC电路中电荷和电流的量子涨落随着温度和电阻值的增加而增加,回路中的电荷和电流之间存在着压缩效应,这种量子效应是由于系统零点振动的涨落而引起的; 有限温度下介观RLC电路Wigner函数边缘分布的统计平均正好是储存在介观RLC电路中电容和电感上的能量.     

Quantum coherence in a superfluid Josephson junction

We report a new kind of experiment in which we take an array of nanoscale apertures that form a superfluid (4)He Josephson junction and apply quantum phase gradients directly along the array. We observe collective coherent behaviors from aperture elements, leading to quantum interference. Connections to superconducting and Bose-Einstein condensate Josephson junctions as well as phase coherence among the superfluid aperture array are discussed.     

用热场动力学理论研究介观电路的Wigner函数

利用热场动力学及相干热态表象理论,重构了有限温度下介观RLC电路的Wigner函数,研究了有限温度下介观RLC电路的量子涨落.借助于Weyl-Wigner理论讨论了有限温度下介观RLC电路Wigner函数的边缘分布,并进一步阐明了Wigner函数边缘分布统计平均的物理意义.结果表明:有限温度下介观RLC电路中电荷和电流的量子涨落随着温度和电阻值的增加而增加,回路中的电荷和电流之间存在着压缩效应,这种量子效应是由于系统零点振动的涨落而引起的;有限温度下介观RLC电路Wigner函数边缘分布的统计平均正好是储存在介观RLC电路中电容和电感上的能量.     

无耗散介观电感耦合电路的量子效应

本文从无耗散的电感耦合电路的经典运动方程出发,分别研究了这一耦合电路在其任意的本征态下和压缩真空态下电路中电荷、电流的量子涨落,其结果表明,每个回路中的电荷、电流都存在着量子涨落,且两回路中的量子噪音是相互关联的。