Squeezing and entangling atomic motion in cavity QED via quantum nondemolition measurement

We propose a scheme for preparing the squeezing of an atomic motion and an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen state in position and momentum of a pair of distantly separated trapped atoms. The scheme utilizes the quantum nondemolition measurements with interaction between the cavity field and the motional state of the trapped atom in cavity QED. By illuminating the atoms with bichromatic light, the interaction Hamiltonian of the cross-Kerr effect between the cavity and atomic motion is generated to implement quantum nondemolition measurements.Received: 5 February 2003, Published online: 17 July 2003PACS: 03.67.Hk Quantum communication - 32.80.Lg Mechanical effects of light on atoms, molecules, and ions - 42.50.-p Quantum optics     

Magnetoconductance oscillations in semiconductor-superconductor junctions with a laterally isolating barrier layer inside semiconductor region

The oscillatory characteristics of magnetoconductance for a junction composed of a superconductor and a semiconductor, in which two parallel quantum wave guides are coupled with each other through a potential barrier layer, are studied systematically. To model the imperfectness of the interface, we introduce a function scattering potential barrier lying close to the interface of the junction. The magnetoconductance oscillations (MCO) in this system stem from two sources: one is the interference of wave functions of quasi-particles due to multiple Andreev reflections at the interface; the other is attributed to the variation of the number of the propagation modes when introducing the isolating barrier layer. The introduction of the isolating layer in the quantum wave-guides strongly modifies MCO. We also present a physical picture for the MCO based on a phenomenological argument. The theoretically fitted results are in good agreement with numerical ones.Received: 21 March 2003, Published online: 4 August 2003PACS: 73.40.-c Electronic transport in interface structures - 74.80.Fp Point contact; SN and SNS junctions - 73.21.Hb Quantum wires - 85.35.Be Quantum well devices (quantum dots, quantum wires, etc.)     

Distillation protocols for mixed states of multilevel qubits and the quantum renormalization group

We study several properties of distillation protocols to purify multilevel qubit states (qudits) when applied to a certain family of initial mixed bipartite states. We find that it is possible to use qudits states to increase the stability region obtained with the flow equations to distill qubits. In particular, for qutrits we get the phase diagram of the distillation process with a rich structure of fixed points. We investigate the large-D limit of qudits protocols and find an analytical solution in the continuum limit. The general solution of the distillation recursion relations is presented in an appendix. We stress the notion of weight amplification for distillation protocols as opposed to the quantum amplitude amplification that appears in the Grover algorithm. Likewise, we investigate the relations between quantum distillation and quantum renormalization processes.Received: 23 April 2003, Published online: 12 August 2003PACS: 03.67.-a Quantum information - 03.67.Lx Quantum computation     

Electromagnetically induced tunnelling suppression in a flux qubit

Motivated by recent experiments wherein Josephson devices are irradiated by microwaves fields or are coupled to LC resonators, we theoretically investigate the dynamics of a flux qubit coupled to a monochromatic bosonic mode. We define strong coupling conditions under which the qubit tunnelling frequency between the localized flux states can be controlled and even suppressed. The practical realization of such a regime leading to this hindered dynamics is discussed.Received: 21 May 2003, Published online: 11 August 2003PACS: 03.67-a Quantum information - 03.67.Lx Quantum computing - 85.25.Dq Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs)     

Effective effective interactions

The use of effective field theory techniques allows the basic physics to be extracted from otherwise complex systems. We cite examples from quantum mechanics, condensed-matter physics, QCD, and quantum gravity.Received: 30 September 2002, Published online: 22 October 2003PACS: 04.60.-m Quantum gravity - 12.20.-m Quantum electrodynamics     

The non-Markovian quantum behavior of open systems

It is shown that the exact dynamics of a composite quantum system can be represented through a pair of product states which evolve according to a Markovian random jump process. This representation is used to design a general Monte Carlo wave function method that enables the stochastic treatment of the full non-Markovian behavior of open quantum systems. Numerical simulations are carried out which demonstrate that the method is applicable to open systems strongly coupled to a bosonic reservoir, as well as to the interaction with a spin bath. Full details of the simulation algorithms are given, together with an investigation of the dynamics of fluctuations. Several potential generalizations of the method are outlined.Received: 29 October 2003, Published online: 10 February 2004PACS: 03.65.Yz Decoherence; open systems; quantum statistical methods - 02.70.Ss Quantum Monte Carlo methods - 05.10.Gg Stochastic analysis methods (Fokker-Planck, Langevin, etc.)     

Electron spin resonance studies on quantum tunneling in spinel ferrite nanoparticles

The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer, a very sensitive instrument with fast detecting window to explore quantum phase transitions for magnetic nanoparticles, was exploited to study the fascinating interplay between thermal and quantum fluctuations in the vicinity of a quantum critical point. We have measured ESR in ferrofluid samples containing nanosize particles of Fe₂O₃. The evolution of the ESR spectrum with temperature suggests that quantum tunneling of spins occurs in single domain magnetic particles in the low temperature regime. The effects of various microwave fields, particle sizes, and temperatures on the magnetic states of single domain spinel ferrite nanoparticles are investigated. We can consistently explain experimental data assuming that, as the temperature decreases, the spectrum changes from superparamagnetic (SPR) to blocked SPR and finally evolves quantum superparamagnetic behaviour as the temperature lowers down further. A nanoparticle system of a highly anisotropic magnetic material can be qualitatively specified by a simple quantum spin model, or by the Heisenberg model with strong easy-plane anisotropy.Received: 29 August 2003, Published online: 15 October 2003PACS: 76.30.-v Electron paramagnetic resonance and relaxation - 75.40.Cx Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.) - 05.30.-d Quantum statistical mechanics - 75.50.Dd Nonmetallic ferromagnetic materials     

The coherent time evolution of two coupled quantum dots in a two-mode cavity

For two coupled identical quantum dots in a two-mode cavity, we determine the conditions of two-photon and single-photon resonance. It is shown that the exciton-phonon interaction reduces the Rabi frequencies of each model and the Förster interaction between double quantum dots even at absolute zero temperature. The exciton-phonon interaction also makes a contribution to the static exciton-exciton dipole interaction energy. Furthermore, the additional interactions can modify the conditions of photon resonance significantly. A more realistic case of two nonidentical quantum dots is also considered. The influence of parameter misfits on the quantum system is discussed.Received: 8 July 2004, Published online: 3 November 2004PACS: 73.21.La Quantum dots - 71.35.-y Excitons and related phenomena - 42.50.Pq Cavity quantum electrodynamics; micromasers     

Spin filters with Fano dots

We compute the zero bias conductance of electrons through a single ballistic channel weakly coupled to a side quantum dot with Coulomb interaction. In contrast to the standard setup which is designed to measure the transport through the dot, the channel conductance reveals Coulomb blockade dips rather then peaks due to the Fano-like backscattering. At zero temperature the Kondo effect leads to the formation of broad valleys of small conductance corresponding to an odd number of electrons on the dot. By applying a magnetic field in the dot region we find two dips corresponding to a total suppression in the conductance of spins up and down separated by an energy of the order of the Coulomb interaction. This provides a possibility of a perfect spin filter.Received: 6 November 2003, Published online: 2 April 2004PACS: 72.15.Qm Scattering mechanisms and Kondo effect - 73.23.Ad Ballistic transport - 72.25.-b Spin polarized transport     

Quantum-information processing in strong-excitation regime with trapped ions in microcavity

A quantum information processing scheme is proposed in a system with cold trapped ions embedded in a single mode microcavity in strong excitation regime. With suitable choice of frequencies of the laser and the cavity light as well as ion-laser coupling strength, multipartite entanglement would be generated among internal states of the ions, which is insensitive to decoherence due to the cavity decay and heating of the vibrational mode of the ions. As a practical example, the specific discussion is focused on the two-ion case. Some unique features of the Bell states are presented under the framework of our model, which would be useful for quantum information processing.Received: 22 December 2003, Published online: 2 March 2004PACS: 03.67.-a Quantum information - 32.80.Lg Mechanical effects of light on atoms, molecules, and ions - 42.50.-p Quantum opticsM. Feng: Current address: Department of Mathematical Physics, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.     

Quantum Heat Engines with Complex Working Media,Complete Otto Cycles and Heuristics

Quantum thermal machines make use of non-classical thermodynamic resources, one of which include interactions between elements of the quantum working medium. In this paper, we examine the performance of a quasi-static quantum Otto engine based on two spins of arbitrary magnitudes subject to an external magnetic field and coupled via an isotropic Heisenberg exchange interaction. It has been shown earlier that the said interaction provides an enhancement of cycle efficiency, with an upper bound that is tighter than the Carnot efficiency. However, the necessary conditions governing engine performance and the relevant upper bound for efficiency are unknown for the general case of arbitrary spin magnitudes. By analyzing extreme case scenarios, we formulate heuristics to infer the necessary conditions for an engine with uncoupled as well as coupled spin model. These conditions lead us to a connection between performance of quantum heat engines and the notion of majorization. Furthermore, the study of complete Otto cycles inherent in the average cycle also yields interesting insights into the average performance.     

硅纳米结构晶体管中与杂质量子点相关的量子输运

在小于10 nm的沟道空间中,杂质数目和杂质波动范围变得十分有限,这对器件性能有很大的影响.局域纳米空间中的电离杂质还能够展现出量子点特性,为电荷输运提供两个分立的杂质能级.利用杂质原子作为量子输运构件的硅纳米结构晶体管有望成为未来量子计算电路的基本组成器件.本文结合安德森定域化理论和Hubbard带模型对单个、分立和耦合杂质原子系统中的量子输运特性进行了综述,系统介绍了提升杂质原子晶体管工作温度的方法.     

Laser cooling of electrons and X-ray generation in a relativistic quantum heat engine

We consider a relativistic quantum heat engine that goes through a thermodynamical cycle consisting of stages involving laser-assisted cooling of electrons and the generation of X-ray radiation. Quantum treatment of the processes makes it possible to obtain the necessary condition and the amount of work extracted from the interaction ingredients, as well as the efficiency of the heat engine. We have also found that the efficiency of the relativistic engine is less than the one for the nonrelativistic case for the same momenta. The obtained results set the limits to the cooling, as well as the intensity of X-ray radiation, in the quantum regime of the interaction of electrons with laser fields.     

Fluid moment hierarchy equations derived from quantum kinetic theory

A set of quantum hydrodynamic equations are derived from the moments of the electrostatic mean-field Wigner kinetic equation. No assumptions are made on the particular local equilibrium or on the statistical ensemble wave functions. Quantum diffraction effects appear explicitly only in the transport equation for the heat flux triad, which is the third-order moment of the Wigner pseudo-distribution. The general linear dispersion relation is derived, from which a quantum modified Bohm-Gross relation is recovered in the long wave-length limit. Nonlinear, traveling wave solutions are numerically found in the one-dimensional case. The results shed light on the relation between quantum kinetic theory, the Bohm-de Broglie-Madelung eikonal approach, and quantum fluid transport around given equilibrium distribution functions.     

Experimental multi-photon-resolving detector using a single avalanche photodiode

A multichannel detector has been constructed using a single avalanche photodiode and a fiber-loop delay line. Detection probabilities of the channels can be set using a variable-ratio coupler. The performance of the detector is demonstrated on its capability to distinguish multi-photon states (containing two or more photons) from the one-photon state and the vacuum state.Received: 16 July 2003, Published online: 14 October 2003PACS: 42.50.Dv Nonclassical states of the electromagnetic field, including entangled photon states; quantum state engineering and measurements - 03.67.Hk Quantum communication     

A Theoretic Approach to SU(4) Kondo Effect in Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dots

We propose a mean field approach to the transport properties of carbon nanotube quantum dots. Quantum interaction between spin and orbital pseudo-spin degrees of freedom results in an SU(4) Kondo effect at low temperatures. By calculating the chemical potentials and the tunnelling strengths, and hence the spectral functions for different coupling constants and applied magnetic fields, we find that this exotic Kondo effect manifests as a four-peak splitting in the non-linear conductance when an axial magnetic field is applied.     

Quantum transport in coupled resonators enclosed synthetic magnetic flux

Quantum transport properties are instrumental to understanding quantum coherent transport processes. Potential applications of quantum transport are widespread, in areas ranging from quantum information science to quantum engineering, and not restricted to quantum state transfer, control and manipulation. Here, we study light transport in a ring array of coupled resonators enclosed synthetic magnetic flux. The ring configuration, with an arbitrary number of resonators embedded, forms a two-arm Aharonov–Bohm interferometer. The influence of magnetic flux on light transport is investigated. Tuning the magnetic flux can lead to resonant transmission, while half-integer magnetic flux quantum leads to completely destructive interference and transmission zeros in an interferometer with two equal arms.