Coherent electron transfer from a localized state trapped in a quantum dot into a ballistic conductor, taking place in on-demand electron sources, in general may result in excitation of particle-hole pairs. We consider a simple model for these effects, involving a resonance level with time-dependent energy, and derive Floquet scattering matrix describing inelastic transitions of particles in the Fermi sea. We find that, as the resonance level is driven through the Fermi level, particle transfer may take place completely without particle-hole excitations for certain driving protocols. In particular, such noiseless transfer occurs when the level moves with constant rapidity, its energy changing linearly with time. A detection scheme for studying the coherence of particle transfer is proposed.
We report on the electron analog of the single photon gun. On demand single electron injection in a quantum conductor was obtained using a quantum dot connected to the conductor via a tunnel barrier. Electron emission is triggered by application of a potential step which compensates the dot charging energy. Depending on the barrier transparency the quantum emission time ranges from 0.1 to 10 nanoseconds. The single electron source should prove useful for the implementation of quantum bits in ballistic conductors. Additionally periodic sequences of single electron emission and absorption genera…
We demonstrate the controlled coherent transfer of topological domain walls in a one-dimensional non-Hermitian chain of interacting Bose-Einstein condensates. The topological protection stems from a spatially patterned pump in an open-dissipative system. As a testbed setup of the proposed phenomenon, we consider a chain of coupled micropillars with embedded quantum wells, possessing exciton-polariton resonances. The transfer of a domain wall is driven by spatially localised, adiabatic pump modulation in the vicinity of the domain wall. The stochastic calculations prove the coherent nature of t…
We examine, using mixed classical-quantum electron-ion dynamics, electron transfer in a donor-acceptor-like molecular junction system based on polyacetylene. We identify two qualitatively-different transfer regimes: hopping and tunnelling. We discuss the criteria for achieving each one and for minimizing inelastic scattering and decoherence arising from the coupling to the ions, and we connect our main results to quantities derived from electron dynamics involving simpler, three-state model systems. We identify the requirements to have near-ballistic transfer.
Time-resolved Faraday rotation has recently demonstrated coherent transfer of electron spin between quantum dots coupled by conjugated molecules. Using a transfer Hamiltonian ansatz for the coupled quantum dots, we calculate the Faraday rotation signal as a function of the probe frequency in a pump-probe setup using neutral quantum dots. Additionally, we study the signal of one spin-polarized excess electron in the coupled dots. We show that, in both cases, the Faraday rotation angle is determined by the spin transfer probabilities and the Heisenberg spin exchange energy. By comparison of our …
We propose steady-state electron transport based on coherent transfer by adiabatic passage (CTAP) in a linearly arranged triple quantum dot with leads attached to the outer dots. Its main feature is repeated steering of single electrons from the first dot to the last dot without relevant occupation of the middle dot. The coupling to leads enables a steady-state current, whose shot noise is significantly suppressed provided that the CTAP protocol performs properly. This represents an indication for the direct transfer between spatially separated dots and, thus, may resolve the problem of findin…
We derive constraints on the statistics of the charge transfer between two conductors in the model of arbitrary time-dependent instant scattering of non-interacting fermions at zero temperature. The constraints are formulated in terms of analytic properties of the generating function: its zeroes must lie on the negative real axis. This result generalizes existing studies for scattering by a time-independent scatterer under time-dependent bias voltage.
We present experimental results and macrospin simulations of the switching characteristics of orthogonal spin-transfer devices incorporating an out-of-plane magnetized polarizing layer and an in-plane magnetized spin valve device at cryogenic temperatures. At $T=4$ K we demonstrate: high speed deterministic switching at short pulse lengths - down to 100 ps - with sufficient measurement statistics to establish a switching error rate of $10^{-5}$; coherent precessional switching at longer times; and ensemble decoherence effects at even longer times. Finite temperature macrospin models capture th…
Preparation and transfer of quantum states is a fundamental task in quantum information. We propose a protocol to prepare a state in the left and center quantum dots of a triple dot array and transfer it directly to the center and right dots. Initially the state in the left and center dots is prepared combining the exchange interaction and magnetic field gradients. Once in the desired state, ac gate voltages in the outer dots are switched on, allowing to select a given photoassisted long-range path and to transfer the prepared state directly from one edge to the other with high fidelity. We in…
We calculate the nonsymmetrized current noise in a quantum dot connected to two reservoirs by using the non-equilibrium Green function technique. We show that both the current auto-correlator (inside a single reservoir) and the current cross-correlator (between the two reservoirs) are expressed in terms of transmission amplitude and coefficient through the barriers. We identify the different energy-transfer processes involved in each contribution to the auto-correlator, and we highlight the fact that when there are several physical processes, the contribution results from a coherent superposit…
We present new mechanism for manipulation of the spin-wave amplitude through the use of the dynamic charge-mediated magnetoelectric effect in ultrathin multilayers composed of dielectric thin-film capacitors separated by a ferromagnetic bilayer. Propagating spin waves can be amplified and attenuated with rising and decreasing slopes of the oscillating voltage, respectively, locally applied to the sample. The way the spin accumulation is generated makes the interaction of the spin-transfer torque with the magnetization dynamics mode-selective and restricted to some range of spin-wave frequencie…
Achieving coherent population transfer in the solid-state is challenging compared to atomic systems due to closely spaced electronic states and fast decoherence. Here, within an atomistic pseudopotential theory, we offer recipes for the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in embedded silicon and germanium nanocrystals. The transfer efficiency spectra displays characteristic Fano resonances. By exploiting the Stark effect, we predict that transfer can be switched off with a dc voltage. As the population transfer is highly sensitive to structural variations, with a choice of a sufficiently small …
Quantum information science has the potential to revolutionize modern technology by providing resource-efficient approaches to computing, communication, and sensing. Although the physical qubits in a realistic quantum device will inevitably suffer errors, quantum error correction creates a path to fault-tolerant quantum information processing. Quantum error correction, however, requires that individual qubits can interact with many other qubits in the processor. Engineering this high connectivity can pose a challenge for platforms like electron spin qubits that naturally favor linear arrays. H…
We propose a solid-state implementation of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in two coupled semiconductor quantum dots. Proper combination of two pulsed laser fields allows the coherent carrier transfer between the two nanostructures without suffering significant losses due to environment coupling. By use of a general solution scheme for the carrier states in the double-dot structure, we identify the pertinent dot and laser parameters.
Single-electron circuits of the future, consisting of a network of quantum dots, will require a mechanism to transport electrons from one functional part to another. For example, in a quantum computer[1] decoherence and circuit complexity can be reduced by separating qubit manipulation from measurement and by providing some means to transport electrons from one to the other.[2] Tunnelling between neighbouring dots has been demonstrated[3, 4] with great control, and the manipulation of electrons in single and double-dot systems is advancing rapidly.[5-8] For distances greater than a few hundred…
A coherent hybrid of states with different number of Cooper pairs can be built in a superconductor grain as a result of periodically repeated discrete encounters with bulk superconductor leads. As a direct manifestation of such states a non-dissipative current depending on the phase difference between the leads can be measured.
We investigate the coherent energy transfer between two quantum systems mediated by a quantum bus. In particular, we consider the energy transfer process between two qubits, and how it can be influenced by using a third qubit or photons in a resonant cavity as mediators. Inspecting different figures of merit and considering both on and off-resonance configurations, we characterize the energy transfer performances. We show that, while the qubit-mediated transfer shows no advantages with respect to a direct coupling case, the cavity-mediated one is progressively more and more efficient as functi…
I investigate energy transfer in a donor-acceptor pair beyond weak system-bath coupling. I identify a transition from coherent to incoherent dynamics with increasing temperature, due to multi-phonon effects not captured by a standard weak-coupling treatment. The crossover temperature has a marked dependence on the degree of spatial correlation between fluctuations experienced at the two system sites. For strong correlations, this leads to the possibility of coherence surviving into a high temperature regime.
Long-distance transfer of quantum states is an indispensable part of large-scale quantum information processing. We propose a novel scheme for the transfer of two-electron entangled states, from one edge of a quantum dot array to the other by coherent adiabatic passage. This protocol is mediated by pulsed tunneling barriers. In a second step, we seek for a speed up by shortcut to adiabaticity techniques. This significantly reduces the operation time and, thus, minimizes the impact of decoherence. For typical parameters of state-of-the-art solid state devices, the accelerated protocol has an op…
We study adiabatic charge transfer in a superconducting Cooper pair pump, focusing on the influence of current measurement on coherence. We investigate the limit where the Josephson coupling energy $E_J$ between the various parts of the system is small compared to the Coulomb charging energy $E_C$. In this case the charge transferred in a pumping cycle $Q_P \sim 2e$, the charge of one Cooper pair: the main contribution is due to incoherent Cooper pair tunneling. We are particularly interested in the quantum correction to $Q_P$, which is due to coherent tunneling of pairs across the pump and wh…
We study the nature of the energy transfer process within a pair of coupled two-level systems (donor and acceptor) subject to interactions with the surrounding environment. Going beyond a standard weak-coupling approach, we derive a master equation within the polaron representation that allows for investigation of both weak and strong system-bath couplings, as well as reliable interpolation between these two limits. With this theory, we are then able to explore both coherent and incoherent regimes of energy transfer within the donor-acceptor pair. We elucidate how the degree of correlation in …
In this study we analyze the transmission spectrum of a thin plate of Cuprous Oxide in the range of the absorption of the yellow exciton states with the coherent transfer matrix method. We demonstrate that, in contrast to the usual analysis using Beer's law, which turns out to be a rather good approximation only in the spectral region of high principal quantum numbers, a consistent quantitative description over the whole spectral range under consideration is possible. This leads to new and more accurate parameters not only for the Rydberg exciton states, but also for the strengths of indirect …
Insulating antiferromagnets are efficient and robust conductors of spin current. To realise the full potential of these materials within spintronics, the outstanding challenges are to demonstrate scalability down to nanometric lengthscales and the transmission of coherent spin currents. Here, we report the coherent transfer of spin angular momentum by excitation of evanescent spin waves of GHz frequency within antiferromagnetic NiO at room temperature. Using element-specific and phase-resolved x-ray ferromagnetic resonance, we probe the injection and transmission of ac spin current, and demons…
We propose two schemes to coherently transfer arbitrary quantum states of the two-electron singlet-triplet qubit across a chain of 3 quantum dots. The schemes are based on electrical control over the detuning energy of the quantum dots. The first is a pulse-gated scheme, requiring dc pulses and engineering of inter- and intra-dot Coulomb energies. The second scheme is based on the adiabatic theorem, requiring time-dependent control of the detuning energy through avoided crossings at a rate that the system remains in the ground state. We simulate the transfer fidelity using typical experimental…
A network of quantum-mechanical systems showing long lived phase coherence of its quantum states could be used for processing quantum information. As with classical information processing, a quantum processor requires information bits (qubits) that can be independently addressed and read out, long-term memory elements to store arbitrary quantum states, and the ability to transfer quantum information through a coherent communication bus accessible to a large number of qubits. Superconducting qubits made with scalable microfabrication techniques are a promising candidate for the realization of a…
The multi-level system $^{55}$Mn$^{2+}$ is used to generate two pseudo-harmonic level systems, as representations of the same electronic sextuplet at different nuclear spin projections. The systems are coupled using a forbidden nuclear transition induced by the crystalline anisotropy. We demonstrate Rabi oscillations between the two representations in conditions similar to two coupled quasi-harmonic quantum oscillators. Rabi oscillations are performed at a detuned pumping frequency which matches energy difference between electro-nuclear states of different oscillators. We measure a coupling st…
We propose an approach to coherently transfer populations between selected quantum states in one- and two-qubit systems by using controllable Stark-chirped rapid adiabatic passages (SCRAPs). These {\it evolution-time insensitive} transfers, assisted by easily implementable single-qubit phase-shift operations, could serve as elementary logic gates for quantum computing. Specifically, this proposal could be conveniently demonstrated with existing Josephson phase qubits. Our proposal can find an immediate application in the readout of these qubits. Indeed, the broken parity symmetries of the boun…
We analyze the shot noise in a voltage biased superconducting quantum point-contact. Results are presented for the single channel case with arbitrary transmission. In the limit of very low transmission it is found that the effective charge, defined from the noise-current ratio, exhibits a step-like behavior as a function of voltage with well defined plateaus at integer values of the electronic charge. This multiple charge corresponds to the transmitted charge in a Multiple Andreev Reflection (MAR) process. This effect gradually disappears for increasing transmission due to interference between…
We demonstrate the coherent coupling and the resulting transfer of phase information between microwave and optical fields in a single nitrogen vacancy center in diamond. The relative phase of two microwave fields is encoded in a coherent superposition spin state. This phase information is then retrieved with a pair of optical fields. A related process is also used for the transfer of phase information from optical to microwave fields. These studies show the essential role of dark states, including optical pumping into the dark states, in the coherent microwave-optical coupling and open the doo…
In a network of interacting quantum systems achieving fast coherent energy transfer is a challenging task. While quantum systems are susceptible to a wide range of environmental factors, in many physical settings their interactions with quantized vibrations, or phonons, of a supporting structure are the most prevalent. This leads to noise and decoherence in the network, ultimately impacting the energy-transfer process. In this work, we introduce a novel type of coherent energy-transfer mechanism for quantum systems, where phonon interactions are able to actually enhance the energy transfer. He…
We derive a unified quantum theory of coherent and incoherent energy transfer between two atoms (donor and acceptor) valid in arbitrary Markovian nanophotonic environments. Our theory predicts a fundamental bound $η_{max} = \frac{γ_a}{γ_d + γ_a}$ for energy transfer efficiency arising from the spontaneous emission rates $γ_{d}$ and $γ_a$ of the donor and acceptor. We propose the control of the acceptor spontaneous emission rate as a new design principle for enhancing energy transfer efficiency. We predict an experiment using mirrors to enhance the efficiency bound by exploiting the dipole orie…
Coherent control is a method used to manipulate the state of matter using oscillatory electromagnetic radiation which relies on the non-adiabatic interaction. It is commonly applied in quantum processing applications. This technique is interesting in the context of ferromagnetic materials because of the ability to combine it with spintronics for the purpose of fundamental spin transport research, low-power information processing, and potentially future quantum bit (Qubit) applications. In this work we address the theoretical grounds of coherent manipulation in practical ferromagnetic systems. …
We present a non-Markovian quantum jump approach for simulating coherent energy transfer dynamics in molecular systems in the presence of laser fields. By combining a coherent modified Redfield theory (CMRT) and a non-Markovian quantum jump (NMQJ) method, this new approach inherits the broad-range validity from the CMRT and highly efficient propagation from the NMQJ. To implement NMQJ propagation of CMRT, we show that the CMRT master equation can be casted into a generalized Lindblad form. Moreover, we extend the NMQJ approach to treat time-dependent Hamiltonian, enabling the description of ex…
We propose computing bus devices that enable quantum information to be coherently transferred between topological and conventional qubits. We describe a concrete realization of such a topological quantum bus acting between a topological qubit in a Majorana wire network and a conventional semiconductor double quantum dot qubit. Specifically, this device measures the joint (fermion) parity of these two different qubits by using the Aharonov-Casher effect in conjunction with an ancilliary superconducting flux qubit that facilitates the measurement. Such a parity measurement, together with the abi…
We report ferromagnetic resonance in the normal configuration of an electrically insulating magnetic bilayer consisting of two yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films epitaxially grown on both sides of a 0.5-mm-thick nonmagnetic gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) slab. An interference pattern is observed and it is explained as the strong coupling of the magnetization dynamics of the two YIG layers either in phase or out of phase by the standing transverse sound waves, which are excited through a magnetoelastic interaction. This coherent mediation of angular momentum by circularly polarized phonons throug…
We show that the quantum coherent transfer of excitations between biomolecular chromophores is strongly influenced by spatial correlations of the environmental fluctuations. The latter are due either to propagating environmental modes or to local fluctuations with a finite localization length. A simple toy model of a single donor-acceptor pair with spatially separated chromophore sites allows to investigate the influence of these spatial correlations on the quantum coherent excitation transfer. The sound velocity of the solvent determines the wave lengths of the environmental modes, which, in …
Stochastic systems feature, in general, both coherent dynamics and incoherent transitions between different states. We propose a method to identify the coherent part in the full counting statistics for the transitions. The proposal is illustrated for electron transfer through a quantum-dot spin valve, which combines quantum-coherent spin precession with electron tunneling. We show that by counting the number of transferred electrons as a function of time, it is possible to distill out the coherent dynamics from the counting statistics even in transport regimes, in which other tools such as the…
We investigate the energy transfer dynamics in a donor-acceptor model by developing a time-local master equation technique based on a variational transformation of the underlying Hamiltonian. The variational transformation allows a minimisation of the Hamiltonian perturbation term dependent on the system parameters, and consequently results in a versatile master equation valid over a range of system-bath coupling strengths, temperatures, and environmental spectral densities. While our formalism reduces to the well-known Redfield, Foerster and polaron forms in the appropriate limits, in general…
