We study optimization of fidelity for ultrafast transformation of a spin chain via external control of a local exchange coupling. We show that infidelity of such a process can be dramatically decreased by choosing a proper control profile in nonadiabatic time domain, predict main features of this profile analytically, corroborate them numerically with a gradient search algorithm, and discuss the corresponding quantum speed limit. For ultrafast transformations, the qualitative features of the obtained optimal control are system-independent. Moreover, the main restrictions on its shape do not depend on the transformation time and remain valid up to the adiabatic limit. Our results can be applied to control a broad variety of quantum systems.
Experimental realizations of two qubit entangling gates with trapped ions typically rely on addressing spectroscopically resolved motional sidebands, limiting gate speed to the secular frequency. Fast entangling gates using ultrafast pulsed lasers overcome this speed limit. This approach is based on state-dependent photon recoil kicks from a sequence of counter-propagating, resonant, ultrafast pulse pairs, which can allow sub-microsecond gate speeds. Here we demonstrate a key component of the ultrafast gate protocol, the coherent excitation of a 171Yb+ ion across the 2S1/2-2P1/2 transition wit…
The encoding of quantum information in photonic time-bin qubits is apt for long distance quantum communication schemes. In practice, due to technical constraints such as detector response time, or the speed with which co-polarized time-bins can be switched, other encodings, e.g. polarization, are often preferred for operations like state detection. Here, we present the conversion of qubits between polarization and time-bin encodings using a method that is based on an ultrafast optical Kerr shutter and attain efficiencies of 97% and an average fidelity of 0.827+/-0.003 with shutter speeds near …
We propose a general approach to implement nonadiabatic geometric single- and two-qubit gates beyond the rotating wave approximation (RWA). This protocol is compatible with most optimal control methods used in previous RWA protocols; thus, it is as robust as (or even more robust than) the RWA protocols. Using counter-rotating effects allows us to apply strong drives. Therefore, we can improve the gate speed by 5--10 times compared to the RWA counterpart for implementing high-fidelity ($\geq 99.99\%$) gates. Such an ultrafast evolution (nanoseconds, even picoseconds) significantly reduces the i…
We demonstrate quantum entanglement of two trapped atomic ion qubits using a sequence of ultrafast laser pulses. Unlike previous demonstrations of entanglement mediated by the Coulomb interaction, this scheme does not require confinement to the Lamb-Dicke regime and can be less sensitive to ambient noise due to its speed. To elucidate the physics of an ultrafast phase gate, we generate a high entanglement rate using just 10 pulses, each of $\sim20$ ps duration, and demonstrate an entangled Bell-state with $(76\pm1)$% fidelity. These results pave the way for entanglement operations within a lar…
Mesoscopic quantum superpositions, or Schrödinger cat states, are widely studied for fundamental investigations of quantum measurement and decoherence as well as applications in sensing and quantum information science. The generation and maintenance of such states relies upon a balance between efficient external coherent control of the system and sufficient isolation from the environment. Here we create a variety of cat states of a single trapped atom's motion in a harmonic oscillator using ultrafast laser pulses. These pulses produce high fidelity impulsive forces that separate the atom into …
Characterization and quantification of the role of coherence in ultrafast quantum biological experiments using quantum master equations, atomistic simulations, and quantum process tomography
Operation speed and coherence time are two core measures for the viability of a qubit. Strong spin-orbit interaction (SOI) and relatively weak hyperfine interaction make holes in germanium (Ge) intriguing candidates for spin qubits with rapid, all-electrical coherent control. Here we report ultrafast single-spin manipulation in a hole-based double quantum dot in a germanium hut wire (GHW). Mediated by the strong SOI, a Rabi frequency exceeding 540 MHz is observed at a magnetic field of 100 mT, setting a record for ultrafast spin qubit control in semiconductor systems. We demonstrate that the s…
We propose a novel ultrafast electronic switching device based on dual-graphene electron waveguides, in analogy to the optical dual-channel waveguide device. The design utilizes the principle of coherent quantum mechanical tunneling of Rabi oscillations between the two graphene electron waveguides. Based on a modified coupled mode theory, we construct a theoretical model to analyse the device characteristics, and predict that the swtiching speed is faster than 1 ps. Due to the long mean free path of electrons in graphene at room temperature, the proposed design avoids the limitation of low tem…
Optical dual-pulse pumping actively creates quantum-mechanical superposition of the electronic and phononic states in a bulk solid. We here made transient reflectivity measurements in an n-GaAs using a pair of relative-phase-locked femtosecond pulses and found characteristic interference fringes. This is a result of quantum-path interference peculiar to the dual-pulse excitation as indicated by theoretical calculation. Our observation reveals that the pathway of coherent phonon generation in the n-GaAs is impulsive stimulated Raman scattering at the displaced potential due to the surface-charg…
We demonstrate optical control of magnons using femtosecond laser pulses by performing ab-initio real-time time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) simulations. We predict that the spin-wave dynamics in Fe$_{50}$Ni$_{50}$ can be manipulated by tailoring the applied laser pulse via three distinct mechanisms: (1) element selective destruction of magnon modes depending on the laser intensity, (2) delay dependent freezing of the magnon mode into a transient non-collinear state (where delay is in the pulse peak with respect to the start of simulations), and (3) optically induced inter subla…
Ultrafast Current Switching from Quantum Geometry in Semimetals
KIAS（韩国高等科学研究院）；School of Physics, KIAS（韩国高等科学研究院物理学院）；Department of Semiconductor Physics, Kangwon National University（江原国立大学半导体物理系）；Department of Electronic and Electrical Convergence Engineering, Hongik University（弘益大学电子电气融合工程系）；Department of Physics, Ajou University（亚洲大学物理系）
The requirement for optical-electrical-optical conversion of signals in optical technologies is often one of the majors bottleneck in terms of speed and energy consumption. The use of dressed photons (also called polaritons), that allows for intrinsic sizable interactions, could significantly improve the performances of optical integrated elements such as switches or optical gates. In this work we demonstrate the ultrafast switch of a laser coupled into a polaritonic waveguide triggered by an optical pulse resonant with the same dispersion but at a lower energy. Our experiments show two effect…
