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At least 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Comparing photosynthetic light harvesting of single photons and pseudothermal light under ultraweak illumination

Photosynthesis in vivo is driven by sunlight, an ultraweak incoherent thermal source. However, most experiments and theories have studied photosynthetic light harvesting driven by strong coherent laser sources. The quantum states of light are characterized by their photon statistics, in addition to classical properties such as intensity and frequency spectrum. Here, we report experiments that investigate how photon statistics affect a natural photosynthetic system and vice versa. We directly compare how single photons and pseudothermal light from spontaneous parametric down-conversion drive light harvesting in the light-harvesting 2 complex from a purple bacterium. We find that the fluorescence lifetime and quantum efficiency are unchanged while the fluorescence photon statistics are markedly different, resembling that of the incident light, implying that the dynamics do not fundamentally modify the photon statistics. This represents a step toward clarification of the similarities and differences between photosynthetic light harvesting in laboratory and in natural sunlight conditions.

Li, Quanwei [University of California, Berkeley, C↗
DOE OSTI2024

Charge density waves in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides

Charge density wave (CDW is one of the most ubiquitous electronic orders in quantum materials. While the essential ingredients of CDW order have been extensively studied, a comprehensive microscopic understanding is yet to be reached. Recent research efforts on the CDW phenomena in two-dimensional (2D) materials provide a new pathway toward a deeper understanding of its complexity. This review provides an overview of the CDW orders in 2D with atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as the materials platform. We mainly focus on the electronic structure investigations on the epitaxially grown TMDC samples with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy as complementary experimental tools. Finally, we discuss the possible origins of the 2D CDW, novel quantum states coexisting with them, and exotic types of charge orders that can only be realized in the 2D limit.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Growth of Mesoscale Ordered Two-Dimensional Hydrogen-Bond Organic Framework with the Observation of Flat Band

Flat bands (FBs), presenting a strongly interacting quantum system, have drawn increasing interest recently. However, experimental growth and synthesis of FB materials have been challenging and have remained elusive for the ideal form of monolayer materials where the FB arises from destructive quantum interference as predicted in 2D lattice models. Here, we report surface growth of a self-assembled monolayer of 2D hydrogen-bond (H-bond) organic frameworks (HOFs) of 1,3,5-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (THPB) on Au(111) substrate and the observation of FB. High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy or spectroscopy shows mesoscale, highly ordered, and uniform THPB HOF domains, while angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy highlights a FB over the whole Brillouin zone. Density-functional-theory calculations and analyses reveal that the observed topological FB arises from a hidden electronic breathing-kagome lattice without atomically breathing bonds. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that self-assembly of HOFs provides a viable approach for synthesis of 2D organic topological materials, paving the way to explore many-body quantum states of topological FBs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Constructing Quantum Spin Liquids Using Combinatorial Gauge Symmetry

In this work, we introduce the notion of combinatorial gauge symmetry—a local transformation that includes single spin rotations plus permutations of spins (or swaps of their quantum states)—that preserve the commutation and anticommutation relations among the spins. We show that Hamiltonians with simple two-body interactions contain this symmetry if the coupling matrix is a Hadamard matrix, with the combinatorial gauge symmetry being associated with the automorphism of these matrices with respect to monomial transformations. Armed with this symmetry, we address the physical problem of how to build quantum spin liquids with physically accessible interactions. In addition to its intrinsic physical significance, the problem is also tied to that of how to build topological qubits.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Practical Introduction to Benchmarking and Characterization of Quantum Computers

Rapid progress in quantum technology has transformed quantum computing and quantum information science from theoretical possibilities into tangible engineering challenges. Breakthroughs in quantum algorithms, quantum simulations, and quantum error correction are bringing useful quantum computation closer to fruition. These remarkable achievements have been facilitated by advances in quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV). QCVV methods and protocols enable scientists and engineers to scrutinize, understand, and enhance the performance of quantum information-processing devices. In this tutorial, we review the fundamental principles underpinning QCVV, and introduce a diverse array of QCVV tools used by quantum researchers. We define and explain QCVV’s core models and concepts—quantum states, measurements, and processes—and illustrate how these building blocks are leveraged to examine a target system or operation. We survey and introduce protocols ranging from simple qubit characterization to advanced benchmarking methods. Along the way, we provide illustrated examples and detailed descriptions of the protocols, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each, and discuss their potential scalability to future large-scale quantum computers. This tutorial serves as a guidebook for researchers unfamiliar with the benchmarking and characterization of quantum computers, and also as a detailed reference for experienced practitioners.

open quantum systems & decoherence↗
DOE OSTI2024

Finite-Time Teleportation Phase Transition in Random Quantum Circuits

How long does it take to entangle two distant qubits in a quantum circuit evolved by generic unitary dynamics? Here, we show that if the time evolution is followed by measurements of all but two infinitely separated test qubits, then the entanglement between them can undergo a phase transition and become nonzero at a finite critical time t c . The fidelity of teleporting a quantum state from an input qubit to an infinitely distant output qubit shows the same critical onset. Specifically, these finite-time transitions occur in short-range interacting two-dimensional random unitary circuits and in sufficiently long-range interacting one-dimensional circuits. The phase transition is understood by mapping the random continuous-time evolution to a finite-temperature thermal state of an effective spin Hamiltonian, where the inverse temperature equals the evolution time in the circuit. In this framework, the entanglement between two distant qubits at times t > t c corresponds to the emergence of long-range ferromagnetic spin correlations below the critical temperature. We verify these predictions using numerical simulation of Clifford circuits and propose potential realizations in existing platforms for quantum simulation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Interwoven magnetic kagome metal overcomes geometric frustration

Magnetic kagome materials provide a platform for exploring magneto-transport phenomena, symmetry breaking and charge ordering driven by the intricate interplay among electronic structure, topology and magnetism. Yet geometric frustration in conventional kagome magnets limits their tunability. Here we propose a design strategy for interweaving quasi-one-dimensional magnetic Tb zigzag chains with non-magnetic Ti-based kagome bilayers in TbTi 3 Bi 4 . Comprehensive spectroscopic analyses reveal coexisting elliptical-spiral magnetic and spin-density-wave orders accompanied by a large ~90 meV band-folding gap. The combined magnetic and electronic state leads to a giant anomalous Hall conductivity of 10 5 Ω −1 cm −1 , which exceeds that observed in frustrated kagome analogues. These results establish TbTi 3 Bi 4 as a model system of magnetic kagome metals with strong electron–magnetism interactions and underscore the necessity of interweaving designed magnetic and charge layers separately to achieve tunable transport properties. This design strategy will enable the discovery of emergent quantum states and next-generation electronic materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Error metrics for partially coherent wave fields

Lensless imaging methods that account for partial coherence have become very common in the past decade. However, there are no metrics in use for comparing partially coherent light fields, despite the widespread use of such metrics to compare fully coherent objects and wave fields. Here, we show how reformulating the mean squared error and Fourier ring correlation in terms of quantum state fidelity naturally generalizes them to partially coherent wave fields. We report these results fill an important gap in the lensless imaging literature and will enable quantitative assessments of the reliability and resolution of reconstructed partially coherent wave fields.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2026

Two-Tower Quantum Matrix Chain Multiplication: Trading Qubits for Depth

Matrix chain multiplication -- computing $\mathcal{W} = M^{(0)}\cdots M^{(K-1)}$ where $M^{(k)} \in \mathbb{R}^{P_k \times P_{k+1}}$-- arises in scientific computing, machine learning, and graph analysis. Despite the importance of this problem, for chains of distinct matrices, the classical number of operations grows linearly with the chain length $K$ and polynomially in the matrix dimensions. We present \emph{Two-Tower Matrix Multiplication}, a quantum subroutine that encodes the product $\mathcal{W}$ of the $K$ matrices into a quantum state in circuit depth $\mathcal{O}(\max_{k} \mathrm{polylog} (P_k P_{k+1}))$, which is independent of~$K$ within the QRAM-based state-preparation model, whereas the qubit count is $\mathcal{O}\bigl(\sum_{k} \log P_k \bigr)$; the total gate count remains linear in $K$, so the gain is in the circuit depth. The construction interleaves state-preparation operators across two layers; within each layer, all operators act on disjoint registers and execute in parallel. This subroutine can be specialized for the chain-vector case, which computes the product of $K-1$ matrices applied to a vector. We prove the correctness of the subroutine for all $K$ and provide two implementations using the Qiskit and QCLAB frameworks. The subroutine is applicable to any downstream quantum algorithm that operates on a matrix encoded in the statevector, including norm estimation, graph-matrix powers, linear system solving, and quantum machine learning kernels.

Antonioli, Giacomo [Pisa U.] (ORCID:00090000668703↗
DOE OSTI2022

Demonstration of long-range correlations via susceptibility measurements in a one-dimensional superconducting Josephson spin chain

Abstract Spin chains have long been considered an effective medium for long-range interactions, entanglement generation, and quantum state transfer. In this work, we explore the properties of a spin chain implemented with superconducting flux circuits, designed to act as a connectivity medium between two superconducting qubits. The susceptibility of the chain is probed and shown to support long-range, cross-chain correlations. In addition, interactions between the two end qubits, mediated by the coupler chain, are demonstrated. This work has direct applicability in near term quantum annealing processors as a means of generating long-range, coherent coupling between qubits.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Characterizing Midcircuit Measurements on a Superconducting Qubit Using Gate Set Tomography

Measurements that occur within the internal layers of a quantum circuit—midcircuit measurements—are a useful quantum-computing primitive, most notably for quantum error correction. Midcircuit measurements have both classical and quantum outputs, so they can be subject to error modes that do not exist for measurements that terminate quantum circuits. In this work, we show how to characterize midcircuit measurements, modeled by quantum instruments, using a technique that we call quantum instrument linear gate set tomography (QILGST). We then apply this technique to characterize a dispersive measurement on a superconducting transmon qubit within a multiqubit system. By varying the delay time between the measurement pulse and subsequent gates, we explore the impact of residual cavity photon population on measurement error. QILGST can resolve different error modes and quantify the total error from a measurement; in our experiment, for delay times above 1000 ns we measure a total error rate (i.e., half diamond distance) of ϵ$\diamond$ = 8.1 ± 1.4%, a readout fidelity of 97.0 ± 0.3%, and output quantum-state fidelities of 96.7 ± 0.6% and 93.7 ± 0.7 % when measuring 0 and 1, respectively.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

High-dimensional multi-fidelity Bayesian optimization for quantum control

Abstract We present the first multi-fidelity Bayesian optimization (BO) approach for solving inverse problems in the quantum control of prototypical quantum systems. Our approach automatically constructs time-dependent control fields that enable transitions between initial and desired final quantum states. Most importantly, our BO approach gives impressive performance in constructing time-dependent control fields, even for cases that are difficult to converge with existing gradient-based approaches. We provide detailed descriptions of our machine learning methods as well as performance metrics for a variety of machine learning algorithms. Taken together, our results demonstrate that BO is a promising approach to efficiently and autonomously design control fields in general quantum dynamical systems.

Computer Science↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Python’s Lunch: geometric obstructions to decoding Hawking radiation

According to Harlow and Hayden [ arXiv:1301.4504 ] the task of distilling information out of Hawking radiation appears to be computationally hard despite the fact that the quantum state of the black hole and its radiation is relatively un-complex. We trace this computational difficulty to a geometric obstruction in the Einstein-Rosen bridge connecting the black hole and its radiation. Inspired by tensor network models, we conjecture a precise formula relating the computational hardness of distilling information to geometric properties of the wormhole — specifically to the exponential of the difference in generalized entropies between the two non-minimal quantum extremal surfaces that constitute the obstruction. Due to its shape, we call this obstruction the ‘Python’s Lunch’, in analogy to the reptile’s postprandial bulge.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Chirality locking charge density waves in a chiral crystal

In Weyl semimetals, charge density wave (CDW) order can spontaneously break the chiral symmetry, gap out the Weyl nodes, and drive the material into the axion insulating phase. Investigations have however been limited since CDWs are rarely seen in Weyl semimetals. Here, using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S), we report the discovery of a novel unidirectional CDW order on the (001) surface of chiral crystal CoSi – a unique Weyl semimetal with unconventional chiral fermions. The CDW is incommensurate with both lattice momentum and crystalline symmetry directions, and exhibits an intra unit cell π phase shift in the layer stacking direction. The tunneling spectrum shows a particle-hole asymmetric V-shaped energy gap around the Fermi level that modulates spatially with the CDW wave vector. Combined with first-principle calculations, we identify that the CDW is locked to the crystal chirality and is related by a mirror reflection between the two enantiomers of the chiral crystal. Our findings reveal a novel correlated topological quantum state in chiral CoSi crystals and raise the potential for exploring the unprecedented physical behaviors of unconventional chiral fermions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Entanglement masquerading in the CMB

The simplest single-field inflation models capture all the relevant contributions to the patterns in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observed today. A key assumption in these models is that the quantum inflationary fluctuations that source such patterns are generated by a particular quantum state — the Bunch-Davies (BD) state. While this is a well-motivated choice from a theoretical perspective, the question arises of whether current data can rule out other, also well motivated, choices of states. In particular, as we previously demonstrated in [1], entanglement is naturally and inevitably dynamically generated during inflation given the presence of a "rolling" spectator scalar field — and the resulting entangled state will yield a primordial power spectrum with potentially measurable deviations compared to the canonical BD result. For this work we developed a perturbative framework to allow a systematic exploration of constraints on (or detection of) entangled states with Planck CMB data using Monte Carlo techniques. We have found that most entangled states accessible with our framework are consistent with the data. One would have to expand the framework to allow a greater variety of entangled states in order to saturate the Planck constraints and more systematically explore any preferences the data may have among the different possibilities.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nanoscale strain wave generation by a piezoelectric grating from polar vortices

Nanostructures formed by spontaneously broken symmetry have provided new ways to manipulate quantum states. Specifically, topological structures with periodic spatial ordering, such as polar vortices and skyrmions, can be ideal hosts for creating engineered responses in both spatial and frequency domains. So far, however, only a few examples of such hierarchical engineering have been reported in the literature. Here we demonstrate that the spatially modulated piezoelectric response of a polar vortex structure can create strain waves with a characteristic nanoscale wavefront. Using time-resolved pump–probe resonant X-ray scattering and diffraction measurements, coupled with dynamical phase-field simulations, we show that the piezoelectric modulation of the spontaneously formed polar vortex crystal functions as an acoustic diffraction grating. This system converts incoming laterally uniform strain waves into outgoing waves with a characteristic sub-terahertz frequency, driven by an intrinsic excitation of the polar vortex crystal. Moreover, our phase-field simulations suggest that the dynamic mechanical displacements exhibiting vortex textures are generated from both space- and time-varying piezoelectric responses. Our findings illustrate a new method for generating nanoscale strain waves with unique spatial textures by tuning the hierarchical order of polar topologies to engineer new collective modes, allowing for a wide range of control through the topological lattice.

ferroelectrics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Complementarity-based complementarity: The choice of mutually unbiased observables shapes quantum uncertainty relations

Quantum uncertainty relations impose fundamental limits on the joint knowledge that can be acquired from complementary observables: Perfect knowledge of a quantum state in one basis implies maximal indetermination in all other mutually unbiased bases (MUBs). Uncertainty relations derived from joint properties of the MUBs are generally assumed to be uniform, irrespective of the specific observables chosen within a set. In this work, we demonstrate instead that the uncertainty relations can depend on the choice of observables. Through both experimental observation and numerical methods, we show that selecting different sets of three MUBs in a five-dimensional quantum system results in distinct uncertainty bounds, i.e., in varying degrees of complementarity, in terms of both entropy and variance.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Polarization–frequency hyperentangled photons: generation, characterization, and manipulation

Frequency-bin encoding is massively parallelizable and robust for optical fiber transmission. When coupled with an additional degree of freedom (DoF), the expansion of the Hilbert space allows for deterministic controlled operations between two DoFs within a single photon. Such capabilities, when combined with photonic hyperentanglement, are of great value for quantum communication protocols, including dense coding and single-copy entanglement distillation. In this talk, we present an all-fiber-coupled, ultrabroadband polarization–frequency hyperentangled source and conduct comprehensive quantum state tomography across multiple dense wavelength division multiplexing channels spanning the optical C+L-band (1530–1625 nm). In addition, we design and implement a high-fidelity controlled-NOT (cnot) operation between polarization and frequency DoFs by exploiting electro-optic phase modulation within a fiber Sagnac loop. Collectively, our hyperentangled source and two-qubit gate should unlock new opportunities for harnessing polarization–frequency resources in established telecommunication fiber networks for future quantum applications.

Lu, Hsuan-Hao↗