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Results for “continuous quantum measurement”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Floquet Prethermalization with Lifetime Exceeding 90 s in a Bulk Hyperpolarized Solid

Here, we report the observation of long-lived Floquet prethermal states in a bulk solid composed of dipolar-coupled 13 C nuclei in diamond at room temperature. For precessing nuclear spins prepared in an initial transverse state, we demonstrate pulsed spin-lock Floquet control that prevents their decay over multiple-minute-long periods. We observe Floquet prethermal lifetimes $T^{'}_{2}$≈90.9 s, extended >60 000-fold over the nuclear free induction decay times. The spins themselves are continuously interrogated for ~10 min, corresponding to the application of ≈5.8×10 6 control pulses. The 13 C nuclei are optically hyperpolarized by lattice nitrogen vacancy centers; the combination of hyperpolarization and continuous spin readout yields significant signal-to-noise ratio in the measurements. This allows probing the Floquet thermalization dynamics with unprecedented clarity. We identify four characteristic regimes of the thermalization process, discerning short-time transient processes leading to the prethermal plateau and long-time system heating toward infinite temperature. This Letter points to new opportunities possible via Floquet control in networks of dilute, randomly distributed, low-sensitivity nuclei. In particular, the combination of minutes-long prethermal lifetimes and continuous spin interrogation opens avenues for quantum sensors constructed from hyperpolarized Floquet prethermal nuclei.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Standoff detection of chemical plumes from high explosive open detonations using a swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser

A swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL) is used to perform standoff detection of combustion gases in a plume generated from an outdoor high-explosive (HE) open detonation. The swept-ECQCL system was located at a standoff distance of 830 m from a 41kg charge of LX-14(polymer-bonded high explosive) and was used to measure the infrared transmission/absorption through the post-detonation plume as it propagated through the beam path. The swept-ECQCL was operated continuously to record broadband absorption spectra at 200hz rate over a spectral range from 2050 to 2230 cm -1 (4.48 - 4.88 μm). Fitting of measured spectra was used to determine time-resolved column densities of CO, CO 2 , H 2 O, and N 2 O. Analysis of visible video imagery was used to provide timing correlations and to estimate plume dimensions, from which gas mixing ratios were estimated. Measured emission factors and modified combustion efficiency show good agreement with previously reported values.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2020

Distributed quantum sensing enhanced by continuous-variable error correction

Abstract A distributed sensing protocol uses a network of local sensing nodes to estimate a global feature of the network, such as a weighted average of locally detectable parameters. In the noiseless case, continuous-variable (CV) multipartite entanglement shared by the nodes can improve the precision of parameter estimation relative to the precision attainable by a network without shared entanglement; for an entangled protocol, the root mean square estimation error scales like 1/ M with the number M of sensing nodes, the so-called Heisenberg scaling, while for protocols without entanglement, the error scales like 1 / M . However, in the presence of loss and other noise sources, although multipartite entanglement still has some advantages for sensing displacements and phases, the scaling of the precision with M is less favorable. In this paper, we show that using CV error correction codes can enhance the robustness of sensing protocols against imperfections and reinstate Heisenberg scaling up to moderate values of M . Furthermore, while previous distributed sensing protocols could measure only a single quadrature, we construct a protocol in which both quadratures can be sensed simultaneously. Our work demonstrates the value of CV error correction codes in realistic sensing scenarios.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Compact in situ probe for magnetotransport measurements of 2D materials under variable tensile strain

The recent development of freestanding oxide membranes has opened new opportunities for strain engineering of transition metal oxides beyond values accessible in bulk samples. While a number of studies have been performed with fixed strain, the ability to dynamically control the strain state during measurement would be greatly enabling. To this end, we present an in situ uniaxial strain probe optimized for transport measurements of tensile-strained 2D or quasi-2D materials down to 2 K. Utilizing a flexible polyimide substrate as the stress transfer medium, our platform simplifies the sample preparation process and allows precise alignment of strain fields relative to the crystalline axes. An in situ optical microscope monitors the macroscopic strain state operando and makes it possible to complete an entire magnetotransport study at cryogenic temperatures under continuous strain variations. We demonstrate the capabilities of the probe on a freestanding LaNiO 3 membrane, where we induce tensile strain up to 8% and observe a corresponding strong transport anisotropy. In view of the rapid developments in low-dimensional materials synthesis and the plethora of novel quantum phenomena they exhibit, this strain probe provides general instrumentation for examining and controlling these properties via strain.

2D materials↗
DOE OSTI2022

Uniaxial Strain Control of Bulk Ferromagnetism in Rare-Earth Titanates

The perovskite rare-earth titanates are model Mott insulators with magnetic ground states that are very sensitive to structural distortions. These distortions couple strongly to the orbital degrees of freedom and, in principle, it should be possible to tune the superexchange and the magnetic transition with strain. We investigate the representative system (Y,La,Ca)TiO 3 , which exhibits low crystallographic symmetry and no structural instabilities. From magnetic susceptibility measurements of the Curie temperature, we demonstrate direct, reversible, and continuous control of ferromagnetism by influencing the TiO 6 octahedral tilts and rotations with uniaxial strain. The relative change in T C as a function of strain is well described by ab initio calculations, which provides detailed understanding of the complex interactions among structural, orbital, and magnetic properties in rare-earth titanates. The demonstrated manipulation of octahedral distortions opens up far-reaching possibilities for investigations of electron-lattice coupling, competing ground states, and magnetic quantum phase transitions in a wide range of quantum materials.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Scrambling and operator entanglement in local non-Hermitian quantum systems

The breakdown of Lieb-Robinson bounds in local, non-Hermitian quantum systems opens up the possibility for a rich landscape of quantum many-body phenomenology. We elucidate this by studying information scrambling and quantum chaos in non-Hermitian variants of paradigmatic local quantum spin-chain models. We utilize a mixture of exact diagonalization and tensor network techniques for our numerical results and focus on three dynamical quantities: (i) out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOCs), (ii) operator entanglement of the dynamics, and (iii) entanglement growth following a quench from product initial states. We show that while OTOCs fail to capture information scrambling in a simple, local, non-Hermitian transverse-field Ising model, the closely related operator entanglement is a robust measure of dynamical properties of interest. Moreover, we show that the short-time growth of operator entanglement can generically detect entanglement phase transitions in these systems while its long-time average is shown to be a reliable indicator of quantum chaos and entanglement phases. This allows us to extend operator entanglement-based diagnostics from previous works on closed and open quantum systems, to the new arena of monitored quantum dynamics. Finally, we remark on the efficacy of these dynamical quantities in detecting integrability/chaos in the presence of continuous monitoring.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
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 OSTI2021

In-situ proton radiation testing of 2.4 micron wavelength extended InGaAs photodiodes at dry ice and room temperatures

We have successfully tested 290 µm diameter, 2.4 micron wavelength, Extended InGaAs photodiodes coupled with single mode fiber using 50 MeV Protons at both dry ice temperature (-72 °C) and room temperature (20 °C). The devices were reverse biased at 100 mV during the radiation run and their leakage current was continuously monitored insitu during the exposure. These devices find multiple applications in space for spectroscopy & sensing, inter-satellite optical communication links, rapid Doppler shift LIDAR, as well as inter-planetary and Earth-to-Moon communication links. Several photodiodes were tested using 50 MeV Protons with an average flux level of 2.11 × 10 7 protons/cm 2 /s, for a total fluence of 1.0 × 10 11 protons/cm 2 and total dose of 20 krad (water). Pre- and post-radiation results were also measured for leakage current vs. voltage, responsivity (quantum efficiency), and bandwidth of the Extended InGaAs photodiodes. Finally, all devices were found to be fully functional at normal operating conditions and at both dry ice and room temperature.

2.4 micron wavelength↗
DOE OSTI2025

A multidimensional approach to quantum state tomography of photoelectron wavepackets

There is a growing interest in reconstructing the density matrix of photoelectron wavepackets, in particular in complex systems where decoherence can be introduced either by a partial measurement of the system or through coupling with a stochastic environment. To this end, several methods to reconstruct the density matrix, quantum state tomography protocols, have been developed and tested on photoelectrons ejected from noble gases following absorption of extreme ultraviolet (XUV) photons from attosecond pulses. It remains a challenge to obtain model-free, single scan protocols that can reconstruct the density matrix with high fidelities. Current methods require extensive measurements or involve complex fitting of the signal. Efficient single-scan reconstructions would be of great help to increase the number of systems that can be studied. We propose a new and more efficient protocol that is able to reconstruct the continuous variable density matrix of a photoelectron in a single time delay scan. It is based on measuring the coherences of a photoelectron created by absorption of an XUV pulse using a broadband infrared (IR) probe that is scanned in time and a narrowband IR reference that is temporally fixed to the XUV pulse. We illustrate its performance for a Fano resonance in He as well as mixed states in Ar arising from spin-orbit splitting. We show that the protocol results in excellent fidelities and near-perfect estimation of the purity.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Bayesian homodyne and heterodyne tomography

Continuous-variable (CV) photonic states are of increasing interest in quantum information science, bolstered by features such as deterministic resource state generation and error correction via bosonic codes. Data-efficient characterization methods will prove critical in the fine-tuning and maturation of such CV quantum technology. Although Bayesian inference offers appealing properties—including uncertainty quantification and optimality in mean-squared error—Bayesian methods have yet to be demonstrated for the tomography of arbitrary CV states. Here we introduce a complete Bayesian quantum state tomography workflow capable of inferring generic CV states measured by homodyne or heterodyne detection, with no assumption of Gaussianity. As examples, we demonstrate our approach on experimental coherent, thermal, and cat state data, obtaining excellent agreement between our Bayesian estimates and theoretical predictions. Our approach lays the groundwork for Bayesian estimation of highly complex CV quantum states in emerging quantum photonic platforms, such as quantum communications networks and sensors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Lattice distortion inducing exciton splitting and coherent quantum beating in CsPbI 3 perovskite quantum dots

It is well known that shape or crystal anisotropy in nanocrystal quantum dots, which are tiny semiconductor nanoparticles, results in energy splitting of their optically bright excitons (bound electron-hole pairs), which is known as fine structure splitting (FSS). Studying FSS usually requires single or just a few quantum dots because of its sensitivity to nanocrystal size and shape. In this work, by using ensemble-level femtosecond polarized transient absorption, the authors observed clear bright-exciton FSS in solution-processed CsPbI 3 perovskite QDs, which is manifested as exciton quantum beats (periodic oscillations of kinetic traces). Remarkably, the beat frequency of a given sample, as determined by the FSS energy, can be continuously controlled by changing the temperature. The FSS is linked experimentally for the first time to temperature dependent lattice distortion in the orthorhombic crystal structure. Because these orthorhombic-phase nanocrystal quantum dots are bounded by the pseudocubic family of crystal planes, the lattice distortion results in a misalignment between the lattice vectors and the nanocrystal edge directions which breaks the symmetry, leading to previously unrecognized avoided crossing “fine-structure gap” between bright exciton. Furthermore, this fine structure gap is responsible for the ability to observe quantum beats despite the shape inhomogeneity within the measured ensemble. Lattice-distortion dependent FSS in CsPbI 3 QDs has important consequences for their application as a platform for coherence and entanglement control in quantum information science.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Quantum description of wave dark matter

We outline a fundamentally quantum description of bosonic dark matter (DM) from which the conventional classical-wave picture emerges in the limit 𝑚 ≪10 eV. As appropriate for a quantum system, we start from the density matrix, which encodes the full information regarding the possible measurements we could make of DM and their fluctuations. Following fundamental results in quantum optics, we argue that for DM it is most likely that the density matrix takes the explicitly mixed form of a Gaussian over the basis of coherent states. Deviations from this would generate non-Gaussian fluctuations in DM observables, allowing a direct probe of the quantum state of DM. Our quantum optics–inspired approach allows us to rigorously define and interpret various quantities that are often only described heuristically, such as the coherence time or length. The formalism further provides a continuous description of DM through the wave-particle transition, which we exploit to study how density fluctuations over various physical scales evolve between the two limits and to reveal the unique behavior of DM near the boundary of the wave and particle descriptions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Identifying Decoherence Mechanisms in Superconducting Qubits through Advanced Materials Characterization

Although superconducting qubits have emerged as a leading technology platform for quantum computing through large improvements in device coherence times and gate fidelity in recent years, the presence of defects and impurities at the interfaces and surfaces in the constituent materials continue to limit performance and serve as a critical barrier in achieving scalable quantum systems. Understanding and eliminating these sources of quantum decoherence in superconducting qubit devices requires dedicated studies aimed at establishing robust structure-property relationships that will enable researchers to target and eliminate defects strategically. As part of the Superconducting Materials and Systems (SQMS) center, we have extensively employed state-of-the-art materials characterization techniques, including scanning/transmission electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, atom probe tomography, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with device measurements to elucidate such relationships. In this talk, I will discuss some of our recent findings, including linking atomic defects to microwave loss in surface oxides, linking impurities in the Josephson Junction to qubit parameters, and linking low temperature precipitates to device performance. By applying these insights, we have been able to strategically develop and implement mitigation strategies for reliable fabrication of high coherence superconducting qubits.

Murthy, A. [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000176776866)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Identifying Decoherence Mechanisms in Superconducting Qubits through Advanced Materials Characterization

Although superconducting qubits have emerged as a leading technology platform for quantum computing through large improvements in device coherence times and gate fidelity in recent years, the presence of defects and impurities at the interfaces and surfaces in the constituent materials continue to limit performance and serve as a critical barrier in achieving scalable quantum systems. Understanding and eliminating these sources of quantum decoherence in superconducting qubit devices requires dedicated studies aimed at establishing robust structure-property relationships that will enable researchers to target and eliminate defects strategically. As part of the Superconducting Materials and Systems (SQMS) center, we have extensively employed state-of-the-art materials characterization techniques, including scanning/transmission electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, atom probe tomography, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with device measurements to elucidate such relationships. In this talk, I will discuss some of our recent findings, including linking atomic defects to microwave loss in surface oxides, linking impurities in the Josephson Junction to qubit parameters, and linking low temperature precipitates to device performance. By applying these insights, we have been able to strategically develop and implement mitigation strategies for reliable fabrication of high coherence superconducting qubits.

Murthy, A. [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000176776866)↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ancilla-free continuous-variable SWAP test

We propose a continuous-variable (CV) SWAP test that requires no ancilla register, thereby generalizing the ancilla-free SWAP test for qubits. In this ancilla-free CV SWAP test, the computational basis measurement is replaced by photon number-resolving measurement, and we calculate an upper bound on the error of the overlap estimate obtained from a finite Fock cutoff in the detector. As an example, we show that estimation of the overlap of pure, centered, single-mode Gaussian states of energy E and squeezed in opposite quadratures can be obtained to error ϵ using photon statistics below a Fock basis cutoff O(Elnϵ –1 ). This cutoff is greatly reduced to E + O(√ Elnϵ –1 ) when the states have rapidly decaying Fock tails, such as coherent states. We show how the ancilla-free CV SWAP test can be extended to many modes and applied to quantum algorithms such as variational compiling and entanglement spectroscopy in the CV setting. For the latter we also provide a new algorithm which does not have an analog in qubit systems. The ancilla-free CV SWAP test is implemented on Xanadu's 8-mode photonic processor in order to estimate the vacuum probability of a two-mode squeezed state.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strong crystal field splitting and polarization dependence observed in the emission from Eu3+ ions doped into GaN

Eu-doped GaN is a promising material with a wide array of potential applications in optoelectronics, optogenetics, micro displays and quantum computing. While this system has been the subject of intense investigation for the last two decades, several questions still remain about certain aspects of its optical properties, such as the polarization dependence of the optical transitions, and the coupling between the 4f-electron configuration and bulk phonons, as well and the appearance of local phonon modes. Moreover, the origin of certain emission peaks remains under debate in the literature. In this proceeding, the results of a systematic series of “site-selective” photoluminescence measurements are presented, where the properties of pulsed and continuous-wave laser excitation, such as polarization and intensity, were controlled.

Copelman, S↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ab initio molecular dynamics on quantum computers

Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) is a valuable technique for studying molecules and materials at finite temperatures where the nuclei evolve on potential energy surfaces obtained from accurate electronic structure calculations. In this work, we present an approach to running AIMD simulations on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ)-era quantum computers. The electronic energies are calculated on a quantum computer using the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) method. Algorithms for computation of analytical gradients entirely on a quantum computer require quantum fault-tolerant hardware, which is beyond NISQ-era. Therefore, we compute the energy gradients numerically using finite differences, the Hellmann-Feynman theorem, and a correlated sampling technique. This method only requires additional classical calculations of electron integrals for each degree of freedom without any additional computations on a quantum computer beyond the initial VQE run. As a proof of concept, AIMD simulations are demonstrated for the H-2 molecule on IBM quantum devices. In addition, we demonstrate the validity of the method for larger molecules using full configuration interaction wave functions. As quantum hardware and noise mitigation techniques continue to improve, the method can be utilized for studying larger molecular systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Standoff Detection of Chemical Plumes Using Swept-ECQCL Remote Detection Technology: Results from EMRTC Complex Terrain Dual Tracer Experiment

As part of the Complex Terrain Dual Tracer Experiments performed in support of the LYNM program, a swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser (swept-ECQCL) remote detection system was deployed to measure chemical plume propagation with high temporal resolution. The swept-ECQCL remote detection technology was initially developed at PNNL, and is now under further development at Opticslah, LLC under SBIR funding from DOE (DOE SBIR Phase I Project DE-SC0019855, Remote Detection Technologies, Program Manager Chris Ramos). The swept-ECQCL technology provides a single-frequency infrared laser source which is rapidly scanned over a large wavelength range to measure the infrared absorption of gases, liquids, or solids. Analysis of the measured infrared absorption spectrum is used to detect, identify, and quantify the chemical species which are present. While most previous laser-based techniques used small wavelength tuning ranges to measure only a few isolated spectral lines of a few species, the swept-ECQCL provides the large tuning range needed to measure multiple species simultaneously, and to detect broad absorption features from large molecules or condensed phase materials. In addition, the swept-ECQCL systems have high enough spectral resolution and sensitivity to measure narrow lines of small molecules and determine isotope ratios. The remote detection system for gas plumes is based on the swept-ECQCL technology, and consists of a swept-ECQCL source, infrared detector, control electronics, and beam transmitting and alignment optics. The remote detection system directs the infrared output of the swept-ECQCL to a target retro reflector typically located at ~10-10,000 m distance. The swept-ECQCL wavelength is varied continuously over a large wavelength range (>1000 nm) at rates up to 1000 Hz. The swept ECQCL light reflected from the remote target is collected and focused onto an infrared photodetector. By measuring the detector signal continuously as the swept-ECQCL wavelength is varied, a time-series of absorption spectra are measured for the gases along the beam line of-sight. Based on analysis and fitting of the measured absorption spectra, the time-dependent chemical concentrations of species are determined. Multiple species and mixtures can be detected simultaneously, for all species with absorption features above the sensor noise floor. The sensor output is thus a continuous, high-speed record of identified chemicals along with their concentrations and isotope ratios of interest. The high-speed operation enables low-noise operation in conditions of atmospheric turbulence and allows tracking of fluctuating concentrations in transient chemical plumes as needed for reliable remote detection applications. All components operate with minimal cooling requirements and no cryogens are needed. In addition, the output infrared light is invisible with an intensity below the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) threshold of 100 mW/cm2 for these infrared wavelengths and thus eye safe. The measurement concept for plume detection using the swept-ECQCL remote detection system is as follows. The ECQCL beam is directed toward a remote retro-reflector, which reflects the beam back to the ECQCL system where it is focused onto an infrared photodetector. The line-of-sight from the ECQCL system to the retro-reflector defines the measurement path. The detected infrared signal is recorded continuously and detects the absorption of molecular species along the measurement path. Before a plume release, the system measures absorption from atmospheric constituents, which in this LWIR band consist primarily of lines from H 2 O and CO 2 , with additional weaker absorption from N 2 O, NH 3 , and O 3 possibly contributing. The system then measures any changes in absorption due to the tracer compounds when they enter the measurement path. The shape of absorption features is used to distinguish and identify the different tracer compounds, and the strength of the absorption is used to determine the path-integrated concentration – also called the column density.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗