Classical Control Fields Research Articles

Quantum gates robust to secular amplitude drifts

Quantum gates are typically vulnerable to imperfections in the classical control fields applied to physical qubits to drive the gates. One approach to reduce this source of error is to break the gate into parts, known as composite pulses (CPs), that typically leverage the constancy of the error over time to mitigate its impact on gate fidelity. Here we extend this technique to suppress secular drifts in Rabi frequency by regarding them as sums of power-law drifts whose first-order effects on over- or under-rotation of the state vector add linearly. Power-law drifts have the form $t^p$ where $t$ is time and the constant $p$ is its power. We show that composite pulses that suppress all power-law drifts with $p \leq n$ are also high-pass filters of filter order $n+1$ arXiv:1410.1624. We present sequences that satisfy our proposed power-law amplitude criteria, $\text{PLA}(n)$, obtained with this technique, and compare their simulated performance under time-dependent amplitude errors to some traditional composite pulse sequences. We find that there is a range of noise frequencies for which the $\text{PLA}(n)$ sequences provide more error suppression than the traditional sequences, but in the low frequency limit, non-linear effects become more important for gate fidelity than frequency roll-off. As a result, the previously known $F_1$ sequence, which is one of the two solutions to the $\text{PLA}(1)$ criteria and furnishes suppression of both linear secular drift and the first order nonlinear effects, is a sharper noise filter than any of the other $\text{PLA}(n)$ sequences in the low frequency limit.

High-fidelity state transfer between leaky quantum memories

Employing the scattering-Lindblad-Hamiltonian formalism description of quantum network theory, we model the general problem of quantum state transfer between two disparate quantum memory blocks in an open quantum system. We derive an analytical expression for the fidelity of quantum state transfer between the memory blocks under the action of a specific phase space trajectory for each of the relevant classical control fields. We find a set of trajectories that maximize the state transfer fidelity between asymmetric systems. We show that, for the example where the mechanical modes of two optomechanical oscillators act as the quantum memory blocks, their optical modes and a waveguide channel connecting them can be used to achieve a quantum state transfer fidelity of 96% with realistic parameters using our optimal control solution. The effects of the intrinsic losses and the asymmetries in the physical memory parameters are discussed quantitatively.

Controlled-Phase Gate Using Dynamically Coupled Cavities and Optical Nonlinearities.

We show that relatively simple integrated photonic circuits have the potential to realize a high fidelity deterministic controlled-phase gate between photonic qubits using bulk optical nonlinearities. The gate is enabled by converting travelling continuous-mode photons into stationary cavity modes using strong classical control fields that dynamically change the effective cavity-waveguide coupling rate. This architecture succeeds because it reduces the wave packet distortions that otherwise accompany the action of optical nonlinearities [J. Shapiro, Phys. Rev. A 73, 062305 (2006)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.73.062305; J. Gea-Banacloche, Phys. Rev. A 81, 043823 (2010)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.81.043823]. We show that high-fidelity gates can be achieved with self-phase modulation in χ^{(3)} materials as well as second-harmonic generation in χ^{(2)} materials. The gate fidelity asymptotically approaches unity with increasing storage time for an incident photon wave packet with fixed duration. We also show that dynamically coupled cavities enable a trade-off between errors due to loss and wave packet distortion. Our proposed architecture represents a new approach to practical implementation of quantum gates that is room-temperature compatible and only relies on components that have been individually demonstrated.

Cavity-assisted squeezing and entanglement: non-adiabatic effects and optimal cavity-atomic ensemble matching

We investigate theoretically quantum entanglement of light with the collective spin polarization of a cold atomic ensemble in cavity-assisted Raman schemes. Previous works concentrated mostly on the bad cavity limit where the signals are much longer than the cavity field lifetime. In view of atomic relaxation and other imperfections, there may arise a need to speed-up the light-atoms interface operation. By increasing the cavity field lifetime, one can achieve better light–matter coupling and entanglement. In our work, we consider the non-adiabatic effects that become important beyond the bad cavity limit in both low-photon and continuous variables regime. We find classical control field time profiles that allow one to retrieve from the cavity an output quantized signal of a predefined time shape and duration, which is optimal for the homodyne detection, optical mixing or further manipulation. This is done for a wide range of the signal duration as compared to the cavity field lifetime. We discuss an optimal cavity–atomic ensemble matching in terms of the cavity field lifetime which allows one to apply less intense control field and to minimize a variety of nonlinear effects, such as AC light shifts, four-wave mixing, etc, which may be potentially harmful to an experiment.

Dependence of the quantum speed limit on system size and control complexity

We extend the work in 2017 New J. Phys. 19 103015 by deriving a lower bound for the minimum time necessary to implement a unitary transformation on a generic, closed quantum system with an arbitrary number of classical control fields. This bound is explicitly analyzed for a specific N-level system similar to those used to represent simple models of an atom, or the first excitation sector of a Heisenberg spin chain, both of which are of interest in quantum control for quantum computation. Specifically, it is shown that the resultant bound depends on the dimension of the system, and on the number of controls used to implement a specific target unitary operation. The value of the bound determined numerically, and an estimate of the true minimum gate time are systematically compared for a range of system dimension and number of controls; special attention is drawn to the relationship between these two variables. It is seen that the bound captures the scaling of the minimum time well for the systems studied, and quantitatively is correct in the order of magnitude.

Entanglement dynamics of two Ising-coupled qubits with nonperpendicular local driving fields

We present an approximate analytical solution to the dynamic equation of two Ising-coupled qubits with oscillating classical control fields that are nonperpendicular to the static drift fields. This is a situation that has recently arisen in some solid-state experiments. With our solution we derive the analytical expressions for the local invariants as well as the local rotations needed to isolate a purely nonlocal gate. This determines the set of parameters that are required to generate any entangling gate. Moreover, we use our results to describe a recent experimental work on capacitively coupled singlet-triplet qubits in GaAs and discuss possible differences for a similar device in silicon.

Non-stationary and relaxation phenomena in cavity-assisted quantum memories

We investigate the non-stationary and relaxation phenomena in cavity-assisted quantum memories for light. As a storage medium we consider an ensemble of cold atoms with standard Lambda-scheme of working levels. Some theoretical aspects of the problem were treated previously by many authors, and recent experiments stimulate more deep insight into the ultimate ability and limitations of the device. Since quantum memories can be used not only for the storage of quantum information, but also for a substantial manipulation of ensembles of quantum states, the speed of such manipulation and hence the ability to write and retrieve the signals of relatively short duration becomes important. In our research we do not apply the so-called bad cavity limit, and consider the memory operation of the signals whose duration is not much larger than the cavity field lifetime, accounting also for the finite lifetime of atomic coherence. In our paper we present an effective approach that makes it possible to find the non-stationary amplitude and phase behavior of strong classical control field, that matches the desirable time profile of both the envelope and the phase of the retrieved quantized signal. The phase properties of the retrieved quantized signals are of importance for the detection and manipulation of squeezing, entanglement, etc by means of optical mixing and homodyning.

Quantum phase gate based on electromagnetically induced transparency in optical cavities

We theoretically investigate the implementation of a quantum phase gate in a system constituted by a single atom inside an optical cavity, based on the electromagnetically induced transparency effect. Firstly we show that a probe pulse can experience a $\pi$ phase shift due to the presence or absence of a classical control field. Considering the interplay of the cavity-EIT effect and the quantum memory process, we demonstrated a controlled phase gate between two single photons. To this end, firstly one needs to store a (control) photon in the ground atomic states. In the following, a second (target) photon must impinge on the atom-cavity system. Depending on the atomic state, this second photon will be either transmitted or reflected, acquiring different phase shifts. This protocol can then be easily extended to multiphoton systems, i.e., keeping the control photon stored, it may induce phase shifts in several single photons, thus enabling the generation of multipartite entangled states. We explore the relevant parameter space in the atom-cavity system that allows the implementation of quantum phase gates using the recent technologies. In particular we have found a lower bound for the cooperativity of the atom-cavity system which enables the implementation of phase shift on single photons. The induced shift on the phase of a photonic qubit and the controlled phase gate between single photons, combined with optical devices, enable to perform universal quantum computation.

Transport properties of a single plasmon interacting with a hybrid exciton of a metal nanoparticle–semiconductor quantum dot system coupled to a plasmonic waveguide

The transport properties of a single plasmon interacting with a hybrid system composed of a semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) and a metal nanoparticle (MNP) coupled to a one-dimensional surface plasmonic waveguide are investigated theoretically via the real-space approach. We considered that the MNP–SQD interaction leads to the formation of a hybrid exciton and the transmission and reflection of a single incident plasmon could be controlled by adjusting the frequency of the classical control field applied to the MNP–SQD hybrid nanosystem, the kinds of MNPs and the background media. The transport properties of a single plasmon interacting with such a hybrid nanosystem discussed here could find applications in the design of next-generation quantum devices, such as single-photon switching and nanomirrors, and in quantum information processing.

Single-Photon Scattering Grating in a Waveguide-Cavity System

We investigate single-photon scattering grating in a one-dimensional waveguide coupled to a cavity embedded with a driven Λ-type three-level atom. The single-photon reflection amplitude and transmission amplitude in the waveguide are obtained via a real-space approach, respectively. By spatially modulating a classical control field to drive the three-level emitter, alternating regions of high reflection and absorption as well as high transmission and absorption of the single photon are generated in both directions of the waveguide, which acts as a kind of scattering grating. The proposed scheme may have the potential for the design of chip-integrated grating.

Cooperative nonlinear grating sensitive to light intensity and photon correlation.

Utilizing dipole blockade of Rydberg excitations, we study an ensemble of stationary atoms driven into the four-level N configuration for achieving a new kind of electromagnetically induced grating in the presence of a traveling-wave and a standing-wave classical control fields. This grating shows cooperative optical nonlinearities as manifested by the sensitivity of output diffraction patterns to input light intensities (photon correlations) of a quantum probe field, promising then an essential opportunity for distinguishing weaker and stronger (bunched and anti-bunched) light fields.

Quantum theory for pulse propagation in electromagnetically-induced-transparency media beyond the adiabatic approximation

Beyond the adiabatic approximation, we develop a quantum theory for optical probe pulses propagating in electromagnetically-induced-transparency (EIT) media by including Langevin noise operators and asking the field operator to satisfy bosonic commutation relation. Influences on the degradation of quantum noise squeezing from optical depth of atomic ensemble, strength of control field, and ground-state decoherence are studied in the slow light, as well as storage and retrieval, for a squeezed probe pulse. Moreover, to give guidelines for realization of quantum interfaces based on EIT media, we demonstrate that the quantum squeezing of output probe pulses could be preserved with a stronger classical control field.

Quantum storage based on control-field angular scanning

Continuous change of the propagation direction of a classical control field in the process of its off-resonant Raman interaction with a weak signal field in a three-level atomic medium is suggested for quantum storage of a single-photon wave packet. It is shown that due to phase matching condition such an angular control allows one to reversibly map the single-photon wave packet to the Raman spatial coherence grating. Thus, quantum storage and retrieval can be realized without using inhomogeneous broadening of the atomic transitions or manipulating the amplitude of the control field. Under some conditions the proposed scheme proves to be mathematically analogous to the quantum storage scheme based on controlled reversible inhomogeneous broadening of the atomic states.

Coherent generation and dynamic manipulation of double stationary light pulses in a five-level double-tripod system of cold atoms

We study a five-level double-tripod system of cold atoms for efficiently manipulating the dynamic propagation and evolution of a quantum probe field by modulating four classical control fields. Our numerical results show that it is viable to transform the quantum probe field into a pair of two-color stationary light pulses mutually coupled through two wave packets of atomic spin coherence. The pair of stationary light pulses can be released either from the sample entrance and exit synchronously or just from the sample exit with a controlled time delay. In addition, the two-color stationary light pulses are immune to the fast decay originating from the higher-order Fourier components of atomic spin and optical coherence, and may exhibit the quantum limited beating signals with their characteristic frequency determined by detunings of the four classical control fields. These results could be explored to design novel photonic devices, such as optical routing, beam splitter, and beat generator, for manipulating a quantum light field.

Quantum storage via refractive-index control

Off-resonant Raman interaction of a single-photon wave packet and a classical control field in an atomic medium with controlled refractive index is investigated. It is shown that a continuous change of refractive index during the interaction leads to the mapping of a single photon state to a superposition of atomic collective excitations (spin waves) with different wave vectors and vice versa. The suitability of refractive-index control for developing multichannel quantum memories is discussed and possible schemes of implementation are considered.

Controlled release of stored pulses in a double-quantum-well structure

We show that an asymmetric double-quantum-well structure can operate as an optical memory. The double quantum wells are modelled like an atomic ensemble of four-level atoms in the Λ–V-type configuration with vacuum-induced coherence arising from resonant tunnelling through the ultra-thin potential energy barrier between the wells. A weak quantum field connects the ground level with the two upper levels and an auxiliary classical control field connects the intermediate level with the upper levels. The quantum field can be mapped into two channels. One channel results from the adiabatic change of the control field which maps the incoming quantum field into the coherence of the two lower levels like in a Λ-type atomic ensemble. The other channel results from the mapping of the quantum field into a combination of coherences between the two upper levels and the ground level, and it is allowed by the adiabatic change of the upper level splitting via an external voltage. The possibility of releasing multiple pulses from the medium resulting from the existence of a non-evolving component of the two-channel memory is shown. A physical picture has been developed providing an explanation of the performance of the device.

Indirect control of quantum systems via an accessor: pure coherent control without system excitation

A pure indirect control of quantum systems via a quantum accessor is investigated. In this control scheme, we do not apply any external classical excitation fields on the controlled system and we control a quantum system via a quantum accessor and classical control fields control the accessor only. Complete controllability is investigated for arbitrary finite-dimensional quantum systems and exemplified by two- and three-dimensional systems. The scheme exhibits some advantages; it uses less qubits in the accessor and does not depend on the energy-level structure of the controlled system.

Propagation of Light in an Ensemble of Tripod LevelAtoms

We study the propagation of a quantum probe light in an ensemble of tripodlevel atoms when the atoms are coupled to two other classical controlfields. First we calculate the dispersion properties, such as susceptibilityand group velocity, of the probe light within such an atomic medium underthe case of three-photon resonance via the dynamical algebra method ofcollective atomic excitations. Then we calculate the dispersionof the probe light in the case that two classical controlfields have the different detunings to the relative atomic transitions.Our results show that in both casesthe phenomenon of electromagnetically induced transparency can occur.Especially under the second case, we can find two transparency windows forthe probe light.

Raman adiabatic transfer of optical states in multilevel atoms

We analyze electromagnetically induced transparency and light storage in an ensemble of atoms with multiple excited levels (multi-Lambda configuration) which are coupled to one of the ground states by quantized signal fields and to the other one via classical control fields. We present a basis transformation of atomic and optical states which reduces the analysis of the system to that of EIT in a regular 3-level configuration. We demonstrate the existence of dark state polaritons and propose a protocol to transfer quantum information from one optical mode to another by an adiabatic control of the control fields.

The dark-state polaritons of a double-Λ atomic ensemble

We study the interaction of two quantized fields with a double-Λ system driven by two classical control fields with variable complex Rabi frequencies. There exists one normal mode of the quantum fields that propagates without absorption. In the two-mode case of dark-state polaritons, we discuss the possibility of storing and retrieving the quantum state in this normal mode. This system can be also used to generate entangled state and, furthermore, it can act as a controllable beam splitter.