Coherent Generation Research Articles

A cryogenic on-chip microwave pulse generator for large-scale superconducting quantum computing

For superconducting quantum processors, microwave signals are delivered to each qubit from room-temperature electronics to the cryogenic environment through coaxial cables. Limited by the heat load of cabling and the massive cost of electronics, such an architecture is not viable for millions of qubits required for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Monolithic integration of the control electronics and the qubits provides a promising solution, which, however, requires a coherent cryogenic microwave pulse generator that is compatible with superconducting quantum circuits. Here, we report such a signal source driven by digital-like signals, generating pulsed microwave emission with well-controlled phase, intensity, and frequency directly at millikelvin temperatures. We showcase high-fidelity readout of superconducting qubits with the microwave pulse generator. The device demonstrated here has a small footprint, negligible heat load, great flexibility to operate, and is fully compatible with today’s superconducting quantum circuits, thus providing an enabling technology for large-scale superconducting quantum computers.

Bunching enhancement for coherent harmonic generation by using phase merging effects

In this paper, promising but simple schemes are investigated to enhance the micro-bunching of relativistic electron beams for coherent harmonic generation (CHG) by using phase merging effects. In contrast to the standard CHG scheme, two specially designed dispersion sections (DSs) are adopted with the DS-modulator–DS configuration. The phase space of the e beam is appropriately coupled in the first DS, and the electrons within one seed wavelength can merge to the same phase with a matched second DS. Micro-bunching of the e beam can thus be enhanced by a large margin with much higher-harmonic components. Taking e beams from laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) as an example, start-to-end simulations are performed to show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed schemes with several configurations. The beam current can be optimized to several tens to hundreds of kiloamperes, and the radiation power reaches hundreds of megawatts in the extreme ultraviolet regime within a 3.5 m-long beamline. The proposed schemes offer new opportunities for future compact free-electron lasers driven by LWFAs and provides prospects for truly compact and widely applicable systems.

Impact of Zeeman and hyperfine interactions on the magnetic properties of paramagnetic metal ions: II. Super-hyperfine interactions with surrounding nuclei

The anisotropic Zeeman and strong hyperfine interactions of a Kramers ion can significantly affect its magnetic properties as well as the interactions with the nearby nuclei. The interactions with the local environment are described in the preceding article. In the current work, the change of the spin states of distant nuclei is studied. Analytical expressions describing the depth of the electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) are obtained for the ions with anisotropic Zeeman and strong hyperfine interactions. Due to the g-tensor anisotropy, the electron Zeeman interaction axis is tilted in respect to the direction of the external magnetic field which makes non-collinear with the Zeeman interaction axes of the ion and the nearby nuclei and significantly modifies the nuclear spin states. Thus, the isotropic hyperfine interaction, and particularly the Fermi contact interaction can directly contribute to the ESEEM. An additional factor, that can significantly modify the ESEEM signal is the mixing of the multiple oscillations arising when several nuclei occur in optimal conditions for the generation of the nuclear coherence. This situation arises when several EPR transitions of the ion covering a wide range of magnetic fields are examined.

Local coherence by thermalized intra-system coupling

Quantum superposition of energy eigenstates can appear autonomously in a single quantum two-level system coupled to a low-temperature thermal bath, if such coupling has a proper composite nature. We propose here a principally different and more feasible approach employing engineered interactions between two-level systems being thermalized into a global Gibbs state by weakly coupled thermal bath at temperature T. Therefore, in such case quantum coherence appears by a different mechanism, whereas the system-bath coupling does not have to be engineered. We demonstrate such autonomous coherence generation reaching maximum values of coherence. Moreover, it can be alternatively built up by using weaker but collective interaction with several two-level systems. This approach surpasses the coherence generated by the engineered system-bath coupling for comparable interaction strengths and directly reduces phase estimation error in quantum sensing. This represents a necessary step towards the autonomous quantum sensing.

Coherence generation with Hamiltonians

We explore methods to generate quantum coherence through unitary evolutions, by introducing and studying the coherence generating capacity of Hamiltonians. This quantity is defined as the maximum derivative of coherence that can be achieved by a Hamiltonian. By adopting the relative entropy of coherence as our figure of merit, we evaluate the maximal coherence generating capacity with the constraint of a bounded Hilbert-Schmidt norm for the Hamiltonian. Our investigation yields closed-form expressions for both Hamiltonians and quantum states that induce the maximal derivative of coherence under these conditions. Specifically, for qubit systems, we solve this problem comprehensively for any given Hamiltonian, identifying the quantum states that lead to the largest coherence derivative induced by the Hamiltonian. Our investigation enables a precise identification of conditions under which quantum coherence is optimally enhanced, offering valuable insights for the manipulation and control of quantum coherence in quantum systems.

Inverse design of coherent supercontinuum generation using free-form nanophotonic waveguides

Many key functionalities of optical frequency combs, such as self-referencing and broad spectral access, rely on coherent supercontinuum generation (SCG). While nanophotonic waveguides have emerged as a compact and power-efficient platform for SCG, their geometric degrees of freedom have not been fully utilized due to the underlying complex nonlinear and noise-dependent stochastic physics. Here, we introduce inverse design to unlock free-form waveguides for coherent SCG. The efficacy of our design is numerically and experimentally demonstrated on Si3N4 waveguides, producing flat and coherent spectra from visible to mid-infrared wavelengths. Our work has direct applications in developing chip-based broadband light sources for spectroscopy, metrology, and sensing across multiple spectral regimes.

Mid-infrared gas absorption spectroscopy using a silicon germanium waveguide based chirped supercontinuum

We report the simulations of coherent supercontinuum generation from 2.63 to 8.04 μm in a silicon germanium photonic waveguide. The influence of input quantum noise pulses on coherence of the generated spectra was investigated. A high value of first order degree of coherence (i.e. 0.98) on supercontinuum spectra was predicted numerically. Our mid-infrared simulated coherent chirped supercontinuum source was then used as the input light source in absorption spectroscopy of carbon dioxide and methane gases. The simulated absorbance spectra for these greenhouse gases have high molecular contrast, thanks to the intense, chirped supercontinuum used.

Coherent Broadband Spectrum Generation in Rectangular Silicon Core Buried Waveguide Operated at Telecommunication Wavelength

Coherent Broadband Spectrum Generation in Rectangular Silicon Core Buried Waveguide Operated at Telecommunication Wavelength

Integrated and DC-powered superconducting microcomb

Frequency combs, specialized laser sources emitting multiple equidistant frequency lines, have revolutionized science and technology with unprecedented precision and versatility. Recently, integrated frequency combs are emerging as scalable solutions for on-chip photonics. Here, we demonstrate a fully integrated superconducting microcomb that is easy to manufacture, simple to operate, and consumes ultra-low power. Our turnkey apparatus comprises a basic nonlinear superconducting device, a Josephson junction, directly coupled to a superconducting microstrip resonator. We showcase coherent comb generation through self-started mode-locking. Therefore, comb emission is initiated solely by activating a DC bias source, with power consumption as low as tens of picowatts. The resulting comb spectrum resides in the microwave domain and spans multiple octaves. The linewidths of all comb lines can be narrowed down to 1 Hz through a unique coherent injection-locking technique. Our work represents a critical step towards fully integrated microwave photonics and offers the potential for integrated quantum processors.

Transient dynamics of magneto-optic rotation with elliptically polarized light

In this paper, we analyze the transient behavior of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation in a 87Rb vapor cell. Our focus is on optimizing the optical rotation signal by identifying influential factors. We investigate the impact of cell temperature on alkali atom density and consider characteristics of the light field, such as polarization direction, frequency, intensity, and beam diameter. Low scanning magnetic field rates produce the usual absorption signal, whereas high rates show an asymmetric transient response with oscillatory decay. To further investigate this phenomenon, we evaluate signal amplitude and resonant peaks along the x-, y-, and z-axis directions. Notably, we establish a one-dimensional quadratic equation that describes the relationship between magnetic field scan rate and signal amplitude/peak value. Our findings facilitate the quick evaluation of cell performance, provide insights into the dynamics of ground-state coherence generation, and have potential applications in detecting transient spin coupling or monitoring magnetic fields.

Comprehension: from clause to conspiracy narrative

ABSTRACT In this article, I outline the evolution of my research in the domain of narrative comprehension. I cover three phases: (1) the event-indexing model, which explores connecting events in narratives; (2) the immersed experiencer framework, which focuses on event representations and mental simulations; and (3) a preliminary exploration of conspiracy thinking, in which I reveal parallels with coherence generation in narrative comprehension. I emphasize the interconnectedness of these domains and call for further investigation into the intricacies of narrative comprehension.

Design of ultra-broadband and highly coherent MIR supercontinuum generation using a photonic crystal fiber

Design of ultra-broadband and highly coherent MIR supercontinuum generation using a photonic crystal fiber

Self-injection-locked optical parametric oscillator based on microcombs

Narrow-linewidth yet tunable laser oscillators are one of the most important tools for precision metrology, optical atomic clocks, sensing, and quantum computing. Commonly used tunable coherent oscillators are based on stimulated emission or stimulated Brillouin scattering; as a result, the operating wavelength band is limited by the gain media. Based on nonlinear optical gain, optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) enable coherent signal generation within the whole transparency window of the medium used. However, the demonstration of OPO-based Hertz-level linewidth and tunable oscillators has remained elusive. Here, we present a tunable coherent oscillator based on a multimode coherent OPO in a high-Q microresonator, i.e., a microcomb. Single-mode coherent oscillation is realized through self-injection locking (SIL) of one selected comb line. We achieve coarse tuning up to 20 nm and an intrinsic linewidth down to sub-Hertz level, which is three orders of magnitude lower than the pump. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this scheme results in the repetition rate stabilization of the microcomb. These results open exciting possibilities for generating tunable coherent radiation where stimulated emission materials are difficult to obtain, and the stabilization of microcomb sources beyond the limits imposed by the thermorefractive noise in the cavity.

Transient grating spectroscopy on a DyCo5 thin film with femtosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses.

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are excited by femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (EUV) transient gratings (TGs) in a room-temperature ferrimagnetic DyCo5 alloy. TGs are generated by crossing a pair of EUV pulses from a free electron laser with the wavelength of 20.8 nm matching the Co M-edge, resulting in a SAW wavelength of Λ = 44 nm. Using the pump-probe transient grating scheme in reflection geometry, the excited SAWs could be followed in the time range of -10 to 100 ps in the thin film. Coherent generation of TGs by ultrafast EUV pulses allows to excite SAW in any material and to investigate their couplings to other dynamics, such as spin waves and orbital dynamics. In contrast, we encountered challenges in detecting electronic and magnetic signals, potentially due to the dominance of the larger SAW signal and the weakened reflection signal from underlying layers. A potential solution for the latter challenge involves employing soft x-ray probes, albeit introducing additional complexities associated with the required grazing incidence geometry.

Image Captioning: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: The Image Caption Generator is an intriguing project that bridges the domains of computer vision and natural language processing, aiming to automatically generate descriptive text for images. In the last decade, considerable progress has been made, yet key challenges in optimising Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for precise image feature extraction and refining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for coherent text generation persist. Challenges include overfitting, limited context understanding, and difficulties in modelling long-range dependencies. Solutions have emerged in the form of attention mechanisms, which help focus on relevant image regions, and advanced LSTM architectures like the use of Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs) to improve sequential modelling. These innovations have significantly enhanced the overall performance, leading to more accurate and contextually relevant image captions, ultimately advancing the synergy between computer vision and natural language processing in the realm of image captioning

Ultrahigh-brightness 50 MeV electron beam generation from laser wakefield acceleration in a weakly nonlinear regime

We propose an efficient scheme to produce ultrahigh-brightness tens of MeV electron beams by designing a density-tailored plasma to induce a wakefield in the weakly nonlinear regime with a moderate laser energy of 120 mJ. In this scheme, the second bucket of the wakefield can have a much lower phase velocity at the steep plasma density down-ramp than the first bucket and can be exploited to implement longitudinal electron injection at a lower laser intensity, leading to the generation of bright electron beams with ultralow emittance together with low energy spread. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are carried out and demonstrate that high-quality electron beams with a peak energy of 50 MeV, ultralow emittance of ∼28 nm rad, energy spread of 1%, charge of 4.4 pC, and short duration less than 5 fs can be obtained within a 1-mm-long tailored plasma density, resulting in an ultrahigh six-dimensional brightness B6D,n of ∼2 × 1017 A/m2/0.1%. By changing the density parameters, tunable bright electron beams with peak energies ranging from 5 to 70 MeV, a small emittance of ≤0.1 mm mrad, and a low energy spread at a few-percent level can be obtained. These bright MeV-class electron beams have a variety of potential applications, for example, as ultrafast electron probes for diffraction and imaging, in laboratory astrophysics, in coherent radiation source generation, and as injectors for GeV particle accelerators.

Structured quantum collision models: generating coherence with thermal resources

Quantum collision models normally consist of a system interacting with a set of ancillary units representing the environment. While these ancillary systems are usually assumed to be either two level systems or harmonic oscillators, in this work we move further and represent each ancillary system as a structured system, i.e. a system made out of two or more subsystems. We show how this scenario modifies the kind of master equation that one can obtain for the evolution of the open systems. Moreover, we are able to consider a situation where the ancilla state is thermal yet has some coherence. This allows the generation of coherence in the steady state of the open system and, thanks to the simplicity of the collision model, this allows us to better understand the thermodynamic cost of creating coherence in a system. Specifically, we show that letting the system interact with the coherent degrees of freedom requires a work cost, leading to the natural fulfillment of the first and second law of thermodynamics without the necessity of ad hoc formulations.

Quantum speed limits for change of basis

Quantum speed limits provide ultimate bounds on the time required to transform one quantum state into another. Here, we introduce a novel notion of quantum speed limits for collections of quantum states, investigating the time for converting a basis of states into an unbiased one as well as basis permutation. Establishing an unbiased basis, we provide tight bounds for the systems of dimension smaller than 5, and general bounds for multi-qubit systems and the Hilbert space dimension d. For two-qubit systems, we show that the fastest transformation implements two Hadamards and a swap of the qubits simultaneously. We further prove that for qutrit systems the evolution time depends on the particular type of the unbiased basis. Permuting a basis, we obtain the exact expression for the Hilbert space of dimension d. We also investigate speed limits for coherence generation, providing the minimal time to establish a certain amount of coherence with a unitary evolution.

Coherent Optical Comb Generation in the Joint Space of Frequency and Topological Charge

AbstractCoherent photonic states in the frequency domain or optical frequency combs are investigated widely over the past decade. Meanwhile, photonic states based on spatial coherence, in particular optical vortex states, have also been studied extensively. Further exploitation of coherent photonics state in hitherto unexplored higher dimensional spaces can reveal new realms of physics. The on‐chip generation of coherent optical combs in the 2D parameter space of frequency and topological charge is reported. Using a micro‐ring resonator embedded with angular gratings, optical frequency combs are generated by Kerr nonlinearity. The coherent comb lines, with their frequencies inherently matching the cavity resonances, are immediately diffracted by the angular grating to emit an ensemble of coherent spatial photonic states with each state carrying distinctive spin and orbital angular momenta. The mapping between the frequency and the topological charge dimensions leads to the construction of coherent combs in the high‐dimensional frequency‐topological charge (f‐l) space. Operating the device in the normal‐dispersion regime enables the adjustment of comb line spacing from 1 to 11 free spectral ranges by selectively pumping different cavity resonances with high pump‐to‐comb conversion efficiency. Such on‐chip reconfigurable high‐dimensional coherent optical combs open avenues for innovative exploration of physics.

Nonlinear frequency up-conversion of perfect vortex beams based on four wave-mixing in 85Rb atoms

Optical vortices are widely explored in quantum optics and communication because of their quantized orbital angular momentum, especially its applications in the frequency conversion process lay a foundation for establishing frequency interfaces. However, limited by the spatial mode matching, constructing the frequency interfaces with uniform conversion efficiency is still a challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate a frequency up-conversion of perfect vortex beams for accommodating arbitrary topological charges in a diamond atomic system of 85Rb. In this process, the 780 nm, 776 nm and internally generated 5233 nm light fields induce the 420 nm coherent blue light generation. The 776 nm perfect vortex beam with transverse structure-invariance serves as the signal beam, which leads to the uniform conversion efficiency and is accompanied by orbital angular momentum transfer of output 420 nm coherent blue light. In addition, in view of the tunable radius and width, the perfect vortex beams with different transverse sizes are also successfully transferred, which further increases the encoding flexibility.