Multiphoton Rabi Oscillations Research Articles

Multiphoton absorption and Rabi oscillations in armchair graphene nanoribbons

We present an analytical approach to the problem of the multiphoton absorption and Rabi oscillations in an armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) in the presence of a time-oscillating strong electric field induced by a light wave directed parallel to the ribbon axis. The two-dimensional Dirac equation for the massless electron subject to the ribbon confinement is employed. In the resonant approximation the electron-hole pair production rate, associated with the electron transitions between the valence and conduction size-quantized subbands, the corresponding multiphoton absorption coefficient and the frequency of the Rabi oscillations are obtained in an explicit form. We trace the dependencies of the above quantities on the ribbon width and electric field strength for both the multiphoton assisted and tunneling regimes relevant to the time-oscillating and practically constant electric field, respectively. A significant enhancement effect of the oscillating character of the electric field on the intersubband transitions is encountered. Our analytical results are in qualitative agreement with those obtained for the graphene layer by numerical methods. Estimates of the expected experimental values for the typically employed AGNR and laser parameters show that both the Rabi oscillations and multiphoton absorption are accessible in the laboratory. The data relevant to the intersubband tunneling makes the AGNR a 1D condensed matter analog in which the quantum electrodynamic vacuum decay can be detected by applying an external laboratory electric field.

Quantum State Transfer via Multi‐Passage Landau–Zener–Stückelberg Interferometry in a Three‐Qubit System

In quantum information processing, it is necessary to transfer quantum state between different systems. Herein, a scheme to transfer quantum state using multi‐passage Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry in three superconducting qubits is proposed. A periodic triangle waveform quickly drives the system across the energy level anticrossing multiple times, inducing multiphoton Rabi oscillations. Using the 0‐photon Rabi oscillations, the dynamical quantum state transfer with probability close to 100% is realized. The fidelity of the state transfer is insensitive to local distortion of the driving waveform. This scheme can be extended to a system where multiple qubits are coupled to a frequency‐tunable qubit, as a quantum medium. It provides a useful tool for scalable quantum computing.

Electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton-route to Rydberg fragments of molecules

Atoms and molecules exposed to strong laser fields can be excited to the Rydberg states with very high principal quantum numbers and large orbitals. It allows acceleration of neutral particles, generate near-threshold harmonics, and reveal multiphoton Rabi oscillations and rich photoelectron spectra. However, the physical mechanism of Rydberg state excitation in strong laser fields is yet a puzzle. Here, we identify the electron-nuclear correlated multiphoton excitation as the general mechanism by coincidently measuring all charged and neutral fragments ejected from a H2 molecule. Ruled by the ac-Stark effect, the internuclear separation for resonant multiphoton excitation varies with the laser intensity. It alters the photon energy partition between the ejected electrons and nuclei and thus leads to distinct kinetic energy spectra of the nuclear fragments. The electron-nuclear correlation offers an alternative visual angle to capture rich ultrafast processes of complex molecules.

Dissipation and thermal noise in hybrid quantum systems in the ultrastrong-coupling regime

The interaction among the components of a hybrid quantum system is often neglected when considering the coupling of these components to an environment. However, if the interaction strength is large, this approximation leads to unphysical predictions, as has been shown for cavity-QED and optomechanical systems in the ultrastrong-coupling regime. To deal with these cases, master equations with dissipators retaining the interaction between these components have been derived for the quantum Rabi model and for the standard optomechanical Hamiltonian. In this article, we go beyond these previous derivations and present a general master equation approach for arbitrary hybrid quantum systems interacting with thermal reservoirs. Specifically, our approach can be applied to describe the dynamics of open hybrid systems with harmonic, quasi-harmonic, and anharmonic transitions. We apply our approach to study the influence of temperature on multiphoton vacuum Rabi oscillations in circuit QED. We also analyze the influence of temperature on the conversion of mechanical energy into photon pairs in an optomechanical system, which has been recently described at zero temperature. We compare our results with previous approaches, finding that these sometimes overestimate decoherence rates and understimate excited-state populations.

Multiphoton Raman transitions and Rabi oscillations in driven spin systems

In the framework of the non-secular perturbation theory based on the Bogoliubov averaging method, the coherent dynamics of multiphoton Raman transitions in a two-level spin system driven by an amplitude-modulated microwave field is studied. Closed-form expressions for the Rabi frequencies of these transitions have been obtained beyond the rotating wave approximation for the low-frequency driving component. It is shown that spin states dressed by the high-frequency component of the driving field are shifted due to the Bloch-Siegert-like effect caused by antiresonant interactions with the strong low-frequency driving. We predict that with increasing the order of the Raman transition the Rabi frequency decreases and the contribution of the Bloch-Siegert shift to this frequency becomes dominant. It is found that the amplitude and phase of the Rabi oscillations strongly depend on the initial phase of the low-frequency field as well as on detuning from multiphoton resonance. The recent experimental data for the second- and third-order Raman transitions observed for nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond [Z. Shu, et al., arXiv:1804. 10492] are well described in the frame of our approach. Our results provide new possibilities for coherent control of quantum systems.

Multiphoton dynamics of qutrits in the ultrastrong coupling regime with a quantized photonic field

Multiphoton resonant excitation of a three-state quantum system (a qutrit) with a single-mode photonic field is considered in the ultrastrong coupling regime, when the qutrit–photonic field coupling rate is comparable to appreciable fractions of the photon frequency. For ultrastrong couplings, the obtained solutions of the Schrodinger equation that reveal multiphoton Rabi oscillations in qutrits with the interference effects leading to the collapse and revival of atomic excitation probabilities at the direct multiphoton resonant transitions.

Quantum noise properties of multiphoton transitions in driven nonlinear resonators

We investigate the quantum noise properties of a weakly nonlinear Duffing resonator in the deep quantum regime, where only a few quanta are excited. This regime is dominated by the appearance of coherent multiphoton resonances in the nonlinear response of the resonator to the modulation. We determine simple expressions for the photon noise spectrum and find that the multiphoton resonances also induce a multiple peak structure in that spectrum. When the corresponding multiphoton Rabi oscillations are underdamped, zero-temperature quantum fluctuations determine comparable populations of all quasienergy states which belong to a resonant multiphoton doublet. Most interestingly, the quantum fluctuations probe the multiphoton transitions by inducing several peaks in the noise spectrum of the resonator observables. In particular, the noise of the photon number contains complete information about the multiphoton states and their stationary populations via pairs of nearly symmetric peaks at opposite frequencies. Their widths are determined by the damping of the Rabi oscillations and their heights are proportional to the stationary nonequilibrium populations. A finite detuning from a multiphoton resonance generates a quasielastic noise peak at zero frequency. In addition, we relate the stationary populations of the quasienergy states with an effective quantum temperature and discuss the role of a finite temperature.

Mechanism of “GSI oscillations” in electron capture by highly charged hydrogen-like atomic ions

We suggest a qualitative explanation of oscillations in electron capture decays of hydrogen-like 140Pr and 142Pm ions observed recently in an ion experimental storage ring (ESR) of Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung (GSI) mbH, Darmstadt, Germany. This explanation is based on the electron multiphoton Rabi oscillations between two Zeeman states of the hyperfine ground level with the total angular momentum F = 1/2. The Zeeman splitting is produced by a constant magnetic field in the ESR. Transitions between these states are produced by the second, sufficiently strong alternating magnetic field that approximates realistic fields in the GSI ESR. The Zeeman splitting amounts to only about 10−5 eV. This allows explaining the observed quantum beats with the period 7 s.

Multiphoton Rabi oscillations of a ringlike three-level system

We propose a ringlike three-level model and show that it can be realized using Stark states of highly excited potassium interacting with two-mode microwave fields. We demonstrate this by using both analytical model and numerical simulations to study the problems of multiphoton Rabi oscillations. The results show that the Rabi oscillation patterns of the ringlike three-level system exhibit additional envelope and nodes compared to the oscillatory behavior of a three-level cascade system; in other words, there exist collapse and revival phenomena for Rabi oscillation patterns. The origin of the collapse and revival of the population oscillations is the multiphoton two-color resonances at frequency $\ensuremath{\Omega}=n{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{1}+m{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$. Our analytic results are in good agreement with numerical simulations. In addition, all the analytical solutions for the three basic configurations of the three-level system classified as the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$, vee, and cascade systems can be deduced from our analytical solution for the ringlike three-level configuration by setting one of the three coupling strengths equal to 0.

Multiphoton Rabi oscillations of correlated electrons in strong-field nonsequential double ionization

With quantum calculations, we have investigated the multiphoton nonsequential double ionization of helium atoms in intense laser fields at ultraviolet wavelengths. Very surprisingly, we found a so-far unobserved double-circle structure in the correlated electron momentum spectra. The double-circle structure essentially reveals multiphoton Rabi oscillations of two electrons, which are strongly supported by the oscillating population of a certain doubly excited state and by the oscillating double ionization signals. This two-electron multiphoton Rabi effect provides a profound understanding of electronic correlations and complicated multiphoton phenomena and is expected to be a new tool for broad applications, such as quantum coherent control.

Multiphoton Rabi oscillations between highly excited Stark states of potassium

We have applied a nonperturbative resonant theory to study the Rabi frequency of microwave multiphoton transitions between two Rydberg states of potassium in a static electric field. The Stark electric dipole moments used to calculate the Rabi frequency are determined by the Stark states' wave functions, which are obtained by the diagonalization method. The frequencies of the Rabi oscillations are in good agreement with either experimental ones or ones calculated by the time-dependent close-coupling method and the Floquet theory. Furthermore, we are able to show that the size of avoided crossings between the $(n+2)s$ and $(n,3)$ states can be predicted from the Stark electric dipole moment and the difference of the two Stark states' energy at a given resonance.

Multi-photon Rabi oscillations in high spin paramagnetic impurity

We report on multiple photon monochromatic quantum oscillations (Rabi oscillations) observed by pulsed EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) of Mn2+ (S = 5/2) impurities in MgO. We find that when the microwave magnetic field is similar or large than the anisotropy splitting, the Rabi oscillations have a spectrum made of many frequencies not predicted by the S = l/2 Rabi model. We show that these new frequencies come from multiple photon coherent manipulation of the multi-level spin impurity. We develop a model based on the crystal field theory and the rotating frame approximation, describing the observed phenomenon with a very good agreement.

Tunable multiphoton Rabi oscillations in an electronic spin system

We report on multi-photon Rabi oscillations and controlled tuning of a multi-level system at room temperature (S=5/2 for Mn2+:MgO) in and out of a quasi-harmonic level configuration. The anisotropy is much smaller than the Zeeman splittings, such as the six level scheme shows only a small deviation from an equidistant diagram. This allows us to tune the spin dynamics by either compensating the cubic anisotropy with a precise static field orientation, or by microwave field intensity. Using the rotating frame approximation, the experiments are very well explained by both an analytical model and a generalized numerical model. The calculated multi-photon Rabi frequencies are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.

Multiphoton Coherent Manipulation in Large-Spin Qubits

Large-spin Mn2+ ions (S=5/2) diluted in a nonmagnetic MgO matrix of high crystalline symmetry are used to realize a six-level system that can be operated by means of multiphoton coherent Rabi oscillations. This spin system has a very small anisotropy which can be tuned in situ to reversibly transform the system between harmonic and nonharmonic level configurations. Decoherence effects are strongly suppressed as a result of the quasi-isotropic electron interaction with the crystal field and with the 55Mn nuclear spins. These results suggest new ways of manipulating, reading, and resetting spin quantum states which can be applied to encode a qubit across several quantum levels.

Multilevel effects in the Rabi oscillations of a Josephson phase qubit

We present Rabi oscillation measurements of a $\text{Nb}/{\text{AlO}}_{\text{x}}/\text{Nb}$ dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) phase qubit with a $100\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}{\text{m}}^{2}$ area junction acquired over a range of microwave drive power and frequency detuning. Given the slightly anharmonic level structure of the device, several excited states play an important role in the qubit dynamics, particularly at high power. To investigate the effects of these levels, multiphoton Rabi oscillations were monitored by measuring the tunneling escape rate of the device to the voltage state, which is particularly sensitive to excited state population. We compare the observed oscillation frequencies with a simplified model constructed from the full phase qubit Hamiltonian and also compare time-dependent escape rate measurements with a more complete density-matrix simulation. Good quantitative agreement is found between the data and simulations, allowing us to identify a shift in resonance (analogous to the ac Stark effect), a suppression of the Rabi frequency, and leakage to the higher excited states.

Parametric Control of a Superconducting Flux Qubit

Parametric control of a superconducting flux qubit has been achieved by using two-frequency microwave pulses. We have observed Rabi oscillations stemming from parametric transitions between the qubit states when the sum of the two microwave frequencies or the difference between them matches the qubit Larmor frequency. We have also observed multiphoton Rabi oscillations corresponding to one- to four-photon resonances by applying single-frequency microwave pulses. The parametric control demonstrated in this work widens the frequency range of microwaves for controlling the qubit and offers a high quality testing ground for exploring nonlinear quantum phenomena of macroscopically distinct states.

Damping of multiphoton Rabi oscillations and multiphoton Purcell effect

Damping of multiphoton Rabi oscillations due to a finite lifetime of photons is investigated using an algebraic method of the solution of the master equation. The time dependence of the probability of electron transitions between atomic levels is evaluated. In a regime of weak atom–photon coupling (a coupling constant smaller than the photon decay rate), the spontaneous emission of many photons from a single electron transition due to the interaction with a resonant light is found. Thus, a multiphoton counterpart of the Purcell effect is predicted.

Dynamic behavior of Josephson-junction qubits: crossover between Rabi oscillations and Landau–Zener transitions

We study the dynamic behavior of a quantum two-level system with periodically varying parameters by solving numerically the master equation for the density matrix. Two limiting cases are considered: multiphoton Rabi oscillations and Landau–Zener transitions. The approach is applied to the description of the dynamics of superconducting qubits. In particular, the case of the interferometer-type charge qubit with periodically varying parameters (gate voltage or magnetic flux) is investigated. The time-averaged energy level populations are calculated as functions of the qubit’s control parameters.

Multiphoton antiresonance

We show that nonlinear response of a quantum oscillator displays antiresonant dips as the field frequency passes adiabatically through multiphoton resonance. This coherent quantum effect has no analog in two-level systems. Its emergence is a consequence of special symmetry of a weakly nonlinear oscillator. We discuss the possibility to observe the antiresonance and the associated multiphoton Rabi oscillations in Josephson junctions.

Quantum information processing with large nuclear spins in GaAs semiconductors.

We propose an implementation for quantum information processing based on coherent manipulations of nuclear spins I=3/2 in GaAs semiconductors. We describe theoretically an NMR method which involves multiphoton transitions and which exploits the nonequidistance of nuclear spin levels due to quadrupolar splittings. Starting from known spin anisotropies we derive effective Hamiltonians in a generalized rotating frame, valid for arbitrary I, which allow us to describe the nonperturbative time evolution of spin states generated by magnetic rf fields. We identify an experimentally observable regime for multiphoton Rabi oscillations. In the nonlinear regime, we find Berry phase interference.