Quantum Coherence Research Articles

Investigation of the Complexation Activity of 2,4-Dithiouracil with Au(III) and Cu(II) and Biological Activity of the Newly Formed Complexes

The goal of this study is to synthesize, determine the structure, and examine the antimicrobial properties of novel Cu(II) and Au(III) complexes of 2,4-dithiouracil and its derivatives. These complexes were obtained by mixing aqueous solutions of the corresponding metal salts with the ligand dissolved in DMSO and aqueous NaOH, using a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:4:2. The structures of the new compounds were analyzed by melting point determination, microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES) for Cu and Au, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for S, attenuated total reflection (ATR), solution and solid-state NMR, and Raman spectroscopy. The data for 2,4-dithiouracil obtained from the 1H NMR, 13C NMR, distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer spectrum (DEPT-135), proton–proton homonuclear correlation spectrum (1H-1H COSY), long-range 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple bond correlation experiment (HMBC), and heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectra (HSQC) aided the interpretation of the NMR data for the gold and copper complexes. Furthermore, the antimicrobial effect of the free ligands and their complexes was assessed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts.

Room-temperature quantum nanoplasmonic coherent perfect absorption

Light-matter superposition states obtained via strong coupling play a decisive role in quantum information processing, but the deleterious effects of material dissipation and environment-induced decoherence inevitably destroy coherent light-matter polaritons over time. Here, we propose the use of coherent perfect absorption under near-field driving to prepare and protect the polaritonic states of a single quantum emitter interacting with a plasmonic nanocavity at room temperature. Our scheme of quantum nanoplasmonic coherent perfect absorption leverages an inherent frequency specificity to selectively initialize the coupled system in a chosen plasmon-emitter dressed state, while the coherent, unidirectional and non-perturbing near-field energy transfer from a proximal plasmonic waveguide can in principle render the dressed state robust against dynamic dissipation under ambient conditions. Our study establishes a previously unexplored paradigm for quantum state preparation and coherence preservation in plasmonic cavity quantum electrodynamics, offering compelling prospects for elevating quantum nanophotonic technologies to ambient temperatures.

Collapse of neutrino wave functions under Penrose gravitational reduction

Models of spontaneous wave function collapse have been postulated to address the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. Their primary function is to convert coherent quantum superpositions into incoherent ones, with the result that macroscopic objects cannot be placed into widely separated superpositions for observably prolonged times. Many of these processes will also lead to loss of coherence in neutrino oscillations, producing observable signatures in the flavor profile of neutrinos at long travel distances. The majority of studies of neutrino oscillation coherence to date have focused on variants of the continuous state localization model, whereby an effective decoherence strength parameter is used to model the rate of coherence loss with an assumed energy dependence. Another class of collapse models that have been proposed posit connections to the configuration of gravitational field accompanying the mass distribution associated with each wave function that is in the superposition. A particularly interesting and prescriptive model is Penrose’s description of gravitational collapse which proposes a decoherence time τ determined through Egτ∼ℏ, where Eg is a calculable function of the Newtonian gravitational potential. Here we explore application of the Penrose collapse model to neutrino oscillations, reinterpreting previous experimental limits on neutrino decoherence in terms of this model. We identify effects associated with both spatial collapse and momentum diffusion, finding that the latter is ruled out in data from the IceCube South Pole Neutrino Observatory so long as the neutrino wave packet width at production is σν,x≤2×10−12 m. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Entropic uncertainty relations and quantum coherence in the two-dimensional XXZ spin model with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

Quantum renormalization group (QRG) is a tractable method for studying the criticalities of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) many-body systems. By employing the QRG method, we first derive the effective Hamiltonian and QRG equations of a 2D XXZ model with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction analytically. The linear-entropy-based uncertainty, the quantum discord (QD), and the multipartite quantum coherence based on the square root of the quantum Jensen–Shannon divergence of the 2D XXZ model are then studied as the indicators of quantum phase transitions (QPTs). The nonanalytic and scaling behaviors of the uncertainty, QD and quantum coherence are also analyzed through numerical calculations. Moreover, we investigate the effect of the easy-axis anisotropy parameter and DM interaction on the QPT. We find that the uncertainty, QD, and quantum coherence can all be utilized to detect QPTs. Our findings could shed new light on the observable of the QPT of the many-body system with the uncertainty and quantum coherence, and enrich the application of QRG method to Heisenberg spin models.

Tracking Metabolite Variations during the Degradation of Vegetables in Rice Bran Bed with Intact-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Fermentation-a process of compound degradation by microorganisms-is a traditional food processing method utilized worldwide for the long-term preservation of fresh foods. In recent years, fermented foods have gained attention as health foods. Fermentation increases the nutritional value of ingredients, producing complex flavors and aromas. To identify unknown components in fermented foods, it is necessary to analyze compounds and conditions nondestructively and comprehensively. We performed intact-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy using intermolecular single quantum coherence (iSQC) to detect the degradation of vegetables directly and nondestructively. We used two types of vegetables and a rice bran bed (nukazuke), which is used for traditional vegetable fermentation in Japan. Major metabolites such as saccharides, organic acids, and amino acids were identified in iSQC-sliced spectra. Comparing NMR signal intensities during degradation revealed the transition of metabolites characteristic of lactic acid fermentation. A pathway-based network analysis showed pathways involved in amino acid metabolism and lactic acid fermentation. Our analytical approach with intact-state NMR spectroscopy using iSQC demonstrated that it may be effective in other experimental systems, allowing for the evaluation of phenomena that have been conventionally overlooked in their true state.

The Nature of Pointer States and Their Role in Macroscopic Quantum Coherence

This article begins with an interdisciplinary review of a hydrodynamic approach to understanding the origins and nature of macroscopic quantum phenomena in high-temperature superconductivity, superfluidity, turbulence and biological systems. Building on this review, we consider new theoretical insights into the origin and nature of pointer states and their role in the emergence of quantum systems. The approach includes a theory of quantum coherence underpinned by turbulence, generated by a field of pointer states, which take the form of recirculating, spin-1/2 vortices (toroids), interconnected via a cascade of spin-1 vortices. Decoherence occurs when the bosonic network connecting pointer states is disrupted, leading to their localisation. Building further on this work, we explore how quantum particles (in the form of different vortex structures) could emerge as the product of a causal dynamic process, within a turbulent (fractal) spacetime. The resulting particle structures offer new insights into intrinsic spin, the probabilistic nature of the wave function and how we might consider pointer states within the standard “point source” representation of a quantum particle, which intuitively requires a more complexed description.

Using the Haken-Strobl-Reineker Model to Determine the Temperature Dependence of the Diffusion Coefficient.

Stochastic quantum Liouville equations (SQLE) are widely used to model energy and charge dynamics in molecular systems. The Haken-Strobl-Reineker (HSR) SQLE is a particular paradigm in which the dynamical noise that destroys quantum coherences arises from a white noise (i.e., constant-frequency) spectrum. A system subject to the HSR SQLE thus evolves to its "high-temperature" limit, whereby all the eigenstates are equally populated. This result would seem to imply that the predictions of the HSR model, e.g., the temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient, have no validity for temperatures lower than the particle bandwidth. The purpose of this paper is to show that this assumption is incorrect for translationally invariant systems. In particular, provided that the diffusion coefficient is determined via the mean-squared-displacement, considerations about detailed-balance are irrelevant. Consequently, the high-temperature prediction for the temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient may be extrapolated to lower temperatures, provided that the bath remains classical. Thus, for diagonal dynamical disorder the long-time diffusion coefficient, D∞(T) = c1/T, while for both diagonal and off-diagonal disorder, D∞(T) = c1/T + c2T, where c2 ≪ c1. An appendix discusses an alternative interpretation from the HSR model of the "quantum to classical" dynamics transition, whereby the dynamics is described as stochastically punctuated coherent motion.

Tailoring Coherent Microwave Emission from a Solid-State Hybrid System for Room-Temperature Microwave Quantum Electronics.

Quantum electronics operating in the microwave domain are burgeoning and becoming essential building blocks of quantum computers, sensors, and communication devices. However, the field of microwave quantum electronics has long been dominated by the need for cryogenic conditions to maintain delicate quantum characteristics. Here, a solid-state hybrid system, constituted by a photo-excited pentacene triplet spin ensemble coupled to a dielectric resonator, is reported for the first time capable of both coherent microwave quantum amplification and oscillation at X band via the masing process at room temperature. By incorporating external driving and active dissipation control into the hybrid system, efficient tuning of the maser emission characteristics at ≈9.4GHz is achieved, which is key to optimizing the performance of the maser device. The work not only pushes the boundaries of the operating frequency and functionality of the existing pentacene masers but also demonstrates a universal route for controlling the masing process at room temperature, highlighting opportunities for optimizing emerging solid-state masers for quantum information processing and communication.

Entropic uncertainty relations in Schwarzschild space-time

The uncertainty principle is deemed as one of cornerstones in quantum mechanics, and exploring its lower limit of uncertainty will be helpful to understand the principle's nature. In this study, we propose a generalized entropic uncertainty relation for arbitrary multiple-observable in multipartite system, and further derive a tighter lower bound by considering Holevo quality and mutual information. Importantly, we detailedly discuss the proposed uncertainty relations and quantum coherence in the context of Schwarzschild space-time. It is interesting to find that Hawking radiation will damage the coherence of the physically accessible region and increase the uncertainty. Furthermore, we argue that the properties of the uncertainty in Schwarzschild space-time can be explained from the systems' purity and the information redistribution of the different regions. Therefore, it is believed that our findings provide the generalized entropic uncertainty relations in multipartite systems, which may facilitate us deeper understanding of quantumness and information paradox of the black holes.

Ionic Lignin Polymers for Controlled CO2 Capture, Release, and Conversion into High-Value Chemicals.

In this study, an innovative and cost-effective ionic polymer for CO2 capture and utilization for the first time, using abundant and nonfood-based biomass lignin is reported. The modified ionic polymer synthesizes through the reaction of glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride with lignin under alkaline conditions to yield quaternary ammonium ionic functionality. Subsequently, the hydroxide-based pure ionic lignin polymer is employed for CO2 capture from both direct air and concentrated CO2 sources at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Structural characterization of the polymers is accomplished through 1H, 13C, and 2D-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC)NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The CO2 capture process is established through the formation of bicarbonate ions alongside the presence of CO2. The captured CO2 is precisely quantified by using inverse-gated proton decoupled 13C NMR with an internal standard (trioxane). Remarkably, the captured-CO2 amounts of ionic lignin polymer are 1.06mmol g-1 (47mg g-1) from concentrated-CO2 source and 0.60mmol g-1 (26mg g-1) from direct-air. The captured-CO2 in ionic lignin polymer is released in controlled manner and utilized in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate, showcasing the productive application of the captured carbon. Moreover, the fully controlled recovering of ionic lignin polymer achieves via repeated CO2 release ↔ CO2 capture.

Mimicking classical noise in ion channels by quantum decoherence

The mechanism of selectivity in ion channels is still an open question in biology. Recent studies suggest that the selectivity filter may exhibit quantum coherence, which could help explain how ions are selected and conducted. However, environmental noise causes decoherence and loss of quantum effects. It is hoped that the effect of classical noise on ion channels can be modeled using the framework provided by quantum decoherence theory. In this paper, the behavior of the ion channel system was simulated using two models: the Spin–Boson model and the stochastic Hamiltonian model under classical noise. Additionally, using a different approach, the system’s evolution was modeled as a two-level Spin–Boson model with tunneling, interacting with a bath of harmonic oscillators, based on decoherence theory. We investigated under what conditions the decoherence model approaches and deviates from the noise model. Specifically, we examined Gaussian noise and Ornstein-Uhlenbeck noise in our model. Gaussian noise shows a very good agreement with the decoherence model. By examining the results, it was found that the Spin–Boson model at a high hopping rate of potassium ions can simulate the behavior of the system in the classical noise approach for Gaussian noise.

Nonlocal advantage of quantum coherence under Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger dilation space-time

Nonlocal advantage of quantum coherence (NA-QC) is a relatively robust non-classical correlation and can be achieved by coherence complementary relations. In this work, we investigate NA-QC based on various coherence measures within the theoretical framework of a Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger dilation black hole. Interestingly, NA-QC exhibits monotonically decreasing evolutionary features with the growing dilation parameter in the physically accessible regions. Furthermore, the hierarchical relationship among NA-QC, quantum steerability and Bell-nonlocality is analyzed under the influence of Hawking radiation. It is shown that NA-QC is a subset of Bell-nonlocality and quantum steering is a superset of Bell-nonlocality. Additionally, to achieve more quantum resources, we propose a feasible physical scheme to control NA-QC by using optimal parity-time ( PT )-symmetric operations. The amount of NA-QC can be effectively enhanced in the certain time interval for the physical accessible state in the context of black hole. These results might play important roles for understanding quantum information theory under the curved space-time.

The Intermode Polariton Parametric Scattering Laser in a Strong Coupled Microcavity Via Two-Photon Absorption.

Exciton-polaritons, hybrid quasiparticles from the strong coupling of excitons and cavity photons in semiconductor microcavities, offer a platform for exploring quantum coherence and nonlinear optical properties. The unique polariton parametric scattering (PPS) laser is of interest for its potential in quantum technologies and nonlinear devices. However, direct resonant excitation of polaritons in strong-coupling microcavities is challenging. This study proposes an innovative two-photon absorption (TPA) pump mechanism to address this. We observe TPA-driven PPS lasing in a strongly coupled microcavity at room temperature. High K-value exciton injections promote coherent stimulated emission of polariton scattering through intermode channels. Angle-resolved spectra confirm a TPA process, showing evolution from pump-state to signal-state. Hanbury Brown-Twiss measurement of second-order correlation g2(τ) of signal state indicates a phase transition from a classical thermal state to a quantum coherent state. Theoretical modeling provides insights into the physical mechanisms of PPS. Our work advances nonlinear phenomena exploration in strongly coupled light-matter systems, contributing to quantum polaritonics and nonlinear optics.

Investigating quantum coherence of N-methylpyrrole through vibrational spectroscopy and potential energy: A theoretical study

Quantum chemical calculations are utilized to analyze the potential causes of N-methylpyrrole oscillations, focusing on vibration spectra and potential energy curves. Optimization of the ground state, ionic state and 3s state structure reveal mostly sp2 hybridization. An analysis of the 3s state vibration spectrum and adiabatic binding energy indicate that changes in dihedral angles D2,3,4,1 and plane angle A3,2,1 are potential factors contributing to molecular oscillations. The role of vertical binding energy and adiabatic binding energy in the oscillation process are also discussed, shedding light on the possible dynamic processes of N-methylpyrrole.

Quantumness of gravitational cat states in correlated dephasing channels

We study the quantumness of gravitational cat states in correlated dephasing channels. Our focus is on exploring how classical correlations between successive actions of a dephasing channel influence the decoherence of two gravitational cats (two qubits) at a thermal regime. The results show that the quantum coherence, local quantum Fisher information, and Bell non-locality can be significantly enhanced by augmenting classical correlations throughout the entire duration when the two qubits pass the channel. However, the gravitational interaction and energy gap between states exhibit intricate impacts on the quantum characteristics of gravitational cats. New features are reported that can be significant for both gravitational physics and quantum information processing.

Magnetic anisotropy and GGG substrate stray field in YIG films down to millikelvin temperatures

Quantum magnonics investigates the quantum-mechanical properties of magnons, such as quantum coherence or entanglement for solid-state quantum information technologies at the nanoscale. The most promising material for quantum magnonics is the ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet (YIG), which hosts magnons with the longest lifetimes. YIG films of the highest quality are grown on a paramagnetic gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrate. The literature has reported that ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequencies of YIG/GGG decrease at temperatures below 50 K despite the increase in YIG magnetization. We investigated a 97 nm-thick YIG film grown on 500 μm-thick GGG substrate through a series of experiments conducted at temperatures as low as 30 mK, and using both analytical and numerical methods. Our findings suggest that the primary factor contributing to the FMR frequency shift is the stray magnetic field created by the partially magnetized GGG substrate. This stray field is antiparallel to the applied external field and is highly inhomogeneous, reaching up to 40 mT in the center of the sample. At temperatures below 500 mK, the GGG field exhibits a saturation that cannot be described by the standard Brillouin function for a paramagnet. Including the calculated GGG field in the analysis of the FMR frequency versus temperature dependence allowed the determination of the cubic and uniaxial anisotropies. We find that the total crystallographic anisotropy increases more than three times with the decrease in temperature down to 2 K. Our findings enable accurate predictions of the YIG/GGG magnetic systems behavior at low and ultralow millikelvin temperatures, crucial for developing quantum magnonic devices.

Manipulating the Spatial Structure of Second-Order Quantum Coherence Using Entangled Photons

Abstract High-order quantum coherence reveals the statistical correlation of quantum particles. Manipulation of quantum coherence of light in the temporal domain enables the production of the single-photon source, which has become one of the most important quantum resources. High-order quantum coherence in the spatial domain plays a crucial role in a variety of applications, such as quantum imaging, holography, and microscopy. However, the active control of second-order spatial quantum coherence remains a challenging task. Here we predict theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the first active manipulation of second-order spatial quantum coherence, which exhibits the capability of switching between bunching and anti-bunching, by mapping the entanglement of spatially structured photons. We also show that signal processing based on quantum coherence exhibits robust resistance to intensity disturbance. Our findings not only enhance existing applications but also pave the way for broader utilization of higher-order spatial quantum coherence.

Utilizing quantum coherence in Cs Rydberg atoms for high-sensitivity room-temperature terahertz detection: a theoretical exploration

In recent years, terahertz (THz) technology has made significant progress in numerous applications; however, the highly sensitive, room-temperature THz detectors are still rare, which is one of the bottlenecks in THz research. In this paper, we proposed a room-temperature electrometry method for THz detection by laser spectroscopy of cesium (Cs133) Rydberg atoms, and conducted a comprehensive investigation of the five-level system involving electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), electromagnetically induced absorption (EIA), and Autler–Townes (AT) splitting in Cs133 cascades. By solving the Lindblad master equation, we found that the influence of the THz electric field, probe laser, dressing laser, and Rydberg laser on the ground state atomic population as well as the coherence between the ground state and the Rydberg state, plays a crucial role in the transformation and amplitude of the EIT and EIA signals. Temperature and the atomic vapor cell’s dimensions affect the number of Cs133 atoms involved in the detection, and ultimately determine the sensitivity. We predicted the proposed quantum coherence THz detection method has a remarkable sensitivity of as low as 10−9 V m−1 Hz−1/2. This research offers a valuable theoretical basis for implementing and optimizing quantum coherence effects based on Rydberg atoms for THz wave detection with high sensitivity and room-temperature operation.

Transfer of optical vortices in a coherently-prepared rare-earth-ion-doped solid

Optical vortices carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light have earned much attention due to their potential applications in the classical and quantum physics. Quantum coherence has been proved to be an important tool for controlling the behavior of light fields. Developing the manipulation method of optical vortices is very useful for high-dimensional information processing encoded with OAM. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the transfer of optical vortices between different light modes in a coherently-prepared solid-state medium. Utilizing the technique of fractional stimulated Raman passage (f-STIRAP), the experimental medium is prepared into a coherent superposition of two ground states. By applying a probe vortex beam to scatter the induced atomic coherence, a new signal is generated with the same vorticity as that of the input probe field. Furthermore, the vortex beams are used as the f-STIRAP preparation pulses, and the helical phases of the vortex beams are mapped into the coherent superposition state. Subsequently, the optical vortices of the preparation pulses are transferred to a new light mode by using the probe beam to interact with the coherent medium. The new signal field accumulates the total topological charges of the applied fields in this coherent process. Such an experimental demonstration will enrich the interactions between optical vortices and matter, and can be helpful in further information processing.

Boosting biomolecular switch efficiency with quantum coherence

The resource theory of quantum thermodynamics has emerged as a powerful tool for exploring the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of microscopic and highly correlated systems. Recently, it has been employed in photoisomerization, a mechanism facilitating vision through the isomerism of the photoreceptor protein rhodopsin, to elucidate the fundamental limits of efficiency inherent in this physical process. Limited attention has been given to the impact of energetic quantum coherences in this process, as these coherences do not influence the energy-level populations within an individual molecule subjected to thermal operations. However, a specific type of energetic quantum coherences can impact the energy-level populations in the scenario involving two or more molecules. In this study, we examine the case of two molecules undergoing photoisomerization to show that energetic quantum coherence can function as a resource that amplifies the efficiency of photoisomerization. These insights offer evidence for the role of energetic quantum coherence as a key resource in the realm of quantum thermodynamics at mesoscopic scales. Published by the American Physical Society 2024