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arXiv:2102.01176 · Physical Review Research

Probing the topological Anderson transition with quantum walks

Dmitry Bagrets, Kun Woo Kim, Sonja Barkhofen, Syamsundar De, Jan Sperling, Christine Silberhorn, Alexander Altland, Tobias Micklitz

Published Jun 4, 2021• 16 citations
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Abstract

We consider one-dimensional quantum walks in optical linear networks with synthetically introduced disorder and tunable system parameters allowing for the engineered realization of distinct topological phases.The option to directly monitor the walker's probability distribution makes this optical platform ideally suited for the experimental observation of the unique signatures of the one-dimensional topological Anderson transition.We analytically calculate the probability distribution describing the quantum critical walk in terms of a (timestaggered) spin polarization signal and propose a concrete experimental protocol for its measurement.Numerical simulations back the realizability of our blueprint with current date experimental hardware.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.3.023183

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We consider one-dimensional quantum walks in optical linear networks with synthetically introduced disorder and tunable system parameters allowing for the engineered realization of distinct topological phases.The option to directly monitor the walker's probability distribution makes this optical platform ideally suited for the experimental observation of the unique signatures of the one-dimensional topological Anderson transition.We analytically calculate the probability distribution describing the quantum critical walk in terms of a (timestaggered) spin polarization signal and propose a concrete experimental protocol for its measurement.Numerical simulations back the realizability of our blueprint with current date experimental hardware.
Many phenomena in solid-state physics can be understood in terms of their topological properties. Recently, controlled protocols of quantum walk (QW) are proving to be effective simulators of such phenomena. Here we report the realization of a photonic QW showing both the trivial and the non-trivial topologies associated with chiral symmetry in one-dimensional (1D) periodic systems. We find that the probability distribution moments of the walker position after many steps can be used as direct indicators of the topological quantum transition: while varying a control parameter that defines the system phase, these moments exhibit a slope discontinuity at the transition point. Numerical simulations strongly support the conjecture that these features are general of 1D topological systems. Extending this approach to higher dimensions, different topological classes, and other typologies of quantum phases may offer general instruments for investigating and experimentally detecting quantum transitions in such complex systems.
We present a protocol to implement discrete-time quantum walks and simulate topological insulator phases in cavity-based quantum networks, where the single photon is the quantum walker and the cavity input-output process is employed to realize the state-dependent translation operation. Different topological phases can be simulated through tuning the single-photon polarization rotation angles. We show that both the topological boundary states and topological phase transitions can be directly observed via measuring the final photonic density distribution. Moreover, we also demonstrate that these topological signatures are quite robust to practical imperfections. Our work opens a new prospect using cavity-based quantum networks as quantum simulators to study discrete-time quantum walks and mimic condensed matter physics.
Quantum walks constitute a versatile platform for simulating transport phenomena on discrete graphs including topological material properties while providing a high control over the relevant parameters at the same time. To experimentally access and directly measure the topological invariants of quantum walks, we implement the scattering scheme proposed by Tarasinski et al. [Phys. Rev. A 89, 042327 (2014)] in a photonic time multiplexed quantum walk experiment. The tunable coin operation provides opportunity to reach distinct topological phases, and accordingly to observe the corresponding topological phase transitions. The ability to read-out the position and the coin state distribution, complemented by explicit interferometric sign measurements, allowed the reconstruction of the scattered reflection amplitudes and thus the computation of the associated bulk topological invariants. As predicted, we also find localized states at the edges between two bulks belonging to different topological phases. In order to analyze the impact of disorder, we have measured invariants of two different types of disordered samples in large ensemble measurements, demonstrating their constancy in one disorder regime and a continuous transition with increasing disorder strength for the second disorder sample.
The quantum walk was originally proposed as a quantum-mechanical analog of the classical random walk, and has since become a powerful tool in quantum information science. In this paper, we show that discrete-time quantum walks provide a versatile platform for studying topological phases, which are currently the subject of intense theoretical and experimental investigations. In particular, we demonstrate that recent experimental realizations of quantum walks with cold atoms, photons, and ions simulate a nontrivial one-dimensional topological phase. With simple modifications, the quantum walk can be engineered to realize all of the topological phases, which have been classified in one and two dimensions. We further discuss the existence of robust edge modes at phase boundaries, which provide experimental signatures for the nontrivial topological character of the system.
We experimentally investigate topological phenomena in one-dimensional discrete-time photonic quantum walks using a combination of methods. We first detect winding numbers of the quantum walk by directly measuring the average chiral displacement, which oscillates around quantized winding numbers for finite-step quantum walks. Topological phase transitions can be identified as changes in the center of oscillation of the measured chiral displacement. The position of topological phase transition is then confirmed by measuring the moments of the walker probability distribution. Finally, we observe localized edge states at the boundary of regions with different winding numbers. We also confirm the robustness of edge states against chiral-symmetry-preserving disorder.
Quantum walks constitute a versatile platform for simulating transport phenomena on discrete graphs including topological material properties while providing a high control over the relevant parameters at the same time. To experimentally access and directly measure the topological invariants of quantum walks, we implement the scattering scheme proposed by Tarasinski et al. [Phys. Rev. A 89, 042327 (2014)] in a photonic time multiplexed quantum walk experiment. The tunable coin operation provides opportunity to reach distinct topological phases, and accordingly to observe the corresponding topological phase transitions. The ability to read-out the position and the coin state distribution, complemented by explicit interferometric sign measurements, allowed the reconstruction of the scattered reflection amplitudes and thus the computation of the associated bulk topological invariants. As predicted, we also find localized states at the edges between two bulks belonging to different topological phases. In order to analyze the impact of disorder, we have measured invariants of two different types of disordered samples in large ensemble measurements, demonstrating their constancy in one disorder regime and a continuous transition with increasing disorder strength for the second disorder sample.