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arXiv:2411.15571 · Applied Physics Letters

Dephasing-assisted diffusive dynamics in superconducting quantum circuits

Yongqi Liang, Changrong Xie, Zechen Guo, Peisheng Huang, Wenhui Huang, Yiting Liu, Jiawei Qiu, Xuandong Sun, Zilin Wang, Xiaohan Yang, Jiawei Zhang, Jiajian Zhang, Libo Zhang, Ji Chu, Weijie Guo, Ji Jiang, Xiayu Linpeng, Song Liu, Jingjing Niu, Yuxuan Zhou, Youpeng Zhong, Wenhui Ren, Ziyu Tao, Dapeng Yu

Published Oct 13, 2025• 6 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Random fluctuations caused by environmental noise can lead to decoherence in quantum systems. Exploring and controlling such dissipative processes is both fundamentally intriguing and essential for harnessing quantum systems to gain practical advantages and deeper insights. In this work, we first demonstrate the diffusive dynamics assisted by controlled dephasing noise in superconducting quantum circuits, contrasting with coherent evolution. We show that dephasing can give distinct dynamical behavior in a superconducting qubit array with quasiperiodic order. Furthermore, by preparing different excitation distributions in the qubit array, we observe that a more localized initial state relaxes to a uniformly distributed mixed state faster with dephasing noise, illustrating another counterintuitive phenomenon called Mpemba-effect-like quantum dynamics, i.e., a far-from-equilibrium state can relax toward the equilibrium faster. These results deepen our understanding of diffusive dynamics at the microscopic level and demonstrate controlled dissipative processes as a valuable tool for investigating Markovian open quantum systems.

DOI
10.1063/5.0294573

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Random fluctuations caused by environmental noise can lead to decoherence in quantum systems. Exploring and controlling such dissipative processes is both fundamentally intriguing and essential for harnessing quantum systems to gain practical advantages and deeper insights. In this work, we first demonstrate the diffusive dynamics assisted by controlled dephasing noise in superconducting quantum circuits, contrasting with coherent evolution. We show that dephasing can give distinct dynamical behavior in a superconducting qubit array with quasiperiodic order. Furthermore, by preparing different excitation distributions in the qubit array, we observe that a more localized initial state relaxes to a uniformly distributed mixed state faster with dephasing noise, illustrating another counterintuitive phenomenon called Mpemba-effect-like quantum dynamics, i.e., a far-from-equilibrium state can relax toward the equilibrium faster. These results deepen our understanding of diffusive dynamics at the microscopic level and demonstrate controlled dissipative processes as a valuable tool for investigating Markovian open quantum systems.
Dynamical decoupling as a quantum control strategy aims at suppressing quantum decoherence adopting the popular philosophy that the disorder in the unitary evolution of the open quantum system caused by environmental noises should be neutralized by a sequence of ordered or well-designed external operations acting on the system. This work studies the solution of quantum-state-diffusion equations by mixing two channels of environmental noises, i.e., relaxation (dissipation) and dephasing. It is interesting to find in two-level and three-level atomic systems that a non-Markovian relaxation or dissipation process can be suppressed by a Markovian dephasing noise. The discovery results in an anomalous control strategy by coordinating relaxation and dephasing processes. Our approach opens an avenue of noise control strategy with no artificial manipulation over the open quantum systems.
Passive qubit reset is a key primitive for quantum information processing, whereby qubits are initialized by allowing them to relax to their ground state through natural dissipation, without the need for active control or feedback. However, passive reset occurs on timescales that are much longer than those of gate operations and measurements, making it a significant bottleneck for algorithmic execution. Here, we show that this limitation can be overcome by exploiting the Mpemba effect, originally indicating the faster cooling of hot systems compared to cooler ones. Focusing on the regime where coherence times exceed energy relaxation times (T2>T1T_2 > T_1T2​>T1​), we propose a simple protocol based on a single entangling two-qubit gate that converts local single-qubit coherences into fast-decaying global two-qubit coherences. This removes their overlap with the slowest decaying Liouvillian mode and enables a substantially faster relaxation to the ground state. For realistic parameters, we find that our protocol can reduce reset times by up to 50%50\%50% compared to standard passive reset. We analyze the robustness of the protocol under non-Markovian noise, imperfect coherent control and finite temperature, finding that the accelerated reset persists across a broad range of realistic error sources. Finally, we present an experimental implementation of our protocol on an IQM superconducting quantum processor. Our results demonstrate how Mpemba-like accelerated relaxation can be harnessed as a practical tool for fast and accurate qubit initialization.
The quantum Mpemba effect, an anomalous relaxation phenomenon, has recently attracted much attention. However, how various types of noise, which are ubiquitous in real systems, may affect the quantum Mpemba effect remains unknown. Here, we address this gap by constructing a general dynamical framework for finite-dimensional open quantum systems under random telegraph noise. We identify a mechanism for the quantum Mpemba effect whereby noise-induced deceleration of the relaxation process in typical initial states can either induce or suppress the effect. This result underscores the potential of noise-traditionally viewed as disruptive-as a tool for manipulating relaxation pathways in quantum systems. Moreover, this mechanism leads to a counterintuitive effect—the decoherence rate may be slowed down by noise. How external noise changes the quantum Mpemba effect, where a state farther from equilibrium can relax faster, remains poorly understood. We show that random telegraph noise introduces extra dynamical modes in an enlarged description, slowing selected states and thereby inducing or suppressing this effect.
Superconducting integrated circuits incorporating Josephson junctions are an attractive candidate for scalable quantum information processing in the solid state. The strong nonlinearity of the Josephson effect enables one to tailor an anharmonic potential and thus to realize an artificial quantum two-level system (“qubit”) from a macroscopic superconducting circuit. Josephson qubits can be made to interact strongly and controllably, and it should be straightforward to fabricate circuits incorporating hundreds or even thousands of Josephson qubits using standard thin-film processing techniques. Work over the last several years has shown that qubit performance is limited by spurious coupling of the qubit to microscopic defect states in the materials that are used to implement the circuit. Here we discuss the materials origins of dissipation and dephasing in superconducting qubits. A deeper understanding of the underlying materials physics that governs decoherence in superconducting quantum circuits will guide the search for improved, low-noise materials and fuel continued progress in the field of superconducting quantum computing.
The Mpemba effect, where a hotter system cools faster than a colder one under otherwise identical conditions, has been extensively studied in classical systems. In this work, we present the quantum analogue of the Mpemba effect using a dissipative qubit, which is referred to as the canonical quantum Mpemba effect. We demonstrate that, under the identical conditions, the relaxation dynamics of a qubit initialized in a thermal state with a higher temperature can be exponentially faster than those of a colder thermal state. Strikingly, this acceleration is determined solely by the initial temperature of the system, independent of other parameters. The relaxation is confirmed to be a genuine cooling process via the effective steady state temperature, mirroring its classical counterpart. Last, we propose a practical classical quantum hybrid algorithmic quantum circuit to realize this effect using superconducting qubits experimentally.
Superconducting circuits provide a new platform for study of nonstationary cavity QED phenomena. An example of such a phenomenon is the dynamical Lamb effect, which is the parametric excitation of an atom due to nonadiabatic modulation of its Lamb shift. This effect was initially introduced for a natural atom in a varying cavity, while we suggest its realization in a superconducting qubit-cavity system with dynamically tunable coupling. In the present paper, we study the interplay between the dynamical Lamb effect and the energy dissipation, which is unavoidable in realistic systems. We find that despite naive expectations, this interplay can lead to unexpected dynamical regimes. One of the most striking results is that photon generation from vacuum can be strongly enhanced due to qubit relaxation, which opens another channel for such a process. We also show that dissipation in the cavity can increase the qubit excited-state population. Our results can be used for experimental observation and investigation of the dynamical Lamb effect and accompanying quantum effects.