The application of the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize novel computational schemes and innovative device functions have been topics of recent interest. Proposals for associated devices are to be found in diverse branches of physics. Here, we are concerned with the experimental realization of some elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Thus, we follow a spin-handling approach that (a) uses the Overhauser effect in the quantum Hall regime to realize a large nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, (b) detects the nuclear spin state by measuring the influence of the associated magnetic field on Electron Spin Resonance, and (c) seeks to apply the electronic spin exciton as the spin transfer mechanism. Some measurements examining the viability of this approach are shown, and the utility of the approach for initializing a nuclear spin system at a relatively high temperature is pointed out
The application of the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize novel computational schemes and innovative device functions have been topics of recent interest. Proposals for associated devices are to be found in diverse branches of physics. Here, we are concerned with the experimental realization of some elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Thus, we follow a spin-handling approach that (a) uses the Overhauser effect in the quantum Hall regime to realize a large nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, (b) detects the nuclear spin state by measuring the influence of the associated magnetic field on Electron Spin Resonance, and (c) seeks to apply the electronic spin exciton as the spin transfer mechanism. Some measurements examining the viability of this approach are shown, and the utility of the approach for initializing a nuclear spin system at a relatively high temperature is pointed out
Quantum computers are machines that exploit the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize an exponential speed-up in problem-solving capability compared with existing computers. Existing schemes for the realization of such machines occur in diverse areas such as atomic physics, nuclear magnetic resonance, superconductivity, quantum optics and solid state physics. We are concerned here with the experimental realization of various elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Some distinguishing characteristics of this approach include the application of the Overhauser effect for dynamic nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, spin measurement using relatively simple electrical detection techniques, spin control with microwave/radio frequency methods, the utilization of the electronic spin exciton as a possible mobile spin transfer mechanism for the eventual realization of a logic gate, and the application of semiconductor technology to device integration. Concepts involved in this approach are also illustrated with experimental results.
In this work, we have been working on the concept of quantum entanglement. At first, we studied the theory of entanglement in its characterization and measurement, introducing a new scheme for detection of entanglement. The new approach links molecular-spin entities involving nuclear spins to quantum computing as more appropriate physical systems of interest. Then, we continued with the realization of entanglement in experiments. NMR has been the first choice due to its well approved advantages for quantum computing. NMR, however, has not been an appropriate system for demonstrating entangled states. Through a mathematical proof, NMR with low spin polarization has been invalidated for true implementations of non-local quantum algorithms, particularly supserdense coding. The point is that high spin polarization is inevitably required to acquire entanglement while in the current NMR it has been a formidable task to get highly polarized nuclear spins. In order to acquire high spin polarization, introducing electron spins can be much effective because of its three-order-of-magnitude larger gyromagnetic ratio compared to nuclear spins. Electron Nuclear DOuble Resonance (ENDOR) is spin manipulation technology that enables us to deal with both electron and nuclear spins. Thus, in this context, it can be more appropriate device for quantum computing. We emphasize that (pseudo)entanglement and interconversion between the entangled states have been realized with ENDOR on extremely stable organic molecular-spin entities. The required experimental conditions to obtain true quantum entanglement are also discussed. The appropriate entanglement witness for the corresponding ensemble quantum computing is introduced and examined.
We study a large ensemble of nuclear spins interacting with a single electron spin in a quantum dot under optical excitation and photon detection. At the two-photon resonance between the two electron-spin states, the detection of light scattering from the intermediate exciton state acts as a weak quantum measurement of the effective magnetic (Overhauser) field due to the nuclear spins. In a coherent population trapping state without light scattering, the nuclear state is projected into an eigenstate of the Overhauser field operator, and electron decoherence due to nuclear spins is suppressed: We show that this limit can be approached by adapting the driving frequencies when a photon is detected. We use a Lindblad equation to describe the driven system under photon emission and detection. Numerically, we find an increase of the electron coherence time from 5 to 500 ns after a preparation time of 10 micros.
Quantum computing set a goal to harness the quantum laws of physics and create \ncomputers more powerful than ever imagined. Different technologies can be chosen to implement quantum bits (qubits), each with their advantages and drawbacks. The idea of combining different technologies then seems natural in order to come up with an optimal quantum computer. \n \nIn this sense, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) seem to be the perfect marriage. Indeed, while electron spins can perform quantum gates within nanoseconds, they have to fight very fast decoherence phenomena, the nuclear spins, on the other hand, require longer electromagnetic pulses to be rotated but can be controlled longer without loss of quantum information. Using electron spins as actuators and nuclear spins as memory then appears as the optimal use of this hybrid system. Another fact accounting for this association is that the control of the system through the electron spin requires techniques very similar to the well-known NMR ones. \n \nThis work focuses on characterizing as precisely as possible the Hamiltonian of a hybrid spin system in a solid-state single crystal, especially the electron-nuclear interactions, to perform high-fidelity control in a home-built pulsed ESR spectrometer. Using this knowledge, we show that we can choose the orientation of the magnetic field with respect to our crystal to obtain optimal experimental conditions. Indeed, with a good knowledge of the Hamiltonian of the system, we want demonstrate high-fidelity quantum control. \n \nThe final aim of this work is to dynamically supply highly polarized ancilla qubits that can be used in a Quantum Error Correction (QEC) experiment by implementing heat bath algorithmic cooling using a cold electron spin bath. This is an important step towards demonstrating the viability of spin systems for building quantum computers.
Electron spins confined in quantum dots (QDs) are among the leading contenders for implementing quantum information processing. In this Thesis we address two of the most significant technological challenges towards developing a scalable quantum information processor based on spins in quantum dots: (i) decoherence of the electronic spin qubit due to the surrounding nuclear spin bath, and (ii) long-range spin-spin coupling between remote qubits. To this end, we develop novel strategies that turn the unavoidable coupling to the solid-state environment (in particular, nuclear spins and phonons) into a valuable asset rather than a liability. In the first part of this Thesis, we investigate electron transport through single and double QDs, with the aim of harnessing the (dissipative) coupling to the electronic degrees of freedom for the creation of coherence in both the transient and steady-state behaviour of the ambient nuclear spins. First, we theoretically show that intriguing features of coherent many-body physics can be observed in electron transport through a single QD. To this end, we first develop a master-equation-based formalism for electron transport in the Coulomb-blockade regime assisted by hyperfine (HF) interaction with the nuclear spin ensemble in the QD. This general tool is then used to study the leakage current through a single QD in a transport setting. When starting from an initially uncorrelated, highly polarized state, the nuclear system experiences a strong correlation buildup, due to the collective nature of the coupling to the central electron spin. We demonstrate that this results in a sudden intensity burst in the electronic tunneling current emitted from the QD system, which exceeds the maximal current of a corresponding classical system by several orders of magnitude. This gives rise to the new paradigm of electronic superradiance. Second, building upon the insight that the nuclear spin dynamics are governed by collective interactions giving rise to coherent effects such as superradiance, we propose a scheme for the deterministic generation of steady-state entanglement between the two nuclear spin ensembles in an electrically defined double quantum dot. Because of quantum interference in the collective coupling to the electronic degrees of freedom, the nuclear system is actively driven into a two-mode squeezedlike target state. The entanglement buildup is accompanied by a self-polarization of the nuclear spins towards large Overhauser field gradients. Moreover, the feedback between the electronic and nuclear dynamics is shown to lead to intriguing effects such as multistability and criticality in the steady-state solutions. In the second part of this Thesis, our focus turns towards the realization of long-range spin-spin coupling between remote qubits. We propose a universal, on-chip quantum transducer based on surface acoustic waves in piezo-active materials. Because of the intrinsic piezoelectric (and/or magnetostrictive) properties of the material, our approach provides a universal platform capable of coherently linking a broad array of qubits, including quantum dots, trapped ions, nitrogen-vacancy centers or superconducting qubits. The quantized modes of surface acoustic waves lie in the gigahertz range, can be strongly confined close to the surface in phononic cavities and guided in acoustic waveguides. We show that this type of surface acoustic excitations can be utilized efficiently as a quantum bus, serving as an on-chip, mechanical cavity-QED equivalent of microwave photons and enabling long-range coupling of a wide range of qubits. In summary, this thesis provides contributions towards developing a scalable quantum information processor based on spins in quantum dots in two different aspects. The first part is dedicated to a deeper understanding of the nuclear spin dynamics in quantum dots. In the second part we put forward a novel sound-based strategy to realize long-range spin-spin coupling between remote qubits. This completes a broad picture of spin-based quantum information processing which integrates different perspectives, ranging from the single-qubit level to a broader quantum network level.
Recent experiments have demonstrated that an ensemble of spin polarized electrons can transfer its spin polarization to the spin of the host atomic nuclei in a “spin-friendly” semiconductor like gallium arsenide (GaAs). In this paper, we analyze this process in terms of its efficiency for using natural nuclear spin in a solid state quantum computer. Among the appealing features of the proposed design is the potential to mate it to existing memory technology. We propose a realizable and scalable model of such a device based on growth-implanted quantum dots in a III-V semiconductor matrix and analyze the feasibility of transferring spin polarized information to such a system, keeping it stored in the system and processing it.