Anatoly Yu. Smirnov

Computational multiqubit tunnelling in programmable quantum annealers

Quantum tunneling, a phenomenon in which a quantum state traverses energy barriers above the energy of the state itself, has been hypothesized as an advantageous physical resource for optimization. Here we show that multiqubit tunneling plays a computational role in a currently available, albeit noisy, programmable quantum annealer. We develop a non-perturbative theory of open quantum dynamics under realistic noise characteristics predicting the rate of many-body dissipative quantum tunneling. We devise a computational primitive with 16 qubits where quantum evolutions enable tunneling to the global minimum while the corresponding classical paths are trapped in a false minimum. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate that quantum tunneling can outperform thermal hopping along classical paths for problems with up to 200 qubits containing the computational primitive. Our results indicate that many-body quantum phenomena could be used for finding better solutions to hard optimization problems.Quantum tunnelling is a phenomenon in which a quantum state traverses energy barriers higher than the energy of the state itself. Quantum tunnelling has been hypothesized as an advantageous physical resource for optimization in quantum annealing. However, computational multiqubit tunnelling has not yet been observed, and a theory of co-tunnelling under high- and low-frequency noises is lacking. Here we show that 8-qubit tunnelling plays a computational role in a currently available programmable quantum annealer. We devise a probe for tunnelling, a computational primitive where classical paths are trapped in a false minimum. In support of the design of quantum annealers we develop a nonperturbative theory of open quantum dynamics under realistic noise characteristics. This theory accurately predicts the rate of many-body dissipative quantum tunnelling subject to the polaron effect. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate that quantum tunnelling outperforms thermal hopping along classical paths for problems with up to 200 qubits containing the computational primitive.

Quantum effects in energy and charge transfer in an artificial photosynthetic complex

We investigate the quantum dynamics of energy and charge transfer in a wheel-shaped artificial photosynthetic antenna-reaction center complex. This complex consists of six light-harvesting chromophores and an electron-acceptor fullerene. To describe quantum effects on a femtosecond time scale, we derive the set of exact non-Markovian equations for the Heisenberg operators of this photosynthetic complex in contact with a Gaussian heat bath. With these equations we can analyze the regime of strong system-bath interactions, where reorganization energies are of the order of the intersite exciton couplings. We show that the energy of the initially excited antenna chromophores is efficiently funneled to the porphyrin-fullerene reaction center, where a charge-separated state is set up in a few picoseconds, with a quantum yield of the order of 95%. In the single-exciton regime, with one antenna chromophore being initially excited, we observe quantum beatings of energy between two resonant antenna chromophores with a decoherence time of ∼100 fs. We also analyze the double-exciton regime, when two porphyrin molecules involved in the reaction center are initially excited. In this regime we obtain pronounced quantum oscillations of the charge on the fullerene molecule with a decoherence time of about 20 fs (at liquid nitrogen temperatures). These results show a way to directly detect quantum effects in artificial photosynthetic systems.

Nonequilibrium fluctuations and decoherence in nanomechanical devices coupled to the tunnel junction

We analyze the dynamics of a nanomechanical oscillator coupled to an electrical tunnel junction with an arbitrary voltage applied to the junction and arbitrary temperature of electrons in leads. We obtain the explicit expressions for the fluctuations of oscillator position, its damping/decoherence rate, and the current through the structure. It is shown that quantum heating of the oscillator results in nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristics. The effects of mechanical vacuum fluctuations are also discussed.

Theory of weak continuous measurements in a strongly driven quantum bit

Continuous spectroscopic measurements of a strongly driven superconducting qubit by means of a high-quality tank circuit (a linear detector) are under study. Output functions of the detector\char22{}namely, a spectrum of voltage fluctuations and an impedance\char22{}are expressed in terms of the qubit spectrum and magnetic susceptibility. The nonequilibrium spectrum of the current fluctuations in the qubit loop and the linear response function of the driven qubit coupled to a heat bath are calculated with Bloch-Redfield and rotating-wave approximations. Back-action effects of the qubit on the tank and the tank on the qubit are analyzed quantitatively. We show that the voltage spectrum of the tank provides detailed information about the frequency and decay rate of Rabi oscillations in the qubit. It is found that both an efficiency of spectroscopic measurement and measurement-induced decoherence of the qubit demonstrate a resonant behavior as the Rabi frequency approaches the resonant frequency of the tank. We determine conditions when the spectroscopic observation of the Rabi oscillations in the flux qubit with the tank circuit can be considered as a weak continuous quantum measurement.

Decoherence and relaxation of a quantum bit in the presence of Rabi oscillations

The dissipative dynamics of a quantum bit driven by a strong resonant field and interacting with a heat bath is investigated. We derive generalized Bloch equations and find modifications of the qubits damping rates caused by Rabi oscillations. The nonequilibrium decoherence and relaxation of a phase qubit inductively coupled to a resonant tank circuit is considered as an illustration of the general results.

Vertically coupled quantum wires in a longitudinal magnetic field

The authors examine analytically the energy subband structure for two vertically stacked quantum wires separated by a tunneling barrier in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field. For identical harmonic confining potentials, they show that the tunnel splitting between formed symmetric and antisymmetric subbands decreases exponentially with increasing magnetic field and, moreover, the tunnel coupling disappears at appropriate values of the magnetic field in agreement with experimental data. They propose to achieve a controllable coupling of quantum wires with the decoupling magnetic field and with nanomagnets providing coupling windows, which can be used for quantum computation purposes.

Modeling light-driven proton pumps in artificial photosynthetic reaction centers

We study a model of a light-induced proton pump in artificial reaction centers. The model contains a molecular triad with four electron states (i.e., one donor state, two photosensitive group states, and one acceptor state) as well as a molecular shuttle having one electron and one proton-binding sites. The shuttle diffuses between the sides of the membrane and translocates protons energetically uphill: from the negative side to the positive side of the membrane, harnessing for this purpose the energy of the electron-charge separation produced by light. Using the methods of quantum transport theory we calculate the range of light intensity and transmembrane potentials that maximize both the light-induced proton current and the energy transduction efficiency. We also study the effect of temperature on proton pumping. The light-induced proton pump in our model gives a quantum yield of proton translocation of about 55%. Thus, our results explain previous experiments on these artificial photosynthetic reaction centers.

Optically induced spin polarization of an electric current through a quantum dot

We examine electron transport through semiconductor quantum dot subject to a continuous circularly polarized optical irradiation resonant to the electron - heavy hole transition. Electrons having certain spin polarization experience Rabi oscillation and their energy levels are shifted by the Rabi frequency. Correspondingly, the equilibrium chemical potential of the leads and the lead-to-lead bias voltage can be adjusted so only electrons with spin-up polarization or only electrons with spin-down polarization contribute to the current. The temperature dependence of the spin polarization of the current is also discussed.

Temperature dependence of electron transport through a quantum shuttle

We analyze electron transport through a quantum shuttle with an applied voltage below the instability threshold. In this, we determine the current-voltage characteristics of the system and show that at low temperatures they exhibit pronounced steps. The temperature dependence of the current is calculated in the range from 2 K to 300 K and it is seen to demonstrate a wide variety of behaviors---from

Electrostatic models of electron-driven proton transfer across a lipid membrane

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