Geza Giedke

Characterization of Gaussian operations and distillation of Gaussian states

We characterize the class of all physical operations that transform Gaussian states to Gaussian states. We show that this class coincides with that of all operations that can be performed on Gaussian states using linear optical elements and homodyne measurements. For bipartite systems we characterize the processes that can be implemented by local operations and classical communication, as well as those that can be implemented using positive partial transpose preserving maps. As an application, we show that Gaussian states cannot be distilled by local Gaussian operations and classical communication. We also define and characterize positive (but not completely positive) Gaussian maps.

Extremality of Gaussian quantum states.

We investigate Gaussian quantum states in view of their exceptional role within the space of all continuous variables states. A general method for deriving extremality results is provided and applied to entanglement measures, secret key distillation and the classical capacity of bosonic quantum channels. We prove that for every given covariance matrix the distillable secret key rate and the entanglement, if measured appropriately, are minimized by Gaussian states. This result leads to a clearer picture of the validity of frequently made Gaussian approximations. Moreover, it implies that Gaussian encodings are optimal for the transmission of classical information through bosonic channels, if the capacity is additive.

Scalable architecture for a room temperature solid-state quantum information processor

The realization of a scalable quantum information processor has emerged over the past decade as one of the central challenges at the interface of fundamental science and engineering. Here we propose and analyse an architecture for a scalable, solid-state quantum information processor capable of operating at room temperature. Our approach is based on recent experimental advances involving nitrogen-vacancy colour centres in diamond. In particular, we demonstrate that the multiple challenges associated with operation at ambient temperature, individual addressing at the nanoscale, strong qubit coupling, robustness against disorder and low decoherence rates can be simultaneously achieved under realistic, experimentally relevant conditions. The architecture uses a novel approach to quantum information transfer and includes a hierarchy of control at successive length scales. Moreover, it alleviates the stringent constraints currently limiting the realization of scalable quantum processors and will provide fundamental insights into the physics of non-equilibrium many-body quantum systems.

Quantum capacities of bosonic channels.

We investigate the capacity of bosonic quantum channels for the transmission of quantum information. We calculate the quantum capacity for a class of Gaussian channels, including channels describing optical fibers with photon losses, by proving that Gaussian encodings are optimal. For arbitrary channels we show that achievable rates can be determined from few measurable parameters by proving that every channel can asymptotically simulate a Gaussian channel which is characterized by second moments of the initial channel. Along the way we provide a complete characterization of degradable Gaussian channels and those arising from teleportation protocols.

Gaussian entanglement of formation

We introduce a Gaussian version of the entanglement of formation adapted to bipartite Gaussian states by considering decompositions into pure Gaussian states only. We show that this quantity is an entanglement monotone under Gaussian operations and provide a simplified computation for states of arbitrary many modes. For the case of one mode per site the remaining variational problem can be solved analytically. If the considered state is in addition symmetric with respect to interchanging the two modes, we prove additivity of the considered entanglement measure. Moreover, in this case and considering only a single copy, our entanglement measure coincides with the true entanglement of formation.

Universal Quantum Transducers Based on Surface Acoustic Waves

We propose a universal, on-chip quantum transducer based on surface acoustic waves in piezoactive 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 and can be strongly confined close to the surface in phononic cavities and guided in acoustic waveguides. We show that this type of surface acoustic excitation 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.

Dissipative phase transition in a central spin system

We investigate dissipative phase transitions in an open central spin system. In our model the central spin interacts coherently with the surrounding many-particle spin environment and is subject to coherent driving and dissipation. We develop analytical tools based on a self-consistent Holstein-Primakoff approximation that enable us to determine the complete phase diagram associated with the steady states of this system. It includes first and second-order phase transitions, as well as regions of bistability, spin squeezing and altered spin pumping dynamics. Prospects of observing these phenomena in systems such as electron spins in quantum dots or NV centers coupled to lattice nuclear spins are briefly discussed.

Quantum measurement of a mesoscopic spin ensemble

We describe a method for precise estimation of the polarization of a mesoscopic spin ensemble by using its coupling to a single two-level system. Our approach requires a minimal number of measurements on the two-level system for a given measurement precision. We consider the application of this method to the case of nuclear-spin ensemble defined by a single electron-charged quantum dot: we show that decreasing the electron spin dephasing due to nuclei and increasing the fidelity of nuclear-spin-based quantum memory could be within the reach of present day experiments.

Quantum Mechanical Description of Raman Scattering from Molecules in Plasmonic Cavities

Plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering can push single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy beyond a regime addressable by classical electrodynamics. We employ a quantum electrodynamics (QED) description of the coherent interaction of plasmons and molecular vibrations that reveal the emergence of nonlinearities in the inelastic response of the system. For realistic situations, we predict the onset of phonon-stimulated Raman scattering and a counterintuitive dependence of the anti-Stokes emission on the frequency of excitation. We further show that this QED framework opens a venue to analyze the correlations of photons emitted from a plasmonic cavity.

Noise-driven dynamics and phase transitions in fermionic systems

We study abrupt changes in the dynamics and/or steady state of fermionic noise-driven systems produced by small changes in the system parameters. Specifically,we consider fermionic systems whose dynamics is described by master equations that are quadratic (and, under certain conditions, quartic) in creation and annihilation operators. We analyze phase transitions in the steady state as well as “dynamical transitions.” The latter are characterized by abrupt changes in the rate at which the system asymptotically approaches the steady state. We illustrate our general findings with relevant examples of fermionic (and, equivalently, spin) systems and show that they can be realized in ion chains.