T. S. Mahesh

Benchmarking quantum control methods on a 12-qubit system

In this Letter, we present an experimental benchmark of operational control methods in quantum information processors extended up to 12 qubits. We implement universal control of this large Hilbert space using two complementary approaches and discuss their accuracy and scalability. Despite decoherence, we were able to reach a 12-coherence state (or a 12-qubit pseudopure cat state) and decode it into an 11 qubit plus one qutrit pseudopure state using liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance quantum information processors.

Toward quantum information processing by nuclear magnetic resonance: Pseudopure states and logical operations using selective pulses on an oriented spin 3/2 nucleus

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has demonstrated significant experimental progress toward the development of quantum computations. The developments so far have taken place mainly through the use of spin 12 nuclei. In this paper we describe the use of a spin 32 nucleus, oriented in a liquid crystal matrix for the creation of pseudopure states and the implementation of a complete set of two-qubit reversible logic gates using single-quantum transition-selective pulses, extending the range of practice of NMR toward quantum computation.

Spins as qubits: Quantum information processing by nuclear magnetic resonance

Storing information in quantum mechanical degrees of freedom and processing it by unitary transformation promises a new class of computers that can efficiently solve problems for which no efficient classical algorithms are known. The most straightforward implementation of this type of information processing uses nuclear spins to store the information and nuclear magnetic resonance for processing it. We discuss the basics of quantum information processing by NMR, with an emphasis on two fields of research: the design and implementation of robust logical gate operations and the loss of quantum information, which is known as decoherence.

NMR implementation of a quantum delayed-choice experiment

We report the first experimental demonstration of quantum delayed-choice experiment via nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. An ensemble of molecules each with two spin-1/2 nuclei are used as target and the ancilla qubits to perform the quantum circuit corresponding the delayed-choice setup. As expected in theory, our experiments clearly demonstrate the continuous morphing of the target qubit between particle-like and wave-like behaviors. The experimental visibility of the interference patterns shows good agreement with the theory.

Factorizing numbers with the Gauss sum technique: NMR implementations

Several physics-based algorithms for factorizing large numbers were recently presented. A notable recent algorthm by Schleich et al. uses Gauss sums for distinguishing between factors and nonfactors. We demonstrate two NMR techniques that evaluate Gauss sums and thus implement their algorithm. The first one is based on differential excitation of a single spin magnetization by a cascade of rf pulses. The second method is based on spatial averaging and selective refocusing of magnetization for Gauss sums corresponding to factors. All factors of 16 637 and 52 882 363 are successfully obtained.

Efficient quantum-state tomography for quantum-information processing using a two-dimensional Fourier-transform technique

A method of quantum-state tomography for quantum-information processing is described. The method is based on the use of the Fourier-transform technique and involves detection of all the diagonal elements of the density matrix in a one-dimensional experiment and all the off-diagonal elements by a two-dimensional experiment. The method is efficient for a large number of qubits (>5). The proposed method is outlined using a two-qubit system and demonstrated using simulations by tomographing arbitrary complex density matrices of two- and four-qubit systems.

Evolution of quantum discord and its stability in two-qubit NMR systems

We investigate evolution of quantum correlations in ensembles of two-qubit nuclear spin systems via nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. We use discord as a measure of quantum correlations and the Werner state as an explicit example. We, first, introduce different ways of measuring discord and geometric discord in two-qubit systems and then describe the following experimental studies: (a) We quantitatively measure discord for Werner-like states prepared using an entangling pulse sequence. An initial thermal state with zero discord is gradually and periodically transformed into a mixed state with maximum discord. The experimental and simulated behavior of rise and fall of discord agree fairly well. (b) We examine the efficiency of dynamical decoupling sequences in preserving quantum correlations. In our experimental setup, the dynamical decoupling sequences preserved the traceless parts of the density matrices at high fidelity. But they could not maintain the purity of the quantum states and so were unable to keep the discord from decaying. (c) We observe the evolution of discord for a singlet-triplet mixed state during a radio-frequency spin-lock. A simple relaxation model describes the evolution of discord, and the accompanying evolution of fidelity of the long-lived singlet state, reasonably well.

Experimental implementation of Grover's search algorithm using efficient quantum state tomography

Quantum state tomography is an important step in quantum information processing. For ensemble systems such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), quantum state tomography implies a characterization of the complete density matrix. For an n-qubit system the size of density matrix and hence the amount of information required for tomography is exponential in ‘n’. Since, only single qubit single quantum elements are observable in NMR, exponential number of one dimensional experiments with readout pulses to rotate the unobservable elements into observables, have earlier been used to map the density matrix. Recently a novel method of efficient tomography has been developed, which requires constant experimental time for any number of qubits. In this method, all off diagonal elements of the density matrix are mapped using a two-dimensional Fourier Transform NMR experiment and all diagonal elements using a one dimensional experiment. In this Letter, the novel method of tomography is demonstrated experimentally while implementing Grover’s search algorithm on a two-qubit system.

Efficient simulation of unitary operators by combining two numerical algorithms: an NMR simulation of the mirror-inversion propagator of an XY spin chain

We report an experimental quantum simulation of unitary dynamics of an XY spin chain with preengineered couplings. Using this simulation, we demonstrate the mirror inversion of quantum states, proposed by Albanese et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 230502 (2004)]. The experiment is performed with a 5-qubit dipolar coupled spin system using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. To perform quantum simulation we make use of the recently proposed unitary operator decomposition algorithm of Ajoy et al. [Phys. Rev. A 85, 030303 (2012)] along with numerical pulse optimization techniques. Further, using mirror inversion, we demonstrate that entangled states can be transferred from one end of the chain to the other end. The simulations are implemented with high experimental fidelity, which implies that these kind of simulations may be possible in larger systems.

Implementation of conditional phase-shift gate for quantum information processing by NMR, using transition-selective pulses

Experimental realization of quantum information processing in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been well established. Implementation of conditional phase-shift gate has been a significant step, which has lead to realization of important algorithms such as Grovers search algorithm and quantum Fourier transform. This gate has so far been implemented in NMR by using coupling evolution method. We demonstrate here the implementation of the conditional phase-shift gate using transition selective pulses. As an application of the gate, we demonstrate Grovers search algorithm and quantum Fourier transform by simulations and experiments using transition selective pulses.