Zhang-qi Yin

Multiatom and resonant interaction scheme for quantum state transfer and logical gates between two remote cavities via an optical fiber

A system consisting of two single-mode cavities spatially separated and connected by an optical fiber and multiple two-level atoms trapped in the cavities is considered. If the atoms resonantly and collectively interact with the local cavity fields but there is no direct interaction between the atoms, we show that an ideal quantum state transfer and highly reliable quantum swap, entangling, and controlled-Z gates can be deterministically realized between the distant cavities. We find that the operation of state transfer and swap, entangling, and controlled-Z gates can be greatly speeded up as number of the atoms in the cavities increases. We also notice that the effects of spontaneous emission of atoms and photon leakage out of cavity on the quantum processes can also be greatly diminished in the multiatom case.

Quantum superposition, entanglement, and state teleportation of a microorganism on an electromechanical oscillator

Schrödinger’s thought experiment to prepare a cat in a superposition of both alive and dead states reveals profound consequences of quantum mechanics and has attracted enormous interests. Here we propose a straightforward method to create quantum superposition states of a living microorganism by putting a small cryopreserved bacterium on top of an electromechanical oscillator. Our proposal is based on recent developments that the center-of-mass oscillation of a 15-μm-diameter aluminum membrane has been cooled to its quantum ground state (Teufel et al. in Nature 475:359, 2011), and entangled with a microwave field (Palomaki et al. in Science 342:710, 2013). A microorganism with a mass much smaller than the mass of the electromechanical membrane will not significantly affect the quality factor of the membrane and can be cooled to the quantum ground state together with the membrane. Quantum superposition and teleportation of its center-of-mass motion state can be realized with the help of superconducting microwave circuits. More importantly, the internal states of a microorganism, such as the electron spin of a glycine radical, can be entangled with its center-of-mass motion and teleported to a remote microorganism. Our proposal can be realized with state-of-the-art technologies. The proposed setup is a quantum-limited magnetic resonance force microscope. Since internal states of an organism contain information, our proposal also provides a scheme for teleporting information or memories between two remote organisms.摘要薛定谔猫的假想实验展示了量子力学的奇异性质并引起了广泛兴趣.我们提出把一个低温冷冻保存的微生物放在一个电机械振子上来实现活体微生物的量子态叠加, 纠缠和隐形传态. 目前,实验上已经把一个直径15微米的电机械振子的质心运动冷却到量子基态[Nature 475:359 (2011)], 并和微波光子纠缠[Science 342: 710 (2013)]. 把一个质量远小于电机械振子的微生物放在振子上面不会对它的性质和量子操控造成显著影响. 这个微生物可以和振子共同冷却到量子基态并制备到叠加态. 利用一个强磁场梯度,微生物的内部状态(比如甘氨酸自由基的电子自旋)可以和微生物的质心运动纠缠, 并被量子隐形传态到另外一个微生物. 因为微生物的内部状态包含信息, 这个方案能实现两个微生物之间信息和记忆的量子隐形传态.这篇论文也提供了一个达到量子极限的磁共振力学显微镜方案

Experimental test of the quantum Jarzynski equality with a trapped-ion system

The Jarzynski equality, relating non-equilibrium processes to free-energy differences between equilibrium states, has been verified in a number of classical systems. An ion-trap experiment now succeeds in demonstrating its quantum counterpart.

Large quantum superpositions of a levitated nanodiamond through spin-optomechanical coupling

We propose a method to generate and detect large quantum superposition states and arbitrary Fock states for the oscillational mode of an optically levitated nanocrystal diamond. The nonlinear interaction required for the generation of non-Gaussian quantum states is enabled through the spin-mechanical coupling with a built-in nitrogen-vacancy center inside the nanodiamond. The proposed method allows the generation of large superpositions of nanoparticles with millions of atoms and the observation of the associated spatial quantum interference under reasonable experimental conditions.

Optomechanics of levitated dielectric particles

We review recent works on optomechanics of optically trapped microspheres and nanoparticles in vacuum, which provide an ideal system for studying macroscopic quantum mechanics and ultrasensitive force detection. An optically trapped particle in vacuum has an ultrahigh mechanical quality factor as it is well-isolated from the thermal environment. Its oscillation frequency can be tuned in real time by changing the power of the trapping laser. Furthermore, an optically trapped particle in vacuum may rotate freely, a unique property that does not exist in clamped mechanical oscillators. In this review, we will introduce the current status of optical trapping of dielectric particles in air and vacuum, Brownian motion of an optically trapped particle at room temperature, Feedback cooling and cavity cooling of the Brownian motion. We will also discuss about using optically trapped dielectric particles for studying macroscopic quantum mechanics and ultrasensitive force detection. Applications range from creating macroscopic Schrodingers cat state, testing objective collapse models of quantum wavefunctions, measuring Casimir force, searching short-range non-Newtonian gravity, to detect gravitational waves.

High-fidelity quantum memory using nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble for hybrid quantum computation

We study a hybrid quantum computing system using a nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble (NVE) as quantum memory, a current-biased Josephson junction (CBJJ) superconducting qubit fabricated in a transmission line resonator (TLR) as the quantum computing processor, and the microwave photons in TLR as the quantum data bus. The storage process is seriously treated by considering all kinds of decoherence mechanisms. Such a hybrid quantum device can also be used to create multiqubit W states of NVEs through a common CBJJ. The experimental feasibility is achieved using currently available technology.

Space-Time Crystals of Trapped Ions

Spontaneous symmetry breaking can lead to the formation of time crystals, as well as spatial crystals. Here we propose a space-time crystal of trapped ions and a method to realize it experimentally by confining ions in a ring-shaped trapping potential with a static magnetic field. The ions spontaneously form a spatial ring crystal due to Coulomb repulsion. This ion crystal can rotate persistently at the lowest quantum energy state in magnetic fields with fractional fluxes. The persistent rotation of trapped ions produces the temporal order, leading to the formation of a space-time crystal. We show that these space-time crystals are robust for direct experimental observation. We also study the effects of finite temperatures on the persistent rotation. The proposed space-time crystals of trapped ions provide a new dimension for exploring many-body physics and emerging properties of matter.

Torsional Optomechanics of a Levitated Nonspherical Nanoparticle

An optically levitated nanoparticle in vacuum is a paradigm optomechanical system for sensing and studying macroscopic quantum mechanics. While its center-of-mass motion has been investigated intensively, its torsional vibration has only been studied theoretically in limited cases. Here we report the first experimental observation of the torsional vibration of an optically levitated nonspherical nanoparticle in vacuum. We achieve this by utilizing the coupling between the spin angular momentum of photons and the torsional vibration of a nonspherical nanoparticle whose polarizability is a tensor. The torsional vibration frequency can be 1 order of magnitude higher than its center-of-mass motion frequency, which is promising for ground state cooling. We propose a simple yet novel scheme to achieve ground state cooling of its torsional vibration with a linearly polarized Gaussian cavity mode. A levitated nonspherical nanoparticle in vacuum will also be an ultrasensitive nanoscale torsion balance with a torque detection sensitivity on the order of 10^{-29}  N m/sqrt[Hz] under realistic conditions.

Quantum simulation of an artificial Abelian gauge field using nitrogen-vacancy-center ensembles coupled to superconducting resonators

We propose a potentially practical scheme to simulate artificial Abelian gauge field for polaritons using a hybrid quantum system consisting of nitrogen-vacancy center ensembles (NVEs) and superconducting transmission line resonators (TLR). In our case, the collective excitations of NVEs play the role of bosonic particles, and our multiport device tends to circulate polaritons in a behavior like a charged particle in an external magnetic field. We discuss the possibility of identifying signatures of the Hofstadter butterfly in the optical spectra of the resonators and analyze the ground state crossover for different gauge fields. Our work opens new perspectives in quantum simulation of condensed matter and many-body physics using a hybrid spin-ensemble circuit quantum electrodynamics system. The experimental feasibility and challenge are justified using currently available technology.

Quantum network of superconducting qubits through an optomechanical interface

We propose a scheme to realize quantum networking of superconducting qubits based on the optomechanical interface. The superconducting qubits interact with the microwave photons, which then couple to the optical photons through the optomechanical interface. The interface generates a quantum link between superconducting qubits and optical flying qubits with tunable pulse shapes and carrier frequencies, enabling transmission of quantum information to other superconducting or atomic qubits. We show that the scheme works under realistic experimental conditions and it also provides a way for fast initialization of the superconducting qubits under 1 K instead of an operation temperature of 20 mK.