Experimental semi-autonomous eigensolver using reinforcement learning

The characterization of observables, expressed via Hermitian operators, is a crucial task in quantum mechanics. For this reason, an eigensolver is a fundamental algorithm for any quantum technology. In this work, we implement a semi-autonomous algorithm to obtain an approximation of the eigenvectors of an arbitrary Hermitian operator using the IBM quantum computer. To this end, we only use single-shot measurements and pseudo-random changes handled by a feedback loop, reducing the number of measures in the system. Due to the classical feedback loop, this algorithm can be cast into the reinforcement learning paradigm. Using this algorithm, for a single-qubit observable, we obtain both eigenvectors with fidelities over 0.97 with around 200 single-shot measurements. For two-qubits observables, we get fidelities over 0.91 with around 1500 single-shot measurements for the four eigenvectors, which is a comparatively low resource demand, suitable for current devices. This work is useful to the development of quantum devices able to decide with partial information, which helps to implement future technologies in quantum artificial intelligence.Comment: 12 + 3 pages, 5 figure

Curling dynamics of naturally curved ribbons: from high to low Reynolds numbers

Curling deformation of thin elastic sheets appears in numerous structures in nature, such as membranes of red blood cells, epithelial tissues or green algae colonies to cite just a few examples. However, despite its ubiquity, the dynamics of curling propagation in a naturally curved material remains still poorly investigated. Here, we present a coupled experimental and theoretical study of the dynamical curling deformation of naturally curved ribbons. Using thermoplastic and metallic ribbons molded on cylinders of different radii, we tune separately the natural curvature and the geometry to study curling dynamics in air, water and in viscous oils, thus spanning a wide range of Reynolds numbers. Our theoretical and experimental approaches separate the role of elasticity, gravity and hydrodynamic dissipation from inertia and emphasize the fundamental differences between the curling of a naturally curved ribbon and a rod described by the classical Elastica. Ribbons are indeed an intermediate class of objects between rods, which can be totally described by one-dimensional deformations, and sheets. Since Lord Rayleigh, it is known that a thin sheet can easily be bent but not stretched. As a result, large deformations in thin sheets usually lead to the localization of deformations into small peaks and ridges as observed by crumpling a simple piece of paper. These elastic defects induce critical buckling situations studied in detail statically in the literature, while experimental and theoretical studies on their dynamics are scarce. Our work shows evidence for the propagation of such a single instability front, selected by a local buckling mechanism. Finally, we show that depending on gravity, and both the Reynolds and the Cauchy numbers, the curling speed and shape are modified by the large scale drag and the local lubrication forces, shedding a new light on microscopic experiences where curling is observed

One-photon Solutions to Multiqubit Multimode quantum Rabi model

General solutions to the quantum Rabi model involve subspaces with unbounded number of photons. However, for the multiqubit multimode case, we find special solutions with at most one photon for arbitrary number of qubits and photon modes. Unlike the Juddian solution, ours exists for arbitrary single qubit-photon coupling strength with constant eigenenergy. This corresponds to a horizontal line in the spectrum, while still being a qubit-photon entangled state. As a possible application, we propose an adiabatic scheme for the fast generation of arbitrary single-photon multimode W states with nonadiabatic error less than 1%. Finally, we propose a superconducting circuit design, showing the experimental feasibility of the multimode multiqubit Rabi model.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures plus Supplemental Material

Deterministic single-photon source in the ultrastrong coupling regime

Deterministic single-photon sources are important and ubiquitous in quantum information protocols. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of them work in the ultrastrong light-matter coupling regime, and each excitation process can only emit one photon. We propose a deterministic single-photon source in circuit QED which can work in the ultrastrong coupling regime. Here, two qubits are excited simultaneously in one process and two deterministic single photons can be sequentially emitted with an arbitrary time separation. This happens through two consecutive adiabatic transfers along the one-photon solutions of the two-qubit Rabi and Jaynes-Cummings model, which has constant eigenenergy in the whole coupling regime. Unlike the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, the system goes back to the initial state of another period automatically after photon emission. Our scheme can approach unity single-photon efficiency, indistinguishability, and purity simultaneously. With the assistance of the Stark shift, a deterministic single photon can be generated within a time proportional to the inverse of the resonator frequency.Comment: 7 +4 pages, 5 figure

Dynamique d'enroulement de surfaces naturellement courbées (bio-membranes axisymétriques et rubans élastiques)

La déformation de matériaux élastique dont l'une au moins des dimensions est petite apparaît dans un grand nombre de structures naturelles ou artificielles pour lesquelles une courbure spontanée est présente. Dans ces travaux de thèse, nous couplons plusieurs approches théoriques à des expériences macroscopiques sur des rubans élastiques afin de comprendre la dynamique d'enroulement de biomembranes ouvertes d'un trou. La motivation est issue d'observations récentes d'enroulements obtenues au cours de la sortie de parasites de la Malaria de globules rouges infectés, et de l'explosion de vésicules polymère. Dans une première partie, nous étudions théoriquement la stabilité d'un pore et la propagation de l'enroulement sur une biomembrane sphérique ouverte. Nous modélisons de façon géométrique l'enroulement toroïdal de la membrane par une spirale d'Archimède de révolution et décentrée. Avec cette hypothèse, nous montrons que la stabilité du pore vis-à-vis de l'enroulement dépend fortement de la tension de ligne et du cisaillement et nous discutons ces résultats dans le cadre de l'enroulement de membranes MIRBCs. De plus, en prenant en compte les différentes sources de dissipation, nous obtenons un très bon accord entre les données expérimentales obtenues pour les MIRBCs et la dynamique d'enroulement obtenue par le calcul. Notre approche montre en particulier que la dissipation dans la membrane due à la redistribution de la matière durant l'enroulement domine sur la dissipation visqueuse dans le milieu.Cependant, la complexité de la géométrie sphérique, ainsi que le nombre limité d'observations microscopiques à l'échelle de la membrane sont une entrave au développement de modèles plus détaillés qui permettraient de décrire complètement le couplage entre écoulement et déformation. Nous avons donc étudié dans une seconde partie la déformation d'enroulement dans le cas de rubans élastiques ayant une courbure spontanée dans différents milieux visqueux et pour différentes conditions élastiques. A grands nombres de Reynolds, en raison de la localisation de la courbure pour les rubans au cours de la propagation du front d'enroulement le long du matériau, nous montrons que l'enroulement atteint rapidement une vitesse de propagation constante. Dans ce régime, le ruban s'enroule sur lui-même de façon compacte, sur un cylindre dont la taille est prévue à partir de la solution de l'onde stationnaire pour l'Elastica. A faible nombre de Reynolds, cependant, se rapprochant des conditions d'enroulement d'une membrane microscopique, nous mettons en évidence l'influence des forces de lubrification sur la nature non-compacte de l'enroulement. La taille globale de la spirale de ruban augmente dans le temps conduisant à une diminution de la puissance élastique libérée et donc à une diminution de la vitesse. Nous discutons dans quelle mesure ces résultats peuvent faire avancer la modélisation de l'enroulement dans les MIRBCs et les vésicules polymère.Curling deformation of thin elastic surfaces appears in numerous natural and man-made structures where a spontaneous curvature is present. In this thesis, we couple theoretical approaches and macroscopic experiments on elastic ribbons to understand the dynamics of curling of opened bio-membranes, motivated by the need to better understand recent microscopic observations during egress of Malaria infected red blood cells (MIRBC) and bursting of artificial polymersomes.In a first part, we study theoretically pore stability and curling propagation of an initially opened spherical bio-membrane. We model geometrically curling deformation as the revolution of a decentered Archimedean spiral, leading to a prescribed toroidal wrapping of the membrane. In this configuration, we show how the stability of a pore to curling depends strongly on both line-tension and shear elasticity and we discuss these results in relation to the curling of MIRBCs membranes. Moreover, taking into account viscous dissipations, the consequent dynamics we calculate agrees quantitatively well with experimental data obtained during opening of MIRBCs. Our approach shows in particular how the membrane dissipation resulting from the surface redistribution dominates curling dynamics over outer viscous dissipation.However, the complexity of the spherical geometry and the lack of detailed images in microscopic observations hamper the development of more accurate models where the coupling between flow and deformation is fully understood. Subsequently, we study in a second part the curling deformation of macroscopic naturally curved elastic ribbons in different viscous media and elastic conditions. At high Reynolds numbers, due to the tendency of ribbons to localize bending deformations when a curling front travels down the material, we show that curling reaches rapidly a constant propagating velocity. In this regime, the ribbon wraps itself into a compact roll whose size is predicted through the solitary wave solution of the associated Elastica. At low Reynolds numbers, however, closer to the hydrodynamic conditions of curling in microscopic membranes, we show that the strong lubrication forces induce a non-compact curling. The overall size of the spiraling ribbon increases in time leading to a temporal decrease of the released elastic power and therefore a consequent decrease in velocity. We discuss how such discovery sheds a new light on the modeling of curling in MIRBCs and polymersomes.MONTPELLIER-BU Sciences (341722106) / SudocSudocFranceF

Red Blood Cell Membrane Dynamics during Malaria Parasite Egress

AbstractPrecisely how malaria parasites exit from infected red blood cells to further spread the disease remains poorly understood. It has been shown recently, however, that these parasites exploit the elasticity of the cell membrane to enable their egress. Based on this work, showing that parasites modify the membrane’s spontaneous curvature, initiating pore opening and outward membrane curling, we develop a model of the dynamics of the red blood cell membrane leading to complete parasite egress. As a result of the three-dimensional, axisymmetric nature of the problem, we find that the membrane dynamics involve two modes of elastic-energy release: 1), at short times after pore opening, the free edge of the membrane curls into a toroidal rim attached to a membrane cap of roughly fixed radius; and 2), at longer times, the rim radius is fixed, and lipids in the cap flow into the rim. We compare our model with the experimental data of Abkarian and co-workers and obtain an estimate of the induced spontaneous curvature and the membrane viscosity, which control the timescale of parasite release. Finally, eversion of the membrane cap, which liberates the remaining parasites, is driven by the spontaneous curvature and is found to be associated with a breaking of the axisymmetry of the membrane