Pumping Current in a Quantum Dot by an Oscillating Magnetic Field

We investigate spin and charge current through a quantum dot pumped by a time-varying magnetic field. Using the density matrix method, quantum rate equations for the electronic occupation numbers in the quantum dot are obtained and solved in the stationary state limit for a wide set of setup parameters. Both charge and spin current are expressed explicitly in terms of several relevant parameters and analyzed in detail. The results suggest a way of optimizing experimental setup parameters to obtain an maximal spin current without the charge current flow.Comment: to appear in the proceedings of the international conference on frontiers in nonlinear and complex systems as a special issue in the International Journal of Modern Physics B, vol. 21

Floquet engineering of long-range p-wave superconductivity: Beyond the high-frequency limit

It has been shown that long-range {\it p}-wave superconductivity in a Kitaev chain can be engineered via an ac field with a high frequency [Benito et al., Phys. Rev. B 90, 205127 (2014)]. For its experimental realization, however, theoretical understanding of Floquet engineering with a broader range of driving frequencies becomes important. In this work, focusing on the ac-driven tunneling interactions of a Kitaev chain, we investigate effects from the leading correction to the high-frequency limit on the emergent {\it p}-wave superconductivity. Importantly, we find new engineered long-range {\it p}-wave pairing interactions that can significantly alter the ones in the high-frequency limit at long interaction ranges. We also find that the leading correction additionally generates nearest-neighbor {\it p}-wave pairing interactions with a renormalized pairing energy, long-range tunneling interactions, and in particular multiple pairs of Floquet Majorana edge states that are destroyed in the high- frequency limit.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Probing weak dipole-dipole interaction using phase-modulated non-linear spectroscopy

Phase-modulated non-linear spectroscopy with higher harmonic demodulation has recently been suggested to provide information on many-body excitations. In the present work we theoretically investigate the application of this method to infer the interaction strength between two particles that interact via weak dipole-dipole interaction. To this end we use full numerical solution of the Schr\"odinger equation with time-dependent pulses. For interpretation purpose we also derive analytical expressions in perturbation theory. We find one can detect dipole-dipole interaction via peak intensities (in contrast to line-shifts which typically are used in conventional spectroscopy). We provide a detailed study on the dependence of these intensities on the parameters of the laser pulse and the dipole-dipole interaction strength. Interestingly, we find that there is a phase between the first and second harmonic demodulated signal, whose value depends on the sign of the dipole-dipole interaction.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Supporting information provided with the source file

Collective quantum phase slips in multiple nanowire junctions

Realization of robust coherent quantum phase slips represents a significant experimental challenge. Here we propose a new design consisting of multiple nanowire junctions to realize a phase-slip flux qubit. It admits good tunability provided by gate voltages applied on superconducting islands separating nanowire junctions. In addition, the gates and junctions can be identical or distinct to each other leading to symmetric and asymmetric setups. We find that the asymmetry can improve the performance of the proposed device, compared with the symmetric case. In particular, it can enhance the effective rate of collective quantum phase slips. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to couple two such devices via a mutual inductance. This is potentially useful for quantum gate operations. Our investigation on how symmetry in multiple nanowire junctions affects the device performance should be useful for the application of phase-slip flux qubits in quantum information processing and quantum metrology.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

A readily accessible multifunctional probe: simultaneous recognition of the cation ZN²⁺ and the anion F⁻ via distinguishable wavelengths

The probe 1 was readily prepared via condensation of 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-coumarin and carbonic dihydrazide in a one-step procedure. Probe 1 exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards Zn²⁺ and F⁻ through a “turn-on” fluorescence response and/or ratiometric colorimetric response with low detection limits of the order of 10-8 M. The complex behaviour was fully investigated by spectral titration, isothermal titration calorimetry, 1H NMR spectroscopic titration and mass spectrometry. Interestingly, probe 1 not only recognizes the cation Zn²⁺ and the anion F⁻, but can also distinguish between these two ions via the max wavelength in their UV-vis spectra (360 nm for 1-Zn²⁺ versus 400 nm for 1-F⁻ complex) or their fluorescent spectra (λₑₓ / λₑm = 360 nm/ 454 nm for 1-Zn²⁺ versus λₑₓ / λₑm = 400 nm/ 475 nm for 1-F⁻ complex) due to their differing red-shifts. Additionally, probe 1 has been further explored in the detection of Zn²⁺ in living cells