190 research outputs found
Transport of charged particles by adjusting rf voltage amplitudes
We propose a planar architecture for scalable quantum information processing
(QIP) that includes X-junctions through which particles can move without
micromotion. This is achieved by adjusting radio frequency (rf) amplitudes to
move an rf null along the legs of the junction. We provide a proof-of-principle
by transporting dust particles in three dimensions via adjustable rf potentials
in a 3D trap. For the proposed planar architecture, we use regularization
techniques to obtain amplitude settings that guarantee smooth transport through
the X-junction.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure
Highly non-Gaussian states created via cross-Kerr nonlinearity
We propose a feasible scheme for generation of strongly non-Gaussian states
using the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. The resultant states are highly
non-classical states of electromagnetic field and exhibit negativity of their
Wigner function, sub-Poissonian photon statistics, and amplitude squeezing.
Furthermore, the Wigner function has a distinctly pronounced ``banana'' or
``crescent'' shape specific for the Kerr-type interactions, which so far was
not demonstrated experimentally. We show that creating and detecting such
states should be possible with the present technology using electromagnetically
induced transparency in a four-level atomic system in N-configuration.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
Heralded single photon absorption by a single atom
The emission and absorption of single photons by single atomic particles is a
fundamental limit of matter-light interaction, manifesting its quantum
mechanical nature. At the same time, as a controlled process it is a key
enabling tool for quantum technologies, such as quantum optical information
technology [1, 2] and quantum metrology [3, 4, 5, 6]. Controlling both emission
and absorption will allow implementing quantum networking scenarios [1, 7, 8,
9], where photonic communication of quantum information is interfaced with its
local processing in atoms. In studies of single-photon emission, recent
progress includes control of the shape, bandwidth, frequency, and polarization
of single-photon sources [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17], and the
demonstration of atom-photon entanglement [18, 19, 20]. Controlled absorption
of a single photon by a single atom is much less investigated; proposals exist
but only very preliminary steps have been taken experimentally such as
detecting the attenuation and phase shift of a weak laser beam by a single atom
[21, 22], and designing an optical system that covers a large fraction of the
full solid angle [23, 24, 25]. Here we report the interaction of single
heralded photons with a single trapped atom. We find strong correlations of the
detection of a heralding photon with a change in the quantum state of the atom
marking absorption of the quantum-correlated heralded photon. In coupling a
single absorber with a quantum light source, our experiment demonstrates
previously unexplored matter-light interaction, while opening up new avenues
towards photon-atom entanglement conversion in quantum technology.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Many-body localization in a quantum simulator with programmable random disorder
When a system thermalizes it loses all local memory of its initial
conditions. This is a general feature of open systems and is well described by
equilibrium statistical mechanics. Even within a closed (or reversible) quantum
system, where unitary time evolution retains all information about its initial
state, subsystems can still thermalize using the rest of the system as an
effective heat bath. Exceptions to quantum thermalization have been predicted
and observed, but typically require inherent symmetries or noninteracting
particles in the presence of static disorder. The prediction of many-body
localization (MBL), in which disordered quantum systems can fail to thermalize
in spite of strong interactions and high excitation energy, was therefore
surprising and has attracted considerable theoretical attention. Here we
experimentally generate MBL states by applying an Ising Hamiltonian with
long-range interactions and programmably random disorder to ten spins
initialized far from equilibrium. We observe the essential signatures of MBL:
memory retention of the initial state, a Poissonian distribution of energy
level spacings, and entanglement growth in the system at long times. Our
platform can be scaled to higher numbers of spins, where detailed modeling of
MBL becomes impossible due to the complexity of representing such entangled
quantum states. Moreover, the high degree of control in our experiment may
guide the use of MBL states as potential quantum memories in naturally
disordered quantum systems.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure
Efficient photoionization for barium ion trapping using a dipole-allowed resonant two-photon transition
Two efficient and isotope-selective resonant two-photon ionization techniques
for loading barium ions into radio-frequency (RF)-traps are demonstrated. The
scheme of using a strong dipole-allowed transition at \lambda=553 nm as a first
step towards ionization is compared to the established technique of using a
weak intercombination line (\lambda=413 nm). An increase of two orders of
magnitude in the ionization efficiency is found favoring the transition at 553
nm. This technique can be implemented using commercial all-solid-state laser
systems and is expected to be advantageous compared to other narrowband
photoionization schemes of barium in cases where highest efficiency and
isotope-selectivity are required.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure
Fabrication and heating rate study of microscopic surface electrode ion traps
We report heating rate measurements in a microfabricated gold-on-sapphire
surface electrode ion trap with trapping height of approximately 240 micron.
Using the Doppler recooling method, we characterize the trap heating rates over
an extended region of the trap. The noise spectral density of the trap falls in
the range of noise spectra reported in ion traps at room temperature. We find
that during the first months of operation the heating rates increase by
approximately one order of magnitude. The increase in heating rates is largest
in the ion loading region of the trap, providing a strong hint that surface
contamination plays a major role for excessive heating rates. We discuss data
found in the literature and possible relation of anomalous heating to sources
of noise and dissipation in other systems, namely impurity atoms adsorbed on
metal surfaces and amorphous dielectrics.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure
Trapped electron coupled to superconducting devices
We propose to couple a trapped single electron to superconducting structures
located at a variable distance from the electron. The electron is captured in a
cryogenic Penning trap using electric fields and a static magnetic field in the
Tesla range. Measurements on the electron will allow investigating the
properties of the superconductor such as vortex structure, damping and
decoherence. We propose to couple a superconducting microwave resonator to the
electron in order to realize a circuit QED-like experiment, as well as to
couple superconducting Josephson junctions or superconducting quantum
interferometers (SQUIDs) to the electron. The electron may also be coupled to a
vortex which is situated in a double well potential, realized by nearby pinning
centers in the superconductor, acting as a quantum mechanical two level system
that can be controlled by a transport current tilting the double well
potential. When the vortex is trapped in the interferometer arms of a SQUID,
this would allow its detection both by the SQUID and by the electron.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
Mapping coherence in measurement via full quantum tomography of a hybrid optical detector
Quantum states and measurements exhibit wave-like --- continuous, or
particle-like --- discrete, character. Hybrid discrete-continuous photonic
systems are key to investigating fundamental quantum phenomena, generating
superpositions of macroscopic states, and form essential resources for
quantum-enhanced applications, e.g. entanglement distillation and quantum
computation, as well as highly efficient optical telecommunications. Realizing
the full potential of these hybrid systems requires quantum-optical
measurements sensitive to complementary observables such as field quadrature
amplitude and photon number. However, a thorough understanding of the practical
performance of an optical detector interpolating between these two regions is
absent. Here, we report the implementation of full quantum detector tomography,
enabling the characterization of the simultaneous wave and photon-number
sensitivities of quantum-optical detectors. This yields the largest
parametrization to-date in quantum tomography experiments, requiring the
development of novel theoretical tools. Our results reveal the role of
coherence in quantum measurements and demonstrate the tunability of hybrid
quantum-optical detectors.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Mitochondrial permeability transition is a central coordinating event of apoptosis.
In a number of experimental systems, the early stage o the apoptotic process, i.e. the stage that precedes nuclear disintegration, is characterized by the breakdown of the inner mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ(m)). This ΔΨ(m) disruption is mediated by the opening of permeability transition (PT) pores and appears to be critical for the apoptotic cascade, since it is directly regulated by Bcl-2 and since mitochondria induced to undergo PT in vitro become capable of inducing nuclear chromatinolysis in a cell-free system of apoptosis. Here, we addressed the question of which apoptotic events are secondary to mitochondrial PT. We tested the effect of a specific inhibitor of PT, bongkrekic acid (BA), a ligand of the mitochondrial academic nucleotide translocator, on a prototypic model of apoptosis; glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte death. In addition to abolishing the apoptotic ΔΨ(m) disruption, BA prevents a number of phenomena linked to apoptosis: depletion of nonoxidized glutathione, genetic generation of reactive oxygen species, translocation of NFκB, exposure of phosphatidylserine residues on the outer plasma membrane, cytoplasmic vacuolization, chromatin condensation, and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. BA is also an efficient inhibitor of p53- dependent thymocyte apoptosis induced by DNA damaged. These data suggest that a number of apoptotic phenomona are secondary to PT. In addition, we present data indicating that apoptotic ΔΨ(m) disruption is secondary to transcriptional events. These data connect the PT control point to the p53- and ICE/Ced 3-regulated control points of apoptosis and place PT upstream of nuclear and plasma membrane features of PCD.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
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