Direct microwave measurement of Andreev-bound-state dynamics in a proximitized semiconducting nanowire

The modern understanding of the Josephson effect in mesosopic devices derives from the physics of Andreev bound states, fermionic modes that are localized in a superconducting weak link. Recently, Josephson junctions constructed using semiconducting nanowires have led to the realization of superconducting qubits with gate-tunable Josephson energies. We have used a microwave circuit QED architecture to detect Andreev bound states in such a gate-tunable junction based on an aluminum-proximitized InAs nanowire. We demonstrate coherent manipulation of these bound states, and track the bound-state fermion parity in real time. Individual parity-switching events due to non-equilibrium quasiparticles are observed with a characteristic timescale $T_\mathrm{parity} = 160\pm 10~\mathrm{\mu s}$. The $T_\mathrm{parity}$ of a topological nanowire junction sets a lower bound on the bandwidth required for control of Majorana bound states

Measurement of the Lifetime of the Metastable 5d\u3csub\u3e3/2\u3c/sub\u3e26d\u3csub\u3e3/2\u3c/sub\u3e, J=0 Autoionizing State of Barium

We report a measurement of the lifetime of the metastable 5d3/226d3/2, J=0 autoionizing state of barium. We have determined the lifetime to be 190(10) ns

Two-Step Stabilization of Autoionizing States

A two-step process using internal conversion and fluorescence to stabilize the 6P3/211d autoionizing state of barium has been observed. The internal conversion produces very highly excited autoionizing Rydberg states, which then emit fluorescence to produce singly excited, bound states. Inclusion of this process should bring calculations closer to agreement with recent measurements of dielectronic recombination

Realization of microwave quantum circuits using hybrid superconducting-semiconducting nanowire Josephson elements

We report the realization of quantum microwave circuits using hybrid superconductor-semiconductor Josephson elements comprised of InAs nanowires contacted by NbTiN. Capacitively-shunted single elements behave as transmon qubits with electrically tunable transition frequencies. Two-element circuits also exhibit transmon-like behavior near zero applied flux, but behave as flux qubits at half the flux quantum, where non-sinusoidal current-phase relations in the elements produce a double-well Josephson potential. These hybrid Josephson elements are promising for applications requiring microwave superconducting circuits operating in magnetic field.Comment: Main text: 4 pages, 4 figures; Supplement: 10 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

In-situ Tuning of the Electric Dipole Strength of a Double Dot Charge Qubit: Charge Noise Protection and Ultra Strong Coupling

Semiconductor quantum dots, where electrons or holes are isolated via electrostatic potentials generated by surface gates, are promising building blocks for semiconductor-based quantum technology. Here, we investigate double quantum dot (DQD) charge qubits in GaAs, capacitively coupled to high-impedance SQUID array and Josephson junction array resonators. We tune the strength of the electric dipole interaction between the qubit and the resonator in-situ using surface gates. We characterize the qubit-resonator coupling strength, qubit decoherence, and detuning noise affecting the charge qubit for different electrostatic DQD configurations. We find that all quantities can be tuned systematically over more than one order of magnitude, resulting in reproducible decoherence rates $\Gamma_2/2\pi<~5$ MHz in the limit of high interdot capacitance. Conversely, by reducing the interdot capacitance, we can increase the DQD electric dipole strength, and therefore its coupling to the resonator. By employing a Josephson junction array resonator with an impedance of $\sim4$ k$\Omega$ and a resonance frequency of $\omega_r/2\pi \sim 5.6$ GHz, we observe a coupling strength of $g/2\pi \sim 630$ MHz, demonstrating the possibility to achieve the ultrastrong coupling regime (USC) for electrons hosted in a semiconductor DQD. These results are essential for further increasing the coherence of quantum dot based qubits and investigating USC physics in semiconducting QDs.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figure

Front versus rear side light-ion acceleration from high-intensity laser–solid interactions

The source of ions accelerated from high-intensity laser interactions with thin foil targets is investigated by coating a deuterated plastic layer either on the front, rear or both surfaces of thin foil targets. The originating surface of the deuterons is therefore known and this method is used to assess the relative source contributions and maximum energies using a Thomson parabola spectrometer to obtain high-resolution light-ion spectra. Under these experimental conditions, laser intensity of (0.5–2.5) _ 10 19 W cm _2 , pulse duration of 400 fs and target thickness of 6–13 µm, deuterons originating from the front surface can gain comparable maximum energies as those from the rear surface and spectra from either side can deviate from Maxwellian. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations model the acceleration and show that any presence of a proton rich contamination layer over the surface is detrimental to the deuteron acceleration from the rear surface, whereas it is likely to be less influential on the front side acceleration mechanism.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90782/1/0741-3335_53_1_014011.pd

Introduction: Examined Live – An Epistemological Exchange Between Philosophy and Cultural Psychology on Reflection

Besides the general agreement about the human capability of reflection, there is a large area of disagreement and debate about the nature and value of “reflective scrutiny” and the role of “second-order states” in everyday life. This problem has been discussed in a vast and heterogeneous literature about topics such as epistemic injustice, epistemic norms, agency, understanding, meta-cognition etc. However, there is not yet any extensive and interdisciplinary work, specifically focused on the topic of the epistemic value of reflection. This volume is one of the first attempts aimed at providing an innovative contribution, an exchange between philosophy, epistemology and psychology about the place and value of reflection in everyday life. Our goal in the next sections is not to offer an exhaustive overview of recent work on epistemic reflection, nor to mimic all of the contributions made by the chapters in this volume. We will try to highlight some topics that have motivated a new resumption of this field and, with that, drawing on chapters from this volume where relevant. Two elements defined the scope and content of this volume, on the one hand, the crucial contribution of Ernest Sosa, whose works provide original and thought-provoking contributions to contemporary epistemology in setting a new direction for old dilemmas about the nature and value of knowledge, giving a central place to reflection. On the other hand, the recent developments of cultural psychology, in the version of the “Aalborg approach”, reconsider the object and scope of psychological sciences, stressing that “[h]uman conduct is purposeful”

Comparison of bulk and pitcher-catcher targets for laser-driven neutron production

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98756/1/PhysPlasmas_18_083106.pd