arXiv subjects

Akihiko Sekine

Publications and source records attributed to Akihiko Sekine.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Microwave-to-Optical Quantum Transduction of Photons for Quantum Interconnects

The quantum transduction, or equivalently quantum frequency conversion, is vital for the realization of, e.g., quantum networks, distributed quantum computing, and quantum repeaters. The microwave-to-optical quantum transduction is of particular interest in the field of superconducting quantum computing, since interconnecting dilution refrigerators is considered inevitable for realizing large-scale quantum computers with fault-tolerance. In this review, we overview recent theoretical and experimental studies on the quantum transduction between microwave and optical photons. We describe a generic theory for the quantum transduction employing the input-output formalism, from which the essential quantities characterizing the transduction, i.e., the expressions for the transduction efficiency, the added noise, and the transduction bandwidth are derived. We review the major transduction methods that have been experimentally demonstrated, focusing on the transduction via the optomechanical effect, the electro-optic effect, the magneto-optic effect, and the atomic ensembles. We also briefly review the recent experimental progress on the quantum transduction from superconducting qubit to optical photon, which is an important step toward the quantum state transfer between distant superconducting qubits interconnected over optical fibers.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Microwave-to-Optical Quantum Transduction with Antiferromagnets

The quantum transduction, or equivalently quantum frequency conversion, between microwave and optical photons is essential for realizing scalable quantum computers with superconducting qubits. Due to the large frequency difference between microwave and optical ranges, the transduction needs to be done via intermediate bosonic modes or nonlinear processes. Regarding the transduction mediated by magnons, previous studies have so far utilized ferromagnetic magnons in ferromagnets. Here, we formulate a theory for the microwave-to-optical quantum transduction mediated by antiferromagnetic magnons in antiferromagnets. We derive analytical expressions for the transduction efficiency in the cases with and without an optical cavity, where a microwave cavity is used in both cases. In contrast to the case of the quantum transduction using ferromagnets, we find that the quantum transduction can occur even in the absence of an external static magnetic field. We also find that, in the case with an optical cavity the transduction efficiency takes a peak structure with respect to the sample thickness, indicating that there exists an optimal thickness, whereas in the case without an optical cavity the transduction efficiency is a monotonically increasing function of the sample thickness. Our study opens up a way for possible applications of antiferromagnetic materials in future quantum interconnects.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Microwave-to-Optical Quantum Transduction Utilizing the Topological Faraday Effect of Topological Insulator Heterostructures

The quantum transduction between microwave and optical photons is essential for realizing scalable quantum computers with superconducting qubits. Due to the large frequency difference between microwave and optical ranges, the transduction needs to be done via intermediate bosonic modes or nonlinear processes. So far, the transduction efficiency $η$ via the magneto-optic Faraday effect (i.e., the light-magnon interaction) in the ferromagnet YIG has been demonstrated to be small as $η\sim 10^{-8} \mathrm{-} 10^{-15}$ due to the weak magneto-optic coupling. Here, we take advantage of the fact that three-dimensional topological insulator thin films exhibit a topological Faraday effect that is independent of the sample thickness in the terahertz regime. This leads to a large Faraday rotation angle and therefore enhanced light-magnon interaction in the thin film limit. We show theoretically that the transduction efficiency between microwave and terahertz photons can be greatly improved to $η\sim10^{-4}$ by utilizing the heterostructures consisting of topological insulator thin films such as Bi$_2$Se$_3$ and ferromagnetic insulator thin films such as YIG.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Emergent One-Dimensional Helical Channel in Higher-Order Topological Insulators with Step Edges

We study theoretically the electronic structure of three-dimensional (3D) higher-order topological insulators in the presence of step edges. We numerically find that a 1D conducting state with a helical spin structure, which also has a linear dispersion near the zero energy, emerges at a step edge and on the opposite surface of the step edge. We also find that the 1D helical conducting state on the opposite surface of a step edge emerges when the electron hopping in the direction perpendicular to the step is weak. In other words, the existence of the 1D helical conducting state on the opposite surface of a step edge can be understood by considering an addition of two different-sized independent blocks of 3D higher-order topological insulators. On the other hand, when the electron hopping in the direction perpendicular to the step is strong, the location of the emergent 1D helical conducting state moves from the opposite surface of a step edge to the dip ($270^{\circ}$ edge) just below the step edge. In this case, the existence at the dip below the step edge can be understood by assigning each surface with a sign ($+$ or $-$) of the mass of the surface Dirac fermions. These two physical pictures are connected continuously without the bulk bandgap closing. Our finding paves the way for on-demand creation of 1D helical conducting states from 3D higher-order topological insulators employing experimental processes commonly used in thin-film devices, which could lead to, e.g., a realization of high-density Majorana qubits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Quantum spin Hall states in the lateral heteromonolayers of WTe2-MoTe2

We used density functional theory to investigate the lateral heteromonolayers of WTe2 and MoTe2. We confirmed that topologically nontrivial and trivial phases are energetically favored for the WTe2 and MoTe2 monolayers, taken out of bulk Td-WTe2 and 2H-MoTe2, respectively. We considered heteromonolayers consisting of these stable building blocks. In the Td-WTe2 and 2H-MoTe2 heteromonolayers with the interfaces oriented perpendicular to the dimer chains of W atoms in Td-WTe2 (y direction), two pairs of helical (quantum spin Hall [QSH]) states, one at each interface, connect the valence and conduction bands. The strain induced by the large lattice mismatch of the two materials in the y direction widens the band gap of the QSH insulator of the Td-WTe2 monolayer and is essential for electronic applications. Furthermore, one-dimensional channels embedded in the layer can help avoid chemical degradation from the edges and facilitate the densification of conducting channels. For the heteromonolayer with interfaces in the x direction, the difference in atomic structure between the two interfaces due to low symmetry creates an energy difference between two helical states and a potential gradient in the wide band gap 2H-MoTe2 region, resulting in various interface localized bands.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Electronic properties of the steps in bilayer Td-WTe2

Monolayer WTe2 stripes are quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators. Density functional theory was used for investigating the electronic properties of the stripes and steps in bilayer Td-WTe2. For the stripes oriented along the dimer chains of W atoms (x direction), the hybridization between the two layers suppresses the QSH states. However, the QSH nature can be recovered by forming a step, depending on the atomic structure of the step. Conversely, the stripes and steps along the y direction maintain the QSH states. These findings can expand the application range of the QSH states in WTe2.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Axion Quasiparticles for Axion Dark Matter Detection

It has been suggested that certain antiferromagnetic topological insulators contain axion quasiparticles (AQs), and that such materials could be used to detect axion dark matter (DM). The AQ is a longitudinal antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation coupled to the electromagnetic Chern-Simons term, which, in the presence of an applied magnetic field, leads to mass mixing between the AQ and the electric field. The electromagnetic boundary conditions and transmission and reflection coefficients are computed. A model for including losses into this system is presented, and the resulting linewidth is computed. It is shown how transmission spectroscopy can be used to measure the resonant frequencies and damping coefficients of the material, and demonstrate conclusively the existence of the AQ. The dispersion relation and boundary conditions permit resonant conversion of axion DM into THz photons in a material volume that is independent of the resonant frequency, which is tuneable via an applied magnetic field. A parameter study for axion DM detection is performed, computing boost amplitudes and bandwidths using realistic material properties including loss. The proposal could allow for detection of axion DM in the mass range between 1 and 10 meV using current and near future technology.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Axion Electrodynamics in Topological Materials

One of the intriguing properties characteristic to three-dimensional topological materials is the topological magnetoelectric phenomena arising from a topological term called the $θ$ term. Such magnetoelectric phenomena are often termed the axion electrodynamics, since the $θ$ term has exactly the same form as the action describing the coupling between a hypothetical elementary particle, axion, and a photon. The axion was proposed about forty years ago to solve the so-called strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics, and is now considered as a candidate for dark matter. In this tutorial, we overview theoretical and experimental studies on the axion electrodynamics in three-dimensional topological materials. Starting from the topological magnetoelectric effect in three-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological insulators, we describe the basic properties of static and dynamical axion insulators whose realizations require magnetic orderings. We also discuss the electromagnetic responses of Weyl semimetals with a focus on the chiral anomaly. We extend the concept of the axion electrodynamics in condensed matter to topological superconductors, whose responses to external fields can be described by a gravitational topological term analogous to the $θ$ term.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Valley Pumping via Edge States and the Nonlocal Valley Hall Effect in Two-Dimensional Semiconductors

Recent experiments have studied the temperature and gate voltage dependence of nonlocal transport in bilayer graphene, identifying features thought to be associated with the two-dimensional semiconductor's bulk intrinsic valley Hall effect. Here, we use both simple microscopic tight-binding ribbon models and phenomenological bulk transport equations to emphasize the impact of sample edges on the nonlocal voltage signals. We show that the nonlocal valley Hall response is sensitive to electronic structure details at the sample edges, and that it is enhanced when the local longitudinal conductivity is larger near the sample edges than in the bulk. We discuss recent experiments in light of these findings and also discuss the close analogy between electron pumping between valleys near two-dimensional sample edges in the valley Hall effect, and bulk pumping between valleys due to the chiral anomaly in three-dimensional topological semimetals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Quantum Kinetic Theory of Thermoelectric and Thermal Transport in a Magnetic Field

We present a general quantum kinetic theory that accounts for the interplay between a temperature gradient, momentum-space Berry curvatures of Bloch electrons, and Bloch-state scattering. Using a theory that incorporates the presence of a temperature gradient by introducing a "thermal vector potential", we derive a quantum kinetic equation for Bloch electrons in the presence of disorder and a temperature gradient. Taking also into account the presence of electric and magnetic fields, the quantum kinetic equation we derive makes it possible to compute transport coefficients at arbitrary orders of electric-field $\vec{E}$, magnetic-field $\vec{B}$, and temperature-gradient $\nabla T$ strengths $|\vec{E}|^a |\vec{B}|^b |\nabla T|^c$. Our theory enables a systematic calculation of magnetothermoelectric and magnetothermal conductivities of systems with momentum-space Berry curvatures. As an illustration, we derive from a general microscopic electron model a general expression for the rate of pumping of electrons between valleys in parallel temperature gradient and magnetic field. From this expression we find a relation, which is analogous to the Mott relation, between the rate of pumping due to a temperature gradient and that due to an electric field. We also apply our theory to a two-band model for Weyl semimetals to study thermoelectric and thermal transport in a magnetic field. We show that the Mott relation is satisfied in the chiral-anomaly induced thermoelectric conductivity, and that the Wiedemann-Franz law is violated in the chiral-anomaly induced thermal conductivity, which are both consistent with the results obtained by invoking semiclassical wave-packet dynamics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Tunable Charged Domain Wall from Topological Confinement in Nodal-Line Semimetals

We study theoretically the electronic structure of topological nodal-line semimetals. We show that, in the presence of a gap-opening spatially dependent mass term that forms a domain wall, an in-gap charged localized mode emerges at the domain wall. It turns out that such a domain wall is realized by head-to-head (or tail-to-tail) bulk electric polarizations. The localized mode has a topological origin, i.e., a topological confinement is realized, which is understood by a semiclassical topological number defined in the semiclassical momentum-real space. In contrast to previous studies, our study demonstrates a topological confinement at the interface between two insulators without bulk topological numbers. Moreover, the dispersion of the localized mode evolves from gapless to gapped as the bulk bandgap increases, which means that its conductivity is externally tunable. We discuss a possible experimental realization of the stable, electrically-tunable charged domain wall.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Valley-Dependent Magnetoresistance in Two-Dimensional Semiconductors

We show theoretically that two-dimensional direct-gap semiconductors with a valley degree of freedom, including monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides and gapped bilayer graphene, have a longitudinal magnetoconductivity contribution that is odd in valley and odd in the magnetic field applied perpendicular to the system. Using a quantum kinetic theory we show how this valley-dependent magnetoconductivity arises from the interplay between the momentum-space Berry curvature of Bloch electrons, the presence of a magnetic field, and disorder scattering. We discuss how the effect can be measured experimentally and used as a detector of valley polarization.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Quantum Kinetic Theory of the Chiral Anomaly

We present a general quantum kinetic theory of low-field magnetotransport in weakly disordered crystals that accounts fully for the interplay between electric-field induced interband coherence, Bloch-state scattering, and an external magnetic field. The quantum kinetic equation we derive for the Bloch-state density matrix naturally incorporates the momentum-space Berry phase effects whose influence on Bloch-state wavepacket dynamics is normally incorporated into transport theory in an ad hoc manner. The Berry phase correction to the momentum-space density of states in the presence of an external magnetic field implied by semiclassical wavepacket dynamics is captured by our theory as an intrinsic density-matrix response to a magnetic field. We propose a simple and general procedure for expanding the linear response of the Bloch-state density matrix to an electric field in powers of magnetic field. As an illustration, we apply our theory to magnetotransport in Weyl semimetals. We show that the chiral anomaly (positive magnetoconductivity quadratic in magnetic field) that appears when separate Fermi surface pockets surround distinct Weyl points survives only when intervalley scattering is very weak compared to intravalley scattering.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Inter-band Coherence Response to Electric Fields in Crystals

In solid state conductors, linear response to a steady electric field is normally dominated by Bloch state occupation number changes that are correlated with group velocity and lead to a steady state current. However, for a number of important physical observables, the most important response even in conductors can be electric-field induced coherence between Bloch states in different bands, such as that responsible for screening in dielectrics. Examples include the anomalous and spin-Hall effects, spin torques, minimum conductivities and the chiral anomaly. In this paper we present a general quantum kinetic theory of linear response to an electric field which can be applied to solids with arbitrarily complicated band structures and includes the inter-band coherence response and the Bloch-state repopulation responses on an equal footing. We aim to enable extensive transport theory applications using computational packages based on maximally localized Wannier functions. The formalism is based on density-matrix equations of motion, on a Born approximation treatment of disorder, and on an expansion in scattering rate to leading non-trivial order. The quasiparticle bands are treated in a completely general manner that allows for arbitrary forms of the spin-orbit interaction and for the broken time reversal symmetry of magnetic conductors. We demonstrate that the inter-band response in conductors consists primarily of two terms: an intrinsic contribution due to the entire Fermi sea that captures the Berry curvature contribution to wave-packet dynamics, and an anomalous contribution caused by scattering that is sensitive to the presence of the Fermi surface. We solve for some electric-field response properties of simple model systems that are known to be dominated by interband coherence contributions and discuss an extensive list of complicated problems that cannot be solved analytically.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Electric-Field-Induced Spin Resonance in Antiferromagnetic Insulators: Inverse Process of the Dynamical Chiral Magnetic Effect

We propose a realization of the electric-field-induced antiferromagnetic resonance. We consider three-dimensional antiferromagnetic insulators with spin-orbit coupling characterized by the existence of a topological term called the $θ$ term. By solving the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation in the presence of the $θ$ term, we show that, in contrast to conventional methods using ac magnetic fields, the antiferromagnetic resonance state is realized by ac electric fields along with static magnetic fields. This mechanism can be understood as the inverse process of the dynamical chiral magnetic effect, an alternating current generation by magnetic fields. In other words, we propose a way to electrically induce the dynamical axion field in condensed matter. We discuss a possible experiment to observe our proposal, which utilizes the spin pumping from the antiferromagnetic insulator into a heavy metal contact.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Chiral Gravitomagnetic Effect in Topological Superconductors and Superfluids

We theoretically search for dynamical cross-correlated responses of three-dimensional topological superconductors and superfluids. It has been suggested that a gravitational topological term, which is analogous to the theta term in topological insulators, can be derived in three-dimensional time-reversal invariant topological superconductors and superfluids, and that the dynamical gravitational axion field can be realized by the fluctuation of the relative phase, i.e., by the Leggett mode between topological $p$-wave pairing and conventional $s$-wave pairing. In the presence of the dynamical gravitational axion field, we propose the emergence of the "chiral gravitomagnetic effect", a thermal current generation by gravitomagnetic fields, i.e., by mechanical rotations. This effect can be regarded as a thermal counterpart of the chiral magnetic effect which has been studied mainly in Weyl semimetals. We also show the occurrence of the anomalous thermal Hall effect in the bulk. We discuss a possible application of our study to the thermal responses of Weyl superconductors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Chiral Magnetic Effect and Anomalous Hall Effect in Antiferromagnetic Insulators with Spin-Orbit Coupling

We search for dynamical magnetoelectric phenomena in three-dimensional correlated systems with spin-orbit coupling. We focus on the antiferromagnetic insulator phases where the dynamical axion field is realized by the fluctuation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter. It is shown that the dynamical chiral magnetic effect, an alternating current generation by magnetic fields, emerges due to the time dependences of the order parameter such as antiferromagnetic resonance. It is also shown that the anomalous Hall effect arises due to the spatial variations of the order parameter such as antiferromagnetic domain walls. Our study indicates that spin excitations in antiferromagnetic insulators with spin-orbit coupling can result in nontrivial charge responses. Moreover, observing the chiral magnetic effect and anomalous Hall effect in our system is equivalent to detecting the dynamical axion field in condensed matter.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Axionic Antiferromagnetic Insulator Phase in a Correlated and Spin-Orbit Coupled System

We study theoretically a three-dimensional correlated and spin-orbit coupled system, the half-filled extended Fu-Kane-Mele-Hubbard model on a diamond lattice, focusing on the topological magnetoelectric response of the antiferromagnetic insulator phase. In the antiferromagnetic insulator phase, the Dirac-like low-energy effective Hamiltonian is obtained. Then the theta term, which results in the magnetoelectric response, is derived as a consequence of the chiral anomaly. The realization of the dynamical axion field in our model is discussed. The relation with a symmetry broken phase induced by interactions in lattice quantum chromodynamics is also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗