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C. Piermarocchi

Publications and source records attributed to C. Piermarocchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acceleration techniques for semiclassical Maxwell-Bloch systems: An application to discrete quantum dot ensembles

The solution to Maxwell-Bloch systems using an integral-equation-based framework has proven effective at capturing collective features of laser-driven and radiation-coupled quantum dots, such as light localization and modifications of Rabi oscillations. Importantly, it enables observation of the dynamics of each quantum dot in large ensembles in a rigorous, error-controlled, and self-consistent way without resorting to spatial averaging. Indeed, this approach has demonstrated convergence in ensembles containing up to $10^4$ interacting quantum dots. Scaling beyond $10^4$ quantum dots tests the limit of computational horsepower, however, due to the $\mathcal{O}(N_t N_s^2)$ scaling (where $N_t$ and $N_s$ denote the number of temporal and spatial degrees of freedom). In this work, we present an algorithm that reduces the cost of analysis to $\mathcal{O}(N_t N_s \log^2 N_s)$. While the foundations of this approach rely on well-known particle-particle/particle-mesh and adaptive integral methods, we add refinements specific to transient systems and systems with multiple spatial and temporal derivatives. Accordingly, we offer numerical results that validate the accuracy, effectiveness and utility of this approach in analyzing the dynamics of large ensembles of quantum dots.

physics.comp-ph

All-optical four-state magnetization reversal in (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnetic semiconductors

Using density matrix equations of motion and a tight-binding band calculation, we predict all-optical switching between four metastable magnetic states of (III,Mn)As ferromagnets. This switching is initiated non-thermally within 100fs, during nonlinear coherent photoexcitation. For a single optical pulse, magnetization reversal is completed after $\sim$100 ps and controlled by the coherent femtosecond photoexcitation. Our predicted switching comes from magnetic nonlinearities triggered by a femtosecond magnetization tilt that is sensitive to un--adiabatic light--induced spin interactions.

physics.optics

Femtosecond Coherent Control of Spin with Light in (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnets

Using density matrix equations of motion, we predict a femtosecond collective spin tilt triggered by nonlinear, near--ultraviolet ($\sim$3eV), coherent photoexcitation of (Ga,Mn)As ferromagnetic semiconductors with linearly polarized light. This dynamics results from carrier coherences and nonthermal populations excited in the \{111\} equivalent directions of the Brillouin zone and triggers a subsequent uniform precession. We predict nonthermal magnetization control by tuning the laser frequency and polarization direction. Our mechanism explains recent ultrafast pump--probe experiments.

cond-mat.str-el

Zeno Quantum Gates in Semiconductor Quantum Dots

We propose a scheme for a two-qubit conditional phase gate by quantum Zeno effect with semiconductor quantum dots. The system consists of two charged dots and one ancillary dot that can perform Rabi oscillations under a resonant laser pulse. The quantum Zeno effect is induced by phonon-assisted exciton relaxation between the ancillary dot and the charged dots, which is equivalent to a continuous measurement. We solve analytically the master equation and simulate the dynamics of the system using a realistic set of parameters. In contrast to standard schemes, larger phonon relaxation rates increase the fidelity of the operations.

cond-mat.other

Scanning-probe spectroscopy of semiconductor donor molecules

Semiconductor devices continue to press into the nanoscale regime, and new applications have emerged for which the quantum properties of dopant atoms act as the functional part of the device, underscoring the necessity to probe the quantum structure of small numbers of dopant atoms in semiconductors[1-3]. Although dopant properties are well-understood with respect to bulk semiconductors, new questions arise in nanosystems. For example, the quantum energy levels of dopants will be affected by the proximity of nanometer-scale electrodes. Moreover, because shallow donors and acceptors are analogous to hydrogen atoms, experiments on small numbers of dopants have the potential to be a testing ground for fundamental questions of atomic and molecular physics, such as the maximum negative ionization of a molecule with a given number of positive ions[4,5]. Electron tunneling spectroscopy through isolated dopants has been observed in transport studies[6,7]. In addition, Geim and coworkers identified resonances due to two closely spaced donors, effectively forming donor molecules[8]. Here we present capacitance spectroscopy measurements of silicon donors in a gallium-arsenide heterostructure using a scanning probe technique[9,10]. In contrast to the work of Geim et al., our data show discernible peaks attributed to successive electrons entering the molecules. Hence this work represents the first addition spectrum measurement of dopant molecules. More generally, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first example of single-electron capacitance spectroscopy performed directly with a scanning probe tip[9].

cond-mat.mes-hall

Light-mass Bragg cavity polaritons in planar quantum dot lattices

The exciton-polariton modes of a quantum dot lattice embedded in a planar optical cavity are theoretically investigated. Umklapp terms, in which an exciton interacts with many cavity modes differing by reciprocal lattice vectors, appear in the Hamiltonian due to the periodicity of the dot lattice. We focus on Bragg polariton modes obtained by tuning the exciton and the cavity modes into resonance at high symmetry points of the Brillouin Zone. Depending on the microcavity design these polaritons modes at finite in-plane momentum can be guided and can have long lifetimes. Moreover, their effective mass can be extremely small, of the order of $10^{-8} m_0$ ($m_0$ is the bare electron mass), and they constitute the lightest exciton-like quasi-particles in solids.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Theory of cavity-polariton self-trapping and optical strain in polymer chains

We consider a semiconductor polymer chain coupled to a single electromagnetic mode in a cavity. The excitations of the chain have a mixed exciton-photon character and are described as polaritons. Polaritons are coupled to the lattice by the deformation potential interaction and can propagate in the chain. We find that the presence of optical excitation in the polymer induces strain on the lattice. We use a BCS variational wavefunction to calculate the chemical potential of the polaritons as a function of their density. We analyze first the case of a short chain with only two unit cells in order to check the validity of our variational approach. In the case of a long chain and for a strong coupling with the lattice, the system undergoes a phase transition corresponding to the self-trapping of polaritons. The role of the exciton spontaneous emission and cavity damping are discussed in the case of homogeneous optical lattice strain.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Long-range spin-qubit interaction mediated by microcavity polaritons

We study the optically-induced coupling between spins mediated by polaritons in a planar micro-cavity. In the strong coupling regime, the vacuum Rabi splitting introduces anisotropies in the spin coupling. Moreover, due to their photon-like mass, polaritons provide an extremely long spin coupling range. This suggests the realization of two-qubit all-optical quantum operations within tens of picoseconds with spins localized as far as hundreds of nanometers apart.

cond-mat.other

Photovoltaic effect in bent quantum wires

We propose a scheme for the generation of photocurrent in bent quantum wires. We calculate the current using a generalized Landauer-Buttiker approach that takes into account the electromagnetic radiation. For circularly polarized light, we find that the curvature in the bent wire induces an asymmetry in the scattering coefficients for left and right moving electrons. This asymmetry results in a current at zero bias voltage. The effect is due to the geometry of the wire which transforms the photon angular momentum into translational motion for the electrons.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Spin-photovoltaic effect in quantum wires due to inter-subband transitions

We consider the current induced in a quantum wire by external electromagnetic radiation. The photocurrent is caused by the interplay of spin-orbit interaction (Rashba and Dresselhaus terms) and external in-plane magnetic field. We calculate this current using a Wigner functions approach taking into account radiation-induced transitions between transverse subbands. The magnitude and the direction of the current depend on the Dresselhaus and Rashba constants, strength of magnetic field, radiation frequency and intensity. The current can be controlled by changing some of these parameters.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Coherent control of lattice deformations in quantum wires by optical self-trapping

We investigate theoretically a semiconductor quantum wire under the effect of an intense off-resonant cw laser. We show that in the regime of strong exciton-phonon coupling the light-dressed ground state of the wire reveals symmetry-breaking features, leading to local lattice deformations. Due to the off-resonant nature of the excitation, the deformations are reversible and controllable by the intensity and frequency of the laser. We calculate the light-induced strain forces on the lattice in the case of an organic quantum wire.

cond-mat.other

Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Single Excitons Bound to Pairs of Te Isoelectronic Impurity Centers in ZnSe

Tellurium impurity centers in ZnSe were individually probed with time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Resolution-limited peaks with an ultra-low spatial density originate in the recombination of excitons deeply bound to isolated nearest-neighbor isoelectronic Te pairs (Te2). This interpretation is confirmed by ab-initio calculations. The peaks reveal anti-bunched photon emission and a doublet structure polarized along [110] and [-110]. We analyze the time-resolved PL decay to clarify the role of the dark states in the spin relaxation and radiative recombination of single fine-structure split excitons.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Entanglement and errors in the control of spins by optical coupling

We analyze the optical quantum control of impurity spins in proximity to a quantum dot. A laser pulse creates an exciton in the dot and controls the spins by indirect coupling. We show how to determine the control parameters using as an illustration the production of maximal spin entanglement. We consider errors in the quantum control due to the exciton radiative recombination. The control errors in the adiabatic and nonadiabatic case are compared to the threshold needed for scalable quantum computing.

cond-mat.other

Coherent optical control of spin-spin interaction in doped semiconductors

We provide a theory of laser-induced interaction between spins localized by impurity centers in a semiconductor host. By solving exactly the problem of two localized spins interacting with one itinerant exciton, an analytical expression for the induced spin-spin interaction is given as a function of the spin separation, laser energy, and intensity. We apply the theory to shallow neutral donors (Si) and deep rare-earth magnetic impurities (Yb) in III-V semiconductors. When the photon energy approaches a resonance related to excitons bound to the impurities, the coupling between the localized spins increases, and may change from ferromagnetic to anti-ferromagnetic. This light-controlled spin interaction provides a mechanism for the quantum control of spins in semiconductors for quantum information processing; it suggests the realization of spin systems whose magnetic properties can be controlled by changing the strength and the sign of the spin-spin interaction.

cond-mat.other

Decoherence processes during active manipulation of excitonic qubits in semiconductor quantum dots

Using photoluminescence spectroscopy, we have investigated the nature of Rabi oscillation damping during active manipulation of excitonic qubits in self-assembled quantum dots. Rabi oscillations were recorded by varying the pulse amplitude for fixed pulse durations between 4 ps and 10 ps. Up to 5 periods are visible, making it possible to quantify the excitation dependent damping. We find that this damping is more pronounced for shorter pulse widths and show that its origin is the non-resonant excitation of carriers in the wetting layer, most likely involving bound-to-continuum and continuum-to-bound transitions.

cond-mat.other

Experimental realization of the one qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm in a quantum dot

We perform quantum interference experiments on a single self-assembled semiconductor quantum dot. The presence or absence of a single exciton in the dot provides a qubit that we control with femtosecond time resolution. We combine a set of quantum operations to realize the single-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. The results show the feasibility of single qubit quantum logic in a semiconductor quantum dot using ultrafast optical control.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Spin swap vs. double occupancy in quantum gates

We propose an approach to realize quantum gates with electron spins localized in a semiconductor that uses double occupancy to advantage. With a fast (non-adiabatic) time control of the tunnelling, the probability of double occupancy is first increased and then brought back exactly to zero. The quantum phase built in this process can be exploited to realize fast quantum operations. We illustrate the idea focusing on the half-swap operation, which is the key two-qubit operation needed to build a CNOT gate.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Coherently photo-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors

Ferromagnetism is predicted in undoped diluted magnetic semiconductors illuminated by intense sub-bandgap laser radiation . The mechanism for photo-induced ferromagnetism is coherence between conduction and valence bands induced by the light which leads to an optical exchange interaction. The ferromagnetic critical temperature T_C depends both on the properties of the material and on the frequency and intensity of the laser and could be above 1 K.

cond-mat.mes-hall