Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

C. W. J. Beenakker

Publications and source records attributed to C. W. J. Beenakker.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
arXiv2006

Deterministic quantum state transfer from an electronic charge qubit to a photonic polarization qubit

Building on an earlier proposal for the production of polarization-entangled microwaves by means of intraband transitions in a pair of quantum dots, we show how this device can be used to transfer an unknown single-qubit state from electronic charge to photonic polarization degrees of freedom. No postselection is required, meaning that the quantum state transfer happens deterministically. Decoherence of the charge qubit causes a non-monotonic decay of the fidelity of the transferred state with increasing decoherence rate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2006

Excess conductance of a spin-filtering quantum dot

The conductance G of a pair of single-channel point contacts in series, one of which is a spin filter, increases from 1/2 to 2/3 x e^2/h with more and more spin-flip scattering. This excess conductance was observed in a quantum dot by Zumbuhl et al., and proposed as a measure for the spin relaxation time T_1. Here we present a quantum mechanical theory for the effect in a chaotic quantum dot (mean level spacing Delta, dephasing time tau_phi, charging energy e^2/C), in order to answer the question whether T_1 can be determined independently of tau_phi and C. We find that this is possible in a time-reversal-symmetry-breaking magnetic field, when the average conductance follows closely the formula =(2e^2/h)(T_1+h/Delta)/(4T_1+3h/Delta).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2006

All-electronic coherent population trapping in quantum dots

We present a fully electronic analogue of coherent population trapping in quantum optics, based on destructive interference of single-electron tunneling between three quantum dots. A large bias voltage plays the role of the laser illumination. The trapped state is a coherent superposition of the electronic charge in two of these quantum dots, so it is destabilized as a result of decoherence by coupling to external charges. The resulting current I through the device depends on the ratio of the decoherence rate Gamma_phi and the tunneling rates. For Gamma_phi --> 0 one has simply I=e Gamma_phi. With increasing Gamma_phi the current peaks at the inverse trapping time. The direct relation between I and Gamma_phi can serve as a means of measuring the coherence time of a charge qubit in a transport experiment.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Voltage probe model of spin decay in a chaotic quantum dot, with applications to spin-flip noise and entanglement production

The voltage probe model is a model of incoherent scattering in quantum transport. Here we use this model to study the effect of spin-flip scattering on electrical conduction through a quantum dot with chaotic dynamics. The spin decay rate gamma is quantified by the correlation of spin-up and spin-down current fluctuations (spin-flip noise). The resulting decoherence reduces the ability of the quantum dot to produce spin-entangled electron-hole pairs. For gamma greater than a critical value gamma_c, the entanglement production rate vanishes identically. The statistical distribution P(gamma_c) of the critical decay rate in an ensemble of chaotic quantum dots is calculated using the methods of random-matrix theory. For small gamma_c this distribution is proportional to gamma_c^(-1+beta/2), depending on the presence (beta=1) or absence (beta=2) of time-reversal symmetry. To make contact with experimental observables, we derive a one-to-one relationship between the entanglement production rate and the spin-resolved shot noise, under the assumption that the density matrix is isotropic in the spin degrees of freedom. Unlike the Bell inequality, this relationship holds for both pure and mixed states. In the tunneling regime, the electron-hole pairs are entangled if and only if the correlator of parallel spin currents is at least twice larger than the correlator of antiparallel spin currents.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Quantum Point Contacts and Coherent Electron Focusing

I. Introduction II. Electrons at the Fermi level III. Conductance quantization of a quantum point contact IV. Optical analogue of the conductance quantization V. Classical electron focusing VI. Electron focusing as a transmission problem VII. Coherent electron focusing (Experiment, Skipping orbits and magnetic edge states, Mode-interference and coherent electron focusing) VIII. Other mode-interference phenomena

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Quantum Point Contacts

1. Quantized conductance 2. When 1 mode = 1 atom 3. Photons and Cooper pairs 4. Thermal analogues 5. Shot noise 6. Solid-state electron optics 7. Ultimate confinement 8. Landauer formulas

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Thermo-Electric Properties of Quantum Point Contacts

I. Introduction II. Theoretical background (Landauer-Buttiker formalism of thermo-electricity, Quantum point contacts as ideal electron waveguides, Saddle-shaped potential) III. Experiments (Thermopower, Thermal conductance, Peltier effect) IV. Conclusions

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Quantum-to-classical crossover for Andreev billiards in a magnetic field

We extend the existing quasiclassical theory for the superconducting proximity effect in a chaotic quantum dot, to include a time-reversal-symmetry breaking magnetic field. Random-matrix theory (RMT) breaks down once the Ehrenfest time $τ_E$ becomes longer than the mean time $τ_D$ between Andreev reflections. As a consequence, the critical field at which the excitation gap closes drops below the RMT prediction as $τ_E/τ_D$ is increased. Our quasiclassical results are supported by comparison with a fully quantum mechanical simulation of a stroboscopic model (the Andreev kicked rotator).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Quantum transport in semiconductor-superconductor microjunctions

Recent experiments on conduction between a semiconductor and a superconductor have revealed a variety of new mesoscopic phenomena. Here is a review of the present status of this rapidly developing field. A scattering theory is described which leads to a conductance formula analogous to Landauer's formula in normal-state conduction. The theory is used to identify features in the conductance which can serve as "signatures" of phase-coherent Andreev reflection, i.e. for which the phase coherence of the electrons and the Andreev-reflected holes is essential. The applications of the theory include a quantum point contact, quantum dot, weak localization, universal conductance fluctuations, shot noise, and reflectionless tunneling. This review is based on lectures at the Les Houches summer school, Session LXI, 1994.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Stroboscopic model of transport through a quantum dot with spin-orbit scattering

We present an open version of the symplectic kicked rotator as a stroboscopic model of electrical conduction through an open ballistic quantum dot with spin-orbit scattering. We demonstrate numerically and analytically that the model reproduces the universal weak localization and weak anti-localization peak in the magnetoconductance, as predicted by random-matrix theory (RMT). We also study the transition from weak localization to weak anti-localization with increasing strength of the spin-orbit scattering, and find agreement with RMT.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Coulomb-Blockade Oscillations in Semiconductor Nanostructures

I. Introduction (Preface, Basic properties of semiconductor nanostructures). II. Theory of Coulomb-blockade oscillations (Periodicity of the oscillations, Amplitude and lineshape). III. Experiments on Coulomb-blockade oscillations (Quantum dots, Disordered quantum wires, Relation to earlier work on disordered quantum wires). IV. Quantum Hall effect regime (The Aharonov-Bohm effect in a quantum dot, Coulomb blockade of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, Experiments on quantum dots, Experiments on disordered quantum wires).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Transfer of entanglement from electrons to photons by optical selection rules

The entanglement transfer from electrons localized in a pair of quantum dots to circularly polarized photons is governed by optical selection rules, enforced by conservation of angular momentum. We point out that the transfer can not be achieved by means of unitary evolution unless the angular momentum of the two initial qubit states differs by 2 units. In particular, for spin-entangled electrons the difference in angular momentum is 1 unit -- so the transfer fails. Nevertheless, the transfer can be successfully completed if the unitary evolution is followed by a measurement of the angular momentum of each quantum dot and post-processing of the photons using the measured values as input.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Entangled microwave photons from quantum dots

We describe a mechanism for the production of polarisation-entangled microwaves using intra-band transitions in a pair of quantum dots. This proposal relies neither on spin-orbit coupling nor on control over electron-electron interactions. The quantum correlation of microwave polarisations is obtained from orbital degrees of freedom in an external magnetic field. We calculate the concurrence of emitted microwave photon pairs, and show that a maximally entangled Bell pair is obtained in the limit of weak inter-dot coupling.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Optimal spin-entangled electron-hole pair pump

A nonperturbative theory is presented for the creation by an oscillating potential of spin-entangled electron-hole pairs in the Fermi sea. In the weak potential limit, considered earlier by Samuelsson and Buttiker, the entanglement production is much less than one bit per cycle. We demonstrate that a strong potential oscillation can produce an average of one Bell pair per two cycles, making it an efficient source of entangled flying qubits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2005

Stub model for dephasing in a quantum dot

As an alternative to Buttiker's dephasing lead model, we examine a dephasing stub. Both models are phenomenological ways to introduce decoherence in chaotic scattering by a quantum dot. The difference is that the dephasing lead opens up the quantum dot by connecting it to an electron reservoir, while the dephasing stub is closed at one end. Voltage fluctuations in the stub take over the dephasing role from the reservoir. Because the quantum dot with dephasing lead is an open system, only expectation values of the current can be forced to vanish at low frequencies, while the outcome of an individual measurement is not so constrained. The quantum dot with dephasing stub, in contrast, remains a closed system with a vanishing low-frequency current at each and every measurement. This difference is a crucial one in the context of quantum algorithms, which are based on the outcome of individual measurements rather than on expectation values. We demonstrate that the dephasing stub model has a parameter range in which the voltage fluctuations are sufficiently strong to suppress quantum interference effects, while still being sufficiently weak that classical current fluctuations can be neglected relative to the nonequilibrium shot noise.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Quantum Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures

I. Introduction (Preface, Nanostructures in Si Inversion Layers, Nanostructures in GaAs-AlGaAs Heterostructures, Basic Properties). II. Diffusive and Quasi-Ballistic Transport (Classical Size Effects, Weak Localization, Conductance Fluctuations, Aharonov-Bohm Effect, Electron-Electron Interactions, Quantum Size Effects, Periodic Potential). III. Ballistic Transport (Conduction as a Transmission Problem, Quantum Point Contacts, Coherent Electron Focusing, Collimation, Junction Scattering, Tunneling). IV. Adiabatic Transport (Edge Channels and the Quantum Hall Effect, Selective Population and Detection of Edge Channels, Fractional Quantum Hall Effect, Aharonov-Bohm Effect in Strong Magnetic Fields, Magnetically Induced Band Structure).

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2004

Anomalous temperature dependence of the supercurrent through a chaotic Josephson junction

We calculate the supercurrent through a Josephson junction consisting of a phase-coherent metal particle (quantum dot), weakly coupled to two superconductors. The classical motion in the quantum dot is assumed to be chaotic on time scales greater than the ergodic time $τ_{erg}$, which itself is much smaller than the mean dwell time $τ_{dwell}$. The excitation spectrum of the Josephson junction has a gap $E_{gap}$, which can be less than the gap $Δ$ in the bulk superconductors. The average supercurrent is computed in the ergodic regime $τ_{erg} \ll \hbar/Δ$, using random-matrix theory, and in the non-ergodic regime $τ_{erg} \gg \hbar/Δ$, using a semiclassical relation between the supercurrent and dwell-time distribution. In contrast to conventional Josephson junctions, raising the temperature above the excitation gap does not necessarily lead to an exponential suppression of the supercurrent. Instead, we find a temperature regime between $E_{gap}$ and $Δ$ where the supercurrent decreases logarithmically with temperature. This anomalously weak temperature dependence is caused by long-range correlations in the excitation spectrum, which extend over an energy range $\hbar/τ_{erg}$ greater than $E_{gap} \simeq \hbar/τ_{dwell}$. A similar logarithmic temperature dependence of the supercurrent was discovered by Aslamazov, Larkin, and Ovchinnikov, in a Josephson junction consisting of a disordered metal between two tunnel barriers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗