arXiv subjects

Ephraim Bernhardt

Publications and source records attributed to Ephraim Bernhardt.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Majorana fermions and quantum information with fractional topology and disorder

The quest to identify and observe Majorana fermions in physics and condensed-matter systems remains an important challenge. Here, we introduce a qubit (spin-$1/2$) from the occurrence of two delocalized zero-energy Majorana fermions in a model of two spins-$1/2$ on the Bloch sphere within the fractional one-half topological state. We address specific protocols in time with circularly polarized light and the protection of this delocalized spin-$1/2$ state related to quantum information protocols. We also show how disorder can play a positive and important role allowing singlet-triplet transitions and resulting in an additional elongated region for the fractional phase, demonstrating the potential of this platform related to applications in topologically protected quantum information. We generalize our approach with an array and Majorana fermions at the edges in a ring geometry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

A topologically protected quantum dynamo effect in a driven spin-boson model

We describe a quantum dynamo effect in a driven system coupled to a harmonic oscillator describing a cavity mode or to a collection of modes forming an Ohmic bosonic bath. When the system Hamiltonian changes in time, this induces a dynamical field in the bosonic modes having resonant frequencies with the driving velocity. This field opposes the change of the external driving field in a way reminiscent of Faraday's law of induction, justifying the term 'quantum dynamo effect'. For the specific situation of a periodically driven spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ on the Bloch sphere, we show that the work done by rolling the spin from north to south pole can efficiently be converted into a coherent displacement of the resonant bosonic modes, the effect thus corresponds to a work-to-work conversion and allows to interpret this transmitted energy into the bath as work. We study this effect, its performance and limitations in detail for a driven spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ in the presence of a radial magnetic field addressing a relation with topological systems through the formation of an effective charge in the core of the sphere. We show that the dynamo effect is directly related to the dynamically measured topology of this spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ and thus in the adiabatic limit provides a topologically protected method to convert driving work into a coherent field in the reservoir. The quantum dynamo model is realizable in mesoscopic and atomic systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Localization Dynamics from Static and Mobile Impurities

We study the superfluid response and localization dynamics from static and mobile impurities. The superfluidity is formed in the rung-Mott phase of a bosonic ladder model producing spin-Meissner currents induced by a $\mathbb{U}(1)$ gauge field or a uniform magnetic field. Impurities are described through two-state systems which act as a two-peak random potential. An impurity sits either at the top or at the bottom of the ladder on each rung equally, producing a telegraph signal. The impurities-matter coupling gives rise to a classical Ising symmetry for static and mobile impurities associated to the inversion symmetry of the two legs of the ladder. From the decoupled rungs limit, we also identify a local $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory for mobile impurities. The properties of the system are studied from an effective quantum spin model including the possibility of four-body coupling in the limit of a strong interaction between bosons and impurities. Through analytical approaches and numerical exact diagonalization, we study the superfluid currents both in the weakly-coupled and strongly-coupled rungs limits for the bosons. In the weakly-coupled rungs situation, we find a smooth power-law localization whereas the strongly-coupled rungs limit produces a steep localization or insulating phase for various configurations of the two-peak random potential. In the strongly disordered situation, through entanglement and bipartite fluctuation measures, we also identify a many-body localization regime in time after a quench of the system when prepared in a N\' eel state.

cond-mat.str-el↗