arXiv subjects

Geoffrey C. Gardner

Publications and source records attributed to Geoffrey C. Gardner.

68 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Negative spin exchange in a multielectron quantum dot

By operating a one-electron quantum dot (fabricated between a multielectron dot and a one-electron reference dot) as a spectroscopic probe, we study the spin properties of a gate-controlled multielectron GaAs quantum dot at the transition between odd and even occupation number. We observe that the multielectron groundstate transitions from spin-1/2-like to singlet-like to triplet-like as we increase the detuning towards the next higher charge state. The sign reversal in the inferred exchange energy persists at zero magnetic field, and the exchange strength is tunable by gate voltages and in-plane magnetic fields. Complementing spin leakage spectroscopy data, the inspection of coherent multielectron spin exchange oscillations provides further evidence for the sign reversal and, inferentially, for the importance of non-trivial multielectron spin exchange correlations.

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arXiv2017

Spectrum of the Nuclear Environment for GaAs Spin Qubits

Using a singlet-triplet spin qubit as a sensitive spectrometer of the GaAs nuclear spin bath, we demonstrate that the spectrum of Overhauser noise agrees with a classical spin diffusion model over six orders of magnitude in frequency, from 1 mHz to 1 kHz, is flat below 10 mHz, and falls as $1/f^2$ for frequency $f \! \gtrsim \! 1$ Hz. Increasing the applied magnetic field from 0.1 T to 0.75 T suppresses electron-mediated spin diffusion, which decreases spectral content in the $1/f^2$ region and lowers the saturation frequency, each by an order of magnitude, consistent with a numerical model. Spectral content at megahertz frequencies is accessed using dynamical decoupling, which shows a crossover from the few-pulse regime ($\lesssim \! 16$ $π$-pulses), where transverse Overhauser fluctuations dominate dephasing, to the many-pulse regime ($\gtrsim \! 32$ $π$-pulses), where longitudinal Overhauser fluctuations with a $1/f$ spectrum dominate.

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arXiv2017

Quantum Lifetime in Ultra-High Quality GaAs Quantum Wells: Relationship to $Δ_{5/2}$ and Impact of Density Fluctuations

We consider quantum lifetime derived from low-field Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations as a metric of quality of the two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs quantum wells that expresses large excitation gaps in the fractional quantum Hall states of the N=1 Landau level. Analysis indicates two salient features: 1) small density inhomogeneities dramatically impact the amplitude of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations such that the canonical method (cf. Coleridge, Phys. Rev. B \textbf{44}, 3793) for determination of quantum lifetime substantially underestimates $τ_q$ unless density inhomogeneity is explicitly considered; 2) $τ_q$ does not correlate well with quality as measured by $Δ_{5/2}$, the excitation gap of the fractional quantum Hall state at 5/2 filling.

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arXiv2017

High temperature resistivity measured at ν = 5/2 as a predictor of 2DEG quality in the N=1 Landau level

We report a high temperature (T = 0.3K) indicator of the excitation gap $Δ_{5/2}$ at the filling factor $ ν=5/2$ fractional quantum Hall state in ultra-high quality AlGaAs/GaAs two-dimensional electron gases. As the lack of correlation between mobility $μ$ and $Δ_{5/2}$ has been well established in previous experiments, we define, analyze and discuss the utility of a different metric $ρ_{5/2}$, the resistivity at $ν=5/2$, as a high temperature predictor of $Δ_{5/2}$. This high-field resistivity reflects the scattering rate of composite fermions. Good correlation between $ρ_{5/2}$ and $Δ_{5/2}$ is observed in both a density tunable device and in a series of identically structured wafers with similar density but vastly different mobility. This correlation can be explained by the fact that both $ρ_{5/2}$ and $Δ_{5/2}$ are sensitive to long-range disorder from remote impurities, while $μ$ is sensitive primarily to disorder localized near the quantum well.

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arXiv2017

Symmetric Operation of the Resonant Exchange Qubit

We operate a resonant exchange qubit in a highly symmetric triple-dot configuration using IQ-modulated RF pulses. At the resulting three-dimensional sweet spot the qubit splitting is an order of magnitude less sensitive to all relevant control voltages, compared to the conventional operating point, but we observe no significant improvement in the quality of Rabi oscillations. For weak driving this is consistent with Overhauser field fluctuations modulating the qubit splitting. For strong driving we infer that effective voltage noise modulates the coupling strength between RF drive and the qubit, thereby quickening Rabi decay. Application of CPMG dynamical decoupling sequences consisting of up to n = 32 π pulses significantly prolongs qubit coherence, leading to marginally longer dephasing times in the symmetric configuration. This is consistent with dynamical decoupling from low frequency noise, but quantitatively cannot be explained by effective gate voltage noise and Overhauser field fluctuations alone. Our results inform recent strategies for the utilization of partial sweet spots in the operation and long-distance coupling of triple-dot qubits.

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arXiv2016

Quantum capacitance anomalies of two-dimensional non-equilibrium states under microwave irradiation

We report our direct study of the compressibility on ultrahigh mobility two-dimensional electron system ($μ_{e} \sim 1 \times 10^{7}$ cm$^{2}$/Vs) in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells under microwave (MW) irradiation. The field penetration current results show that the quantum capacitance oscillates with microwave induced resistance oscillations (MIRO), however, the trend is opposite with respect to the compressibility for usual equilibrium states in previous theoretical explanations. The anomalous phenomena provide a platform for study on the non-equilibrium system under microwave, and point to the current domains and inhomogeneity induced by radiation. Moreover, the quantum capacitance indication for multi-photon process around $j = 1/2$ is detected under intensive microwave below 30 GHz.

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arXiv2016

High-fidelity entangling gate for double-quantum-dot spin qubits

Electron spins in semiconductors are promising qubits because their long coherence times enable nearly 10^9 coherent quantum gate operations. However, developing a scalable high-fidelity two-qubit gate remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate an entangling gate between two double-quantum-dot spin qubits in GaAs by using a magnetic field gradient between the two dots in each qubit to suppress decoherence due to charge noise. When the magnetic gradient dominates the voltage-controlled exchange interaction between electrons, qubit coherence times increase by an order of magnitude. Using randomized benchmarking and self-consistent quantum measurement, state, and process tomography, we measure single-qubit gate fidelities of approximately 99% and an entangling gate fidelity of 90%. In the future, operating double quantum dot spin qubits with large gradients in nuclear-spin-free materials, such as Si, should enable a two-qubit gate fidelity surpassing the threshold for fault-tolerant quantum information processing.

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arXiv2016

Bias-induced breakdown of electron solids in the second Landau level

Reentrant integer quantum Hall (RIQH) states are believed to be correlated electron solid phases, though their microscopic description remains unclear. As bias current increases, longitudinal and Hall resistivities measured for these states exhibit multiple sharp breakdown transitions, a signature unique to RIQH states. A comparison of RIQH breakdown characteristics at multiple voltage probes indicates that these signatures can be ascribed to a phase boundary between broken-down and unbroken regions, spreading chirally from source and drain contacts as a function of bias current and passing voltage probes one by one. The chiral sense of the spreading is not set by the chirality of the edge state itself, instead depending on electron- or hole-like character of the RIQH state.

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arXiv2016

Modified MBE hardware and techniques and role of gallium purity for attainment of two dimensional electron gas mobility >35 x10^6 cm^2/Vs in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by MBE

We provide evidence that gallium purity is the primary impediment to attainment of ultra-high mobility in a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The purity of gallium can be enhanced dramatically by in-situ high temperature outgassing within an operating MBE. Based on analysis of data from an initial growth campaign in a new MBE system and modifications employed for a 2nd growth campaign, we have produced 2DEGs with low temperature mobility in excess of 35x10^6cm2/Vs at density n=3.0x10^11/cm2 and mobility 18x10^6cm2/Vs at n=1.1x1011/cm2. Our 2nd campaign data indicate that gallium purity remains the factor currently limiting mobility <40x10^6cm2/Vs. We describe strategies to overcome this limitation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Noise suppression using symmetric exchange gates in spin qubits

We demonstrate a substantial improvement in the spin-exchange gate using symmetric control instead of conventional detuning in GaAs spin qubits, up to a factor-of-six increase in the quality factor of the gate. For symmetric operation, nanosecond voltage pulses are applied to the barrier that controls the interdot potential between quantum dots, modulating the exchange interaction while maintaining symmetry between the dots. Excellent agreement is found with a model that separately includes electrical and nuclear noise sources for both detuning and symmetric gating schemes. Unlike exchange control via detuning, the decoherence of symmetric exchange rotations is dominated by rotation-axis fluctuations due to nuclear field noise rather than direct exchange noise.

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arXiv2016

Spatially resolved breakdown in reentrant quantum Hall states

Reentrant integer quantum Hall (RIQH) states are believed to be correlated electron solid phases, though their microscopic description remains unclear. As bias current increases, longitudinal and Hall resistivities measured for these states exhibit multiple sharp breakdown transitions, a signature unique to RIQH states. We present spatially-resolved measurements of RIQH breakdown that indicate these breakdown signatures can be ascribed to a phase boundary between broken-down and unbroken regions, spreading chirally from source and drain contacts as a function of bias current and passing voltage probes one by one. The chiral sense of the spreading is not set by the chirality of the edge state itself, instead depending on electron- or hole-like character of the RIQH state.

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arXiv2014

Low-temperature illumination and annealing of ultra-high quality quantum wells

The effects of low temperature illumination and annealing on fractional quantum Hall (FQH) characteristics of a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well are investigated. Illumination alone, below 1 K, decreases the density of the 2DEG electrons by more than an order of magnitude and resets the sample to a repeatable initial state. Subsequent thermal annealing at a few Kelvin restores the original density and dramatically improves FQH characteristics. A reliable illumination and annealing recipe is developed that yields an energy gap of 600 mK for the 5/2 state.

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arXiv2014

Field-effect-induced two-dimensional electron gas utilizing modulation doping for improved ohmic contacts

Modulation-doped AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures are utilized extensively in the study of quantum transport in nanostructures, but charge fluctuations associated with remote ionized dopants often produce deleterious effects. Electric field-induced carrier systems offer an attractive alternative if certain challenges can be overcome. We demonstrate a field-effect transistor in which the active channel is locally devoid of modulation-doping, but silicon dopant atoms are retained in the ohmic contact region to facilitate reliable low-resistance contacts. A high quality two-dimensional electron gas is induced by a field-effect and is tunable over a wide range of density. Device design, fabrication, and low temperature (T= 0.3K) transport data are reported.

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arXiv2013

Growth and electrical characterization of Al0.24Ga0.76As/AlxGa1-xAs/Al0.24Ga0.76As modulation-doped quantum wells with extremely low x

We report on the growth and electrical characterization of modulation-doped Al0.24Ga0.76As/AlxGa1-xAs/Al0.24Ga0.76As quantum wells with mole fractions as low as x=0.00057. Such structures will permit detailed studies of the impact of alloy disorder in the fractional quantum Hall regime. At zero magnetic field, we extract an alloy scattering rate of 24 ns-1 per %Al. Additionally we find that for x as low as 0.00057 in the quantum well, alloy scattering becomes the dominant mobility-limiting scattering mechanism in ultra-high purity two-dimensional electron gases typically used to study the fragile nu=5/2 and nu=12/5 fractional quantum Hall states.

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