arXiv subjects

James O'Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to James O'Sullivan.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Superconducting Parallel-Plate Resonators for the Detection of Single Electron Spins

We introduce a multilayer superconducting microwave resonator with sub-Ohm impedance optimized for high coupling strength to single electron spins. The design minimizes the magnetic far-field and therefore achieves a Purcell factor $F_P > 10^{15}$. We show several ways to fabricate this type of resonator and present resonators with an intrinsic $Q$-factor exceeding $2 \cdot 10^4$ at the single-photon level. We further characterize these resonators in magnetic fields up to $500 \, \text{mT}$. Finally, we evaluate the impact of the achievable Purcell factor on single-spin detection through photon counting and dispersive readout.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Individual solid-state nuclear spin qubits with coherence exceeding seconds

The ability to coherently control and read out qubits with long coherence times in a scalable system is a crucial requirement for any quantum processor. Nuclear spins in the solid state have shown great promise as long-lived qubits. Control and readout of individual nuclear spin qubit registers has made major progress in the recent years using individual electron spin ancilla addressed either electrically or optically. Here, we present a new platform for quantum information processing, consisting of $^{183}$W nuclear spin qubits adjacent to an Er$^{3+}$ impurity in a CaWO$_4$ crystal, interfaced via a superconducting resonator and detected using a microwave photon counter at 10mK. We study two nuclear spin qubits with $T_2^*$ of $0.8(2)~$s and $1.2(3)~$s, $T_2$ of $3.4(4)~$s and $4.4(6)~$ s, respectively. We demonstrate single-shot quantum non-demolition readout of each nuclear spin qubit using the Er$^{3+}$ spin as an ancilla. We introduce a new scheme for all-microwave single- and two-qubit gates, based on stimulated Raman driving of the coupled electron-nuclear spin system. We realize single- and two-qubit gates on a timescale of a few milliseconds, and prepare a decoherence-protected Bell state with 88% fidelity and $T_2^*$ of $1.7(2)~$s. Our results are a proof-of-principle demonstrating the potential of solid-state nuclear spin qubits as a promising platform for quantum information processing. With the potential to scale to tens or hundreds of qubits, this platform has prospects for the development of scalable quantum processors with long-lived qubits.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Deterministic generation of a 20-qubit two-dimensional photonic cluster state

Multidimensional cluster states are a key resource for robust quantum communication, measurement-based quantum computing and quantum metrology. Here, we present a device capable of emitting large-scale entangled microwave photonic states in a two dimensional ladder structure. The device consists of a pair of coupled superconducting transmon qubits which are each tuneably coupled to a common output waveguide. This architecture permits entanglement between each transmon and a deterministically emitted photonic qubit. By interleaving two-qubit gates with controlled photon emission, we generate 2 x n grids of time- and frequency-multiplexed cluster states of itinerant microwave photons. We measure a signature of localizable entanglement across up to 20 photonic qubits. We expect the device architecture to be capable of generating a wide range of other tensor network states such as tree graph states, repeater states or the ground state of the toric code, and to be readily scalable to generate larger and higher dimensional states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Probing spin dynamics of ultra-thin van der Waals magnets via photon-magnon coupling

Layered van der Waals (vdW) magnets can maintain a magnetic order even down to the single-layer regime and hold promise for integrated spintronic devices. While the magnetic ground state of vdW magnets was extensively studied, key parameters of spin dynamics, like the Gilbert damping, crucial for designing ultra-fast spintronic devices, remains largely unexplored. Despite recent studies by optical excitation and detection, achieving spin wave control with microwaves is highly desirable, as modern integrated information technologies predominantly are operated with these. The intrinsically small numbers of spins, however, poses a major challenge to this. Here, we present a hybrid approach to detect spin dynamics mediated by photon-magnon coupling between high-Q superconducting resonators and ultra-thin flakes of Cr$_2$Ge$_2$Te$_6$ (CGT) as thin as 11\,nm. We test and benchmark our technique with 23 individual CGT flakes and extract an upper limit for the Gilbert damping parameter. These results are crucial in designing on-chip integrated circuits using vdW magnets and offer prospects for probing spin dynamics of monolayer vdW magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Realizing a deep reinforcement learning agent discovering real-time feedback control strategies for a quantum system

To realize the full potential of quantum technologies, finding good strategies to control quantum information processing devices in real time becomes increasingly important. Usually these strategies require a precise understanding of the device itself, which is generally not available. Model-free reinforcement learning circumvents this need by discovering control strategies from scratch without relying on an accurate description of the quantum system. Furthermore, important tasks like state preparation, gate teleportation and error correction need feedback at time scales much shorter than the coherence time, which for superconducting circuits is in the microsecond range. Developing and training a deep reinforcement learning agent able to operate in this real-time feedback regime has been an open challenge. Here, we have implemented such an agent in the form of a latency-optimized deep neural network on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). We demonstrate its use to efficiently initialize a superconducting qubit into a target state. To train the agent, we use model-free reinforcement learning that is based solely on measurement data. We study the agent's performance for strong and weak measurements, and for three-level readout, and compare with simple strategies based on thresholding. This demonstration motivates further research towards adoption of reinforcement learning for real-time feedback control of quantum devices and more generally any physical system requiring learnable low-latency feedback control.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Coherent spin dynamics of rare-earth doped crystals in the high-cooperativity regime

Rare-earth doped crystals have long coherence times and the potential to provide quantum interfaces between microwave and optical photons. Such applications benefit from a high cooperativity between the spin ensemble and a microwave cavity -- this motivates an increase in the rare earth ion concentration which in turn impacts the spin coherence lifetime. We measure spin dynamics of two rare-earth spin species, $^{145}$Nd and Yb doped into Y$_{2}$SiO$_{5}$, coupled to a planar microwave resonator in the high cooperativity regime, in the temperature range 1.2 K to 14 mK. We identify relevant decoherence mechanisms including instantaneous diffusion arising from resonant spins and temperature-dependent spectral diffusion from impurity electron and nuclear spins in the environment. We explore two methods to mitigate the effects of spectral diffusion in the Yb system in the low-temperature limit, first, using magnetic fields of up to 1 T to suppress impurity spin dynamics and, second, using transitions with low effective g-factors to reduce sensitivity to such dynamics. Finally, we demonstrate how the `clock transition' present in the $^{171}$Yb system at zero field can be used to increase coherence times up to $T_{2} = 6(1)$ ms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Random-access quantum memory using chirped pulse phase encoding

As in conventional computing, key attributes of quantum memories are high storage density and, crucially, random access, or the ability to read from or write to an arbitrarily chosen register. However, achieving such random access with quantum memories in a dense, hardware-efficient manner remains a challenge, for example requiring dedicated cavities per qubit or pulsed field gradients. Here we introduce a protocol using chirped pulses to encode qubits within an ensemble of quantum two-level systems, offering both random access and naturally supporting dynamical decoupling to enhance the memory lifetime. We demonstrate the protocol in the microwave regime using donor spins in silicon coupled to a superconducting cavity, storing up to four multi-photon microwave pulses in distinct memory modes and retrieving them on-demand up to 2~ms later. A further advantage is the natural suppression of superradiant echo emission, which we show is critical when approaching unit cooperativity. This approach offers the potential for microwave random access quantum memories with lifetimes exceeding seconds, while the chirped pulse phase encoding could also be applied in the optical regime to enhance quantum repeaters and networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Spin coherence of near-surface ionised $^{125}$Te$^+$ donors in silicon

Impurity spins in crystal matrices are promising components in quantum technologies, particularly if they can maintain their spin properties when close to surfaces and material interfaces. Here, we investigate an attractive candidate for microwave-domain applications, the spins of group-VI Impurity spins in crystal matrices are promising components in quantum technologies, particularly if they can maintain their spin properties when close to surfaces and material interfaces. Here, we investigate an attractive candidate for microwave-domain applications, the spins of group-VI $^{125}$Te$^+$ donors implanted into natural Si at depths as shallow as 20~nm. We show that surface band-bending can be used to ionise such near-surface Te to spin-active Te$^+$ state, and that optical illumination can be used further to control the Te donor charge state. We examine spin activation yield, spin linewidth, relaxation ($T_1$) and coherence times (\ttwo) and show how a zero-field 3.5~GHz `clock transition' extends spin coherence times to over 1~ms, which is about an order of magnitude longer than other near-surface spin systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Reducing strain in heterogeneous quantum devices using atomic layer deposition

We investigated the use of dielectric layers produced by atomic layer deposition (ALD) as an approach to strain mitigation in composite silicon/superconductor devices operating at cryogenic temperatures. We show that the addition of an ALD layer acts to reduce the strain of spins closest to silicon/superconductor interface where strain is highest. We show that appropriately biasing our devices at the hyperfine clock transition of bismuth donors in silicon, we can remove strain broadening and that the addition of ALD layers left $T_2$ (or temporal inhomogeneities) unchanged in these natural silicon devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Spin resonance linewidths of bismuth donors in silicon coupled to planar microresonators

Ensembles of bismuth donor spins in silicon are promising storage elements for microwave quantum memories due to their long coherence times which exceed seconds. Operating an efficient quantum memory requires achieving critical coupling between the spin ensemble and a suitable high-quality factor resonator -- this in turn requires a thorough understanding of the lineshapes for the relevant spin resonance transitions, particularly considering the influence of the resonator itself on line broadening. Here, we present pulsed electron spin resonance measurements of ensembles of bismuth donors in natural silicon, above which niobium superconducting resonators have been patterned. By studying spin transitions across a range of frequencies and fields we identify distinct line broadening mechanisms, and in particular those which can be suppressed by operating at magnetic-field-insensitive `clock transitions'. Given the donor concentrations and resonator used here, we measure a cooperativity $C\sim 0.2$ and based on our findings we discuss a route to achieve unit cooperativity, as required for a quantum memory.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Tuning high-Q superconducting resonators by magnetic field reorientation

Superconducting resonators interfaced with paramagnetic spin ensembles are used to increase the sensitivity of electron spin resonance experiments and are key elements of microwave quantum memories. Certain spin systems that are promising for such quantum memories possess 'sweet spots' at particular combinations of magnetic fields and frequencies, where spin coherence times or linewidths become particularly favorable. In order to be able to couple high-Q superconducting resonators to such specific spin transitions, it is necessary to be able to tune the resonator frequency under a constant magnetic field amplitude. Here, we demonstrate a high quality, magnetic field resilient superconducting resonator, using a 3D vector magnet to continuously tune its resonance frequency by adjusting the orientation of the magnetic field. The resonator maintains a quality factor of $> 10^5$ up to magnetic fields of 2.6 T, applied predominantly in the plane of the superconductor. We achieve a continuous tuning of up to 30 MHz by rotating the magnetic field vector, introducing a component of 5 mT perpendicular to the superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Dissipative discrete time crystals

Periodically driven quantum systems host a range of non-equilibrium phenomena which are unrealizable at equilibrium. Discrete time-translational symmetry in a periodically driven many-body system can be spontaneously broken to form a discrete time crystal, a putative quantum phase of matter. We present the observation of discrete time crystalline order in a driven system of paramagnetic $P$ -donor impurities in isotopically enriched $^{28}Si$ cooled below $10$ K. The observations exhibit a stable subharmonic peak at half the drive frequency which remains pinned even in the presence of pulse error, a signature of DTC order. We propose a theoretical model based on the paradigmatic central spin model which is in good agreement with experimental observations, and investigate the role of dissipation in the stabilisation of the DTC. Both experiment and theory indicate that the order in this system is primarily a dissipative effect, and which persists in the presence of spin-spin interactions. We present a theoretical phase diagram as a function of interactions and dissipation for the central spin model which is consistent with the experiments. This opens up questions about the interplay of coherent interaction and dissipation for time-translation symmetry breaking in many-body Floquet systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

High-cooperativity coupling of a rare-earth spin ensemble to a superconducting resonator using yttrium orthosilicate as a substrate

Yttrium orthosilicate (Y$_2$SiO$_5$, or YSO) has proved to be a convenient host for rare-earth ions used in demonstrations of microwave quantum memories and optical memories with microwave interfaces, and shows promise for coherent microwave--optical conversion owing to its favourable optical and spin properties. The strong coupling required by such microwave applications could be achieved using superconducting resonators patterned directly on Y$_2$SiO$_5$, and hence we investigate here the use of Y$_2$SiO$_5$ as an alternative to sapphire or silicon substrates for superconducting hybrid device fabrication. A NbN resonator with frequency 6.008 GHz and low power quality factor $Q \approx 400000$ was fabricated on a Y$_2$SiO$_5$ substrate doped with isotopically enriched Nd$^{145}$. Measurements of dielectric loss yield a loss-tangent $\tanδ= 4 \times 10^{-6}$, comparable to sapphire. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements performed using the resonator show the characteristic angular dependence expected from the anisotropic Nd$^{145}$ spin, and the coupling strength between resonator and electron spins is in the high cooperativity regime ($C = 30$). These results demonstrate Y$_2$SiO$_5$ as an excellent substrate for low-loss, high-Q microwave resonators, especially in applications for coupling to optically-accessible rare earth spins.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗