arXiv subjects

Merritt P. Losert

Publications and source records attributed to Merritt P. Losert.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Statistical characterization of valley coupling in Si/SiGe quantum dots via $g$-factor measurements near a valley vortex

The presence of low-energy valley excitations in Si/SiGe heterostructures often causes spin qubits to fail. It is therefore important to develop robust protocols for characterizing the valley coupling. Here, we show that realistically sized samplings of valley energy distributions tend to dramatically overestimate the average valley coupling. But we find that knowledge of the valley phase, in addition to the valley splitting, can significantly improve our estimates. Motivated by this understanding, we propose a novel method to probe the valley phase landscape across the quantum well using simple $g$-factor measurements. An important calibration step in this procedure is to measure $g$ in a loop enclosing a valley vortex, where the valley phase winds by $\pm 2π$ around a zero of the valley splitting. This proposal establishes an important new tool for probing spin qubits, and it can be implemented in current experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Omnidirectional shuttling to avoid valley excitations in Si/SiGe quantum wells

Conveyor-mode shuttling is a key approach for implementing intermediate-range coupling between electron-spin qubits in quantum dots. Initial implementations are encouraging; however, long shuttling trajectories are guaranteed to encounter regions of low conduction-band valley energy splittings, due to the presence of random-alloy disorder in Si/SiGe quantum wells. Here, we theoretically explore two schemes for avoiding valley-state excitations at these valley-splitting minima, by allowing the electrons to detour around them. A multichannel shuttling scheme allows electrons to tunnel between parallel channels, while a two-dimensional (2D) shuttler provides full omnidirectional control. Using simulations, we estimate shuttling fidelities in these two schemes, obtaining a clear preference for the 2D shuttler. Based on such encouraging results, we propose a modular qubit architecture based on 2D shuttling, which enables all-to-all connectivity within qubit plaquettes and high-fidelity communication between different plaquettes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Valley Splitting Correlations Across a Silicon Quantum Well Containing Germanium

Quantum dots in SiGe/Si/SiGe heterostructures host coherent electron spin qubits, which are promising for future quantum computers. The silicon quantum well hosts near-degenerate electron valley states, creating a low-lying excited state that is known to reduce spin qubit readout and control fidelity. The valley energy splitting is dominated by the microscopic disorder in the SiGe alloy and at the Si/SiGe interfaces, and while Si devices are compatible with large-scale semiconductor manufacturing, achieving a uniformly large valley splitting energy across a many-qubit device spanning mesoscopic distances is an outstanding challenge. In this work we study valley splitting variations in a 1D quantum dot array, formed in a Si$_{0.972}$Ge$_{0.028}$ quantum well, manufactured by Intel. We observe correlations in valley splitting, at both sub-100nm (single gate) and >1$μ$m (device) lengthscales, that are consistent with alloy disorder-dominated theory and simulation. Our results develop the mesoscopic understanding of Si/SiGe heterostructures necessary for scalable device design.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Reducing strain fluctuations in quantum dot devices by gate-layer stacking

Nanofabricated metal gate electrodes are commonly used to confine and control electrons in electrostatically defined quantum dots. However, these same gates impart strain-induced potential fluctuations that can potentially impair device functionality. Here we investigate strain fluctuations in Si/SiGe heterostructures, caused by (i) lattice mismatch, (ii) materials-dependent thermal contraction, and (iii) depositional stress in the metal gates. By simulating gate geometries, ranging from simple to realistically complicated, we identify two opposing effects in overlapping gate structures: (a) gate-driven behavior arising from isolated gates vs (b) oxide-driven behavior arising from the thin oxides separating the gates in an overlapping geometry. These limiting behaviors induce strains of opposite sign, pointing towards the possibility of suppressing strain fluctuations through careful design. Here, we demonstrate nearly total suppression of short-range strain fluctuation through device optimization. These results suggest that strain fluctuations should not pose an insurmountable challenge to qubit uniformity, provided that oxide and overlapping gate thicknesses can be tuned.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

g-factor theory of Si/SiGe quantum dots: spin-valley and giant renormalization effects

Understanding the $g$-factor physics of Si/SiGe quantum dots is crucial for realizing high-quality spin qubits. While previous work has explained some aspects of $g$-factor physics in idealized geometries, the results do not extend to general cases and they miss several important features. Here, we construct a theory that gives $g$ in terms of readily computable matrix elements, and can be applied to all Si/SiGe heterostructures of current interest. As a concrete example, which currently has no $g$-factor understanding, we study the so-called Wiggle Well structure, containing Ge concentration oscillations inside the quantum well. Here we find a significant renormalization of the $g$-factor compared to conventional Si/SiGe quantum wells. We also uncover a giant $g$-factor suppression of order $\mathcal{O}(1)$, which arises due to spin-valley coupling, and occurs at locations of low valley splitting. Our work therefore opens up new avenues for $g$-factor engineering in Si/SiGe quantum dots.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Suppressing Si Valley Excitation and Valley-Induced Spin Dephasing for Long-Distance Shuttling

We present a scalable protocol for suppressing errors during electron spin shuttling in silicon quantum dots. The approach maps the valley Hamiltonian to a Landau-Zener problem to model the nonadiabatic dynamics in regions of small valley splitting. An optimization refines the shuttling velocity profile over a single small segment of the shuttling path. The protocol reliably returns the valley state to the ground state at the end of the shuttle, disentangling the spin and valley degrees of freedom, after which a single virtual $z$-rotation on the spin compensates its evolution during the shuttle. The time cost and complexity of the error suppression is minimal and independent of the distance over which the spin is shuttled, and the maximum velocities imposed by valley physics are found to be orders of magnitude larger than current experimentally achievable shuttling speeds. This protocol offers a chip-scale solution for high-fidelity quantum transport in silicon spin-based quantum computing devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Strategies for enhancing spin-shuttling fidelities in Si/SiGe quantum wells with random-alloy disorder

Coherent coupling between distant qubits is needed for any scalable quantum computing scheme. In quantum dot systems, one proposal for long-distance coupling is to coherently transfer electron spins across a chip in a moving potential. Here, we use simulations to study challenges for spin shuttling in Si/SiGe heterostructures caused by the valley degree of freedom. We show that for devices with valley splitting dominated by alloy disorder, one can expect to encounter pockets of low valley splitting, given a long-enough shuttling path. At such locations, inter-valley tunneling leads to dephasing of the spin wavefunction, substantially reducing the shuttling fidelity. We show how to mitigate this problem by modifying the heterostructure composition, or by varying the vertical electric field, the shuttling velocity, the shape and size of the dot, or the shuttling path. We further show that combinations of these strategies can reduce the shuttling infidelity by several orders of magnitude, putting shuttling fidelities sufficient for error correction within reach.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Atomistic compositional details and their importance for spin qubits in isotope-purified silicon-germanium quantum wells

Understanding crystal characteristics down to the atomistic level increasingly emerges as a crucial insight for creating solid state platforms for qubits with reproducible and homogeneous properties. Here, isotope composition depth profiles in a SiGe/$^{28}$Si/SiGe heterostructure are analyzed with atom probe tomography (APT) and time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Spin-echo dephasing times $T_2^{echo}=128 μs$ and valley energy splittings around $200 μeV$ have been observed for single spin qubits in this quantum well (QW) heterostructure, pointing towards the suppression of qubit decoherence through hyperfine interaction or via scattering between valley states. The concentration of nuclear spin-carrying $^{29}$Si is 50 ppm in the $^{28}$Si QW. APT allows to uncover that both the top SiGe/$^{28}$Si and the bottom $^{28}$Si/SiGe interfaces of the QW are shaped by epitaxial growth front segregation signatures on a few monolayer scale. A subsequent thermal treatment broadens the top interface by about two monolayers, while the width of the bottom interface remains unchanged. Using a tight-binding model including SiGe alloy disorder, these experimental results suggest that the combination of the slightly thermally broadened top interface and of a minimal Ge concentration of $0.3 \%$ in the QW, resulting from segregation, is instrumental for the observed large valley splitting. Minimal Ge additions $< 1 \%$, which get more likely in thin QWs, will hence support high valley splitting without compromising coherence times. At the same time, taking thermal treatments during device processing as well as the occurrence of crystal growth characteristics into account seems important for the design of reproducible qubit properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Practical Strategies for Enhancing the Valley Splitting in Si/SiGe Quantum Wells

Silicon/silicon-germanium heterostructures have many important advantages for hosting spin qubits. However, controlling the valley splitting (the energy splitting between the two low-lying conduction-band valleys) remains a critical challenge for ensuring qubit reliability. Broad distributions of valley splittings are commonplace, even among quantum dots formed on the same chip. In this work, we theoretically explore the interplay between quantum-well imperfections that suppress the valley splitting and cause variability, such as broadened interfaces and atomic steps at the interface, while self-consistently accounting for germanium concentration fluctuations. We consider both conventional and unconventional approaches for controlling the valley splitting, and present concrete strategies for implementing them. Our results provide a clear path for achieving qubit uniformity in a scalable silicon quantum computer.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

SiGe quantum wells with oscillating Ge concentrations for quantum dot qubits

Large-scale arrays of quantum-dot spin qubits in Si/SiGe quantum wells require large or tunable energy splittings of the valley states associated with degenerate conduction band minima. Existing proposals to deterministically enhance the valley splitting rely on sharp interfaces or modifications in the quantum well barriers that can be difficult to grow. Here, we propose and demonstrate a new heterostructure, the "Wiggle Well," whose key feature is Ge concentration oscillations inside the quantum well. Experimentally, we show that placing Ge in the quantum well does not significantly impact our ability to form and manipulate single-electron quantum dots. We further observe large and widely tunable valley splittings, from 54 to 239 ueV. Tight-binding calculations, and the tunability of the valley splitting, indicate that these results can mainly be attributed to random concentration fluctuations that are amplified by the presence of Ge alloy in the heterostructure, as opposed to a deterministic enhancement due to the concentration oscillations. Quantitative predictions for several other heterostructures point to the Wiggle Well as a robust method for reliably enhancing the valley splitting in future qubit devices.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Atomic fluctuations lifting the energy degeneracy in Si/SiGe quantum dots

Electron spins in Si/SiGe quantum wells suffer from nearly degenerate conduction band valleys, which compete with the spin degree of freedom in the formation of qubits. Despite attempts to enhance the valley energy splitting deterministically, by engineering a sharp interface, valley splitting fluctuations remain a serious problem for qubit uniformity, needed to scale up to large quantum processors. Here, we elucidate and statistically predict the valley splitting by the holistic integration of 3D atomic-level properties, theory and transport. We find that the concentration fluctuations of Si and Ge atoms within the 3D landscape of Si/SiGe interfaces can explain the observed large spread of valley splitting from measurements on many quantum dot devices. Against the prevailing belief, we propose to boost these random alloy composition fluctuations by incorporating Ge atoms in the Si quantum well to statistically enhance valley splitting.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Effect of quantum Hall edge strips on valley splitting in silicon quantum wells

We determine the energy splitting of the conduction-band valleys in two-dimensional electrons confined to low-disorder Si quantum wells. We probe the valley splitting dependence on both perpendicular magnetic field $B$ and Hall density by performing activation energy measurements in the quantum Hall regime over a large range of filling factors. The mobility gap of the valley-split levels increases linearly with $B$ and is strikingly independent of Hall density. The data are consistent with a transport model in which valley splitting depends on the incremental changes in density $eB/h$ across quantum Hall edge strips, rather than the bulk density. Based on these results, we estimate that the valley splitting increases with density at a rate of 116 $μ$eV/10$^{11}$cm$^{-2}$, consistent with theoretical predictions for near-perfect quantum well top interfaces.

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