arXiv subjects

O. Romero-Isart

Publications and source records attributed to O. Romero-Isart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Suppressing Recoil Heating in Levitated Optomechanics using Squeezed Light

We theoretically show that laser recoil heating in free-space levitated optomechanics can be arbitrarily suppressed by shining squeezed light onto an optically trapped nanoparticle. The presence of squeezing modifies the quantum electrodynamical light-matter interaction in a way that enables us to control the amount of information that the scattered light carries about a given mechanical degree of freedom. Moreover, we analyze the trade-off between measurement imprecision and back-action noise and show that optical detection beyond the standard quantum limit can be achieved. We predict that, with state-of-the-art squeezed light sources, laser recoil heating can be reduced by at least 60% by squeezing a single Gaussian mode with an appropriate incidence direction, and by 98% by squeezing a properly mode-matched mode. Our results, which are valid both for motional and librational degrees of freedom, will lead to improved feedback cooling schemes as well as boost the coherence time of optically levitated nanoparticles in the quantum regime.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Time-of-Flight Quantum Tomography of Single Atom Motion

Time of flight is an intuitive way to determine the velocity of particles and lies at the heart of many capabilities ranging from mass spectrometry to fluid flow measurements. Here we show time-of-flight imaging can realize tomography of a quantum state of motion of a single trapped atom. Tomography of motion requires studying the phase space spanned by both position and momentum. By combining time-of-flight imaging with coherent evolution of the atom in an optical tweezer trap, we are able to access arbitrary quadratures in phase space without relying on coupling to a spin degree of freedom. To create non-classical motional states, we harness quantum tunneling in the versatile potential landscape of optical tweezers, and our tomography both demonstrates Wigner function negativity and assesses coherence of non-stationary states. Our demonstrated tomography concept has wide applicability to a range of particles and will enable characterization of non-classical states of more complex systems or massive dielectric particles.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Levitodynamics: Levitation and control of microscopic objects in vacuum

The control of levitated nano- and micro-objects in vacuum is of considerable interest, capitalizing on the scientific achievements in the fields of atomic physics, control theory and optomechanics. The ability to couple the motion of levitated systems to internal degrees of freedom, as well as to external forces and systems, provides opportunities for science and technology. Attractive research directions, ranging from fundamental quantum physics to commercial sensors, have been unlocked by the many recent experimental achievements, including motional ground-state cooling of an optically levitated nanoparticle. We review the status, challenges and prospects of levitodynamics, the mutidisciplinary research devoted to understanding, controlling, and using levitated nano- and micro-objects in vacuum.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum Size Effects in the Magnetic Susceptibility of a Metallic Nanoparticle

We theoretically study quantum size effects in the magnetic response of a spherical metallic nanoparticle (e.g. gold). Using the Jellium model in spherical coordinates, we compute the induced magnetic moment and the magnetic susceptibility for a nanoparticle in the presence of a static external magnetic field. Below a critical magnetic field the magnetic response is diamagnetic, whereas above such field the magnetization is characterized by sharp, step-like increases of several tenths of Bohr magnetons, associated with the Zeeman crossing of energy levels above and below the Fermi sea. We quantify the robustness of these regimes against thermal excitations and finite linewidth of the electronic levels. Finally, we propose two methods for experimental detection of the quantum size effects based on the coupling to superconducting quantum interference devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Roadmap on Spin-Wave Computing

Magnonics is a field of science that addresses the physical properties of spin waves and utilizes them for data processing. Scalability down to atomic dimensions, operations in the GHz-to-THz frequency range, utilization of nonlinear and nonreciprocal phenomena, and compatibility with CMOS are just a few of many advantages offered by magnons. Although magnonics is still primarily positioned in the academic domain, the scientific and technological challenges of the field are being extensively investigated, and many proof-of-concept prototypes have already been realized in laboratories. This roadmap is a product of the collective work of many authors that covers versatile spin-wave computing approaches, conceptual building blocks, and underlying physical phenomena. In particular, the roadmap discusses the computation operations with Boolean digital data, unconventional approaches like neuromorphic computing, and the progress towards magnon-based quantum computing. The article is organized as a collection of sub-sections grouped into seven large thematic sections. Each sub-section is prepared by one or a group of authors and concludes with a brief description of the current challenges and the outlook of the further development of the research directions.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

Non-Markovian Effects of Two-Level Systems in a Niobium Coaxial Resonator with a Single-Photon Lifetime of 10 ms

Understanding and mitigating loss channels due to two-level systems (TLS) is one of the main cornerstones in the quest of realizing long photon lifetimes in superconducting quantum circuits. Typically, the TLS to which a circuit couples are modeled as a large bath without any coherence. Here we demonstrate that the coherence of TLS has to be considered to accurately describe the ring-down dynamics of a coaxial quarter-wave resonator with an internal quality factor of $0.5\times10^9$ at the single-photon level. The transient analysis reveals effective non-Markovian dynamics of the combined TLS and cavity system, which we can accurately fit by introducing a comprehensive TLS model. The fit returns an average coherence time of around $T_2^*\approx0.3\,\mathrm{μs}$ for a total of $N\approx10^{9}$ TLS with power-law distributed coupling strengths. Despite the shortly coherent TLS excitations, we observe long-term effects on the cavity decay due to coherent elastic scattering between the resonator field and the TLS. Moreover, this model provides an accurate prediction of the internal quality factor's temperature dependence.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Large Quantum Delocalization of a Levitated Nanoparticle using Optimal Control: Applications for Force Sensing and Entangling via Weak Forces

We propose to optimally control the harmonic potential of a levitated nanoparticle to quantum delocalize its center-of-mass motional state to a length scale orders of magnitude larger than the quantum zero-point motion. Using a bang-bang control of the harmonic potential, including the possibility to invert it, the initial ground-state-cooled levitated nanoparticle coherently expands to large scales and then contracts to the initial state in a time-optimal way. We show that this fast loop protocol can be used to enhance force sensing as well as to dramatically boost the entangling rate of two weakly interacting nanoparticles. We parameterize the performance of the protocol, and therefore the macroscopic quantum regime that could be explored, as a function of displacement and frequency noise in the nanoparticle's center-of-mass motion. This noise analysis accounts for the sources of decoherence relevant to current experiments.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Towards a quantum interface between spin waves and paramagnetic spin baths

Spin waves have risen as promising candidate information carriers for the next generation of information technologies. Recent experimental demonstrations of their detection using electron spins in diamond pave the way towards studying the back-action of a controllable paramagnetic spin bath on the spin waves. Here, we present a quantum theory describing the interaction between spin waves and paramagnetic spins. As a case study we consider an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy spins in diamond in the vicinity of an Yttrium-Iron-Garnet thin film. We show how the back-action of the ensemble results in strong and tuneable modifications of the spin-wave spectrum and propagation properties. These modifications include the full suppression of spin-wave propagation and, in a different parameter regime, the enhancement of their propagation length by $\sim 50\%$. Furthermore, we show how the spin wave thermal fluctuations induce a measurable frequency shift of the paramagnetic spins in the bath. This shift results in a thermal dispersion force that can be measured optically and/or mechanically with a diamond mechanical resonator. In addition, we use our theory to compute the spin wave-mediated interaction between the spins in the bath. We show that all the above effects are measurable by state-of-the-art experiments. Our results provide the theoretical foundation for describing hybrid quantum systems of spin waves and spin baths, and establish the potential of quantum spins as active control, sensing, and interfacing tools for spintronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Theory of Quantum Acoustomagnonics and Acoustomechanics with a Micromagnet

Recently [1], we proposed a new way to engineer a flexible acoustomechanical coupling between the center-of-mass motion of an isolated micromagnet and one of its internal acoustic phonons by using a magnon as a passive mediator. In our approach, the coupling is enabled by the strong magnetoelastic interaction between magnons and acoustic phonons which originates from the small particle size. Here, we substantially extend our previous work. First, we provide the full theory of the quantum acoustomagnonic interaction in small micromagnets and analytically calculate the magnon-phonon coupling rates. Second, we fully derive the acoustomechanical Hamiltonian presented in Ref. [1]. Finally, we extend our previous results for the fundamental acoustic mode to higher order modes. Specifically, we show the cooling of the center-of-mass motion with a range of internal acoustic modes. Additionally, we derive the power spectral densities of the center-of-mass motion which allow to probe the same acoustic modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Hybrid Architecture for Engineering Magnonic Quantum Networks

We show theoretically that a network of superconducting loops and magnetic particles can be used to implement magnonic crystals with tunable magnonic band structures. In our approach, the loops mediate interactions between the particles and allow magnetic excitations to tunnel over long distances. As a result, different arrangements of loops and particles allow one to engineer the band structure for the magnonic excitations. Furthermore, we show how magnons in such crystals can serve as a quantum bus for long-distance magnetic coupling of spin qubits. The qubits are coupled to the magnets in the network by their local magnetic-dipole interaction and provide an integrated way to measure the state of the magnonic quantum network.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theory for Cavity Cooling of Levitated Nanoparticles via Coherent Scattering: Master Equation Approach

We develop a theory for cavity cooling of the center-of-mass motion of a levitated nanoparticle through coherent scattering into an optical cavity. We analytically determine the full coupled Hamiltonian for the nanoparticle, cavity, and free electromagnetic field. By tracing out the latter, we obtain a Master Equation for the cavity and the center of mass motion, where the decoherence rates ascribed to recoil heating, gas pressure, and trap displacement noise are calculated explicitly. Then, we benchmark our model by reproducing published experimental results for three-dimensional cooling. Finally, we use our model to demonstrate the possibility of ground-state cooling along each of the three motional axes. Our work illustrates the potential of cavity-assisted coherent scattering to reach the quantum regime of levitated nanomechanics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Circumventing Magnetic Reciprocity: a Diode for Magnetic Fields

Lorentz reciprocity establishes a stringent relation between electromagnetic fields and their sources. For static magnetic fields, a relation between magnetic sources and fields can be drawn in analogy to the Green's reciprocity principle for electrostatics. Here we theoretically and experimentally show that a linear and isotropic electrically conductive material moving with constant velocity is able to circumvent the magnetic reciprocity principle and realize a diode for magnetic fields. This result is demonstrated by measuring an extremely asymmetric magnetic coupling between two coils that are located near a moving conductor. The possibility to generate controlled unidirectional magnetic couplings breaks down one of the most deeply-established relations in classical electromagnetism, namely that mutual inductances are symmetric. This result might provide novel possibilities for applications and technologies based on magnetically coupled elements.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2018

On-chip quantum interference of a superconducting microsphere

We propose and analyze an all-magnetic scheme to perform a Young's double slit experiment with a micron-sized superconducting sphere of mass $\gtrsim {10}^{13}$ amu. We show that its center of mass could be prepared in a spatial quantum superposition state with an extent of the order of half a micrometer. The scheme is based on magnetically levitating the sphere above a superconducting chip and letting it skate through a static magnetic potential landscape where it interacts for short intervals with quantum circuits. In this way, a protocol for fast quantum interferometry using quantum magnetomechanics is passively implemented. Such a table-top earth-based quantum experiment would operate in a parameter regime where gravitational energy scales become relevant. In particular, we show that the faint parameter-free gravitationally-induced decoherence collapse model, proposed by Diósi and Penrose, could be unambiguously falsified.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Cooperative Effects in Closely Packed Quantum Emitters with Collective Dephasing

In a closely packed ensemble of quantum emitters, cooperative effects are typically suppressed due to the dephasing induced by the dipole-dipole interactions. Here, we show that by adding sufficiently strong collective dephasing cooperative effects can be restored. In particular, we show that the dipole force on a closely packed ensemble of strongly driven two-level quantum emitters, which collectively dephase, is enhanced in comparison to the dipole force on an independent non-interacting ensemble. Our results are relevant to solid state systems with embedded quantum emitters such as colour centers in diamond and superconducting qubits in microwave cavities and waveguides.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Ultrafocused Electromagnetic Field Pulses with a Hollow Cylindrical Waveguide

We theoretically show that an externally driven dipole placed inside a cylindrical hollow waveguide can generate a train of ultrashort and ultrafocused electromagnetic pulses. The waveguide encloses vacuum with perfect electric conducting walls. A dipole driven by a single short pulse, which is properly engineered to exploit the linear spectral filtering of the cylindrical hollow waveguide, excites longitudinal waveguide modes that are coherently re-focused at some particular instances of time. A dipole driven by a pulse with a lower-bounded temporal width can thus generate, in principle, a finite train of arbitrarily short and focused electromagnetic pulses. We numerically show that such ultrafocused pulses persist outside the cylindrical waveguide at distances comparable to its radius.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2017

Ultrasensitive Inertial and Force Sensors with Diamagnetically Levitated Magnets

We theoretically show that a magnet can be stably levitated on top of a punctured superconductor sheet in the Meissner state without applying any external field. The trapping potential created by such induced-only superconducting currents is characterized for magnetic spheres ranging from tens of nanometers to tens of millimeters. Such a diamagnetically levitated magnet is predicted to be extremely well isolated from the environment. We therefore propose to use it as an ultrasensitive force and inertial sensor. A magnetomechanical read-out of its displacement can be performed by using superconducting quantum interference devices. An analysis using current technology shows that force and acceleration sensitivities on the order of $10^{-23}\text{N}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ (for a 100 nm magnet) and $10^{-14}g/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ (for a 10 mm magnet) might be within reach in a cryogenic environment. Such unprecedented sensitivities can be used for a variety of purposes, from designing ultra-sensitive inertial sensors for technological applications (i.e. gravimetry, avionics, and space industry), to scientific investigations on measuring Casimir forces of magnetic origin and gravitational physics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Near-field Levitated Quantum Optomechanics with Nanodiamonds

We theoretically show that the dipole force of an ensemble of quantum emitters embedded in a dielectric nanosphere can be exploited to achieve near-field optical levitation. The key ingredient is that the polarizability from the ensemble of embedded quantum emitters can be larger than the bulk polarizability of the sphere, thereby enabling the use of repulsive optical potentials and consequently the levitation using optical near-fields. In levitated cavity quantum optomechanics, this could be used to boost the single-photon coupling by combining larger polarizability to mass ratio, larger field gradients, and smaller cavity volumes while remaining in the resolved sideband regime and at room temperature. A case study is done with a nanodiamond containing a high-density of silicon-vacancy color centers that is optically levitated in the evanescent field of a tappered nano-fiber and coupled to a high-finesse microsphere cavity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Superconducting Vortex Lattices for Ultracold Atoms

We propose and analyze a nanoengineered vortex array in a thin-film type-II superconductor as a magnetic lattice for ultracold atoms. This proposal addresses several of the key questions in the development of atomic quantum simulators. By trapping atoms close to the surface, tools of nanofabrication and structuring of lattices on the scale of few tens of nanometers become available with a corresponding benefit in energy scales and temperature requirements. This can be combined with the possibility of magnetic single site addressing and manipulation together with a favorable scaling of superconducting surface-induced decoherence.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗