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Patrick P. Potts

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick P. Potts.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Parameter Estimation in a Continuously Monitored Non-Markovian Quantum System

Continuous monitoring is a powerful tool for analyzing quantum systems and is increasingly used as a non-demolition technique in quantum metrology. In this context, noisy data acquired through continuous monitoring can be used to precisely pinpoint unknown parameters of the system. However, extending the theoretical framework that connects these data to the underlying parameters beyond Markovian dynamics is notoriously difficult, primarily because such dynamics cannot be expressed as completely positive divisible maps. To overcome this, we propose a method based on the reaction coordinate mapping to extend these parameter-estimation techniques beyond the Markovian regime. Our approach specifically targets linear systems with non-Markovian dynamics undergoing Gaussian continuous measurements, such as homodyne detection. Within this framework, we analyze Bayesian estimation and provide an analytical expression for the Fisher information, alongside the asymptotic scaling of the estimation precision for arbitrary parameters. Finally, we demonstrate the efficacy of our method through the example of thermometry of a bosonic bath.

quant-ph

Quantum theory of a three-photon Kerr parametric oscillator

We investigate the quantum properties of a nonlinear Kerr oscillator driven by a three-photon pump. We derive both exact and approximate analytical expressions for the ground state of this interacting model. The exact solution arises at an exact spectral degeneracy, while the approximate solution describes regimes of quasi-degeneracy of the energy spectrum. In both cases, the threefold (quasi)degenerate ground-state manifold consists of quantum superpositions of three macroscopically distinct states. These states differ qualitatively from conventional three-component Schr\"odinger's cat states due to the presence of squeezing with a distinctive parametric dependence. By varying the detuning between the oscillator and the three-photon pump, we show that the squeezing can be enhanced, suppressed, or even reversed, leading to a squeezing-to-anti-squeezing transition. We analyze the generation and stabilization of these superposition states, their robustness against perturbations and analytically quantify the leakage to excited states. Our analysis elucidates how the three-photon Kerr parametric oscillator can be used to encode a Kerr-cat qutrit protected against phase-flip errors.

quant-ph

Prodiabatic Elimination: Higher Order Elimination of Fast Variables with Quantum Noise

We introduce the prodiabatic elimination, a powerful approximation technique that systematically extends the adiabatic elimination of fast degrees of freedom in light-matter coupled systems. Through a controlled expansion of operators, the prodiabatic elimination incorporates higher-order corrections and consistently includes noise contributions, leading to a significantly improved performance compared to standard adiabatic elimination. Importantly, it retains the simplicity and computational efficiency of the adiabatic elimination, making it convenient for practical applications. We demonstrate the approach on two setups: a driven dissipative Jaynes-Cummings model and a three-level system in a two-mode cavity that performs stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). These examples establish the prodiabatic elimination as a robust and broadly applicable tool for analyzing open quantum systems.

quant-ph

Bridging Quantum and Semi-Classical Thermodynamics in Cavity QED

In cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), photons leaving the cavity can be irreversibly lost or reused as a power source. This dichotomy is reflected in two different thermodynamic bookkeepings of the light field, both corresponding to valid thermodynamic frameworks. In this work, we formulate a rigorous semi-classical limit of cavity QED and show that the resulting thermodynamic description may qualitatively differ from that of the fully quantised model. We find that violations of the thermodynamic uncertainty relations are recovered in the semi-classical limit only by one of the two thermodynamic frameworks: the one which treats part of the photon flux as a power source. We illustrate our findings in a three-level system coupled to a driven cavity.

quant-ph

Deterministic Equations for Feedback Control of Open Quantum Systems III: Full counting statistics for jump-based feedback

In this work, we consider a general feedback protocol based on quantum-jump detections, where the last detected jump channel is stored in a memory and subsequently used to implement a feedback action, such as modifying the system Hamiltonian conditioned on the last jump. We show that the time evolution of this general protocol can be described by a Lindblad master equation defined in a hybrid classical-quantum space, where the classical part encodes the stored measurement record (memory) and the quantum part represents the monitored system. Moreover, we show that this new representation can be used to fully characterize the counting statistics of a system subject to a general jump-based feedback protocol. We apply the formalism to a three-level system coupled to two thermal baths operating as a thermal machine, and we show that jump-based feedback can be used to convert the information obtained from the jump detections into work. Our framework provides analytical tools that enable the characterization of key statistical properties of any counting observable under jump-based feedback, such as the average current, noise, correlation functions, and power spectrum.

quant-ph

Deterministic Equations for Feedback Control of Open Quantum Systems II: Properties of the memory function

Feedback uses past detection outcomes to dynamically modify a quantum system and is central to quantum control. These outcomes can be stored in a memory, defined as a stochastic function of past measurements. In this work, we investigate the main properties of a general memory function subject to arbitrary feedback dynamics. We show that the memory can be treated as a classical system coupled to the monitored quantum system, and that their joint evolution is described by a hybrid bipartite state. This framework allows us to introduce information-theoretic measures that quantify the correlations between the system and the memory. Furthermore, we develop a general framework to characterize the statistics of the memory -- such as moments, cumulants, and correlation functions -- which can be applied both to general feedback-control protocols and to monitored systems without feedback. As an application, we analyze feedback schemes based on detection events in a two-level system coupled to a thermal bath, focusing on protocols that stabilize either the excited-state population or Rabi oscillations against thermal dissipation.

quant-ph

Information Thermodynamics in a Quantum Dot Szilard Engine - Experimentally Investigating Fluctuation Theorems and Thermodynamic Uncertainty Relations

In Szilard's engine, measurement and feedback allows to extract work from an equilibrium environment, a process otherwise forbidden by the laws of thermodynamics. Recent theoretical developments have established fluctuation theorems and thermodynamic uncertainty relations that constrain the fluctuations in Szilard's engine. These relations rely on auxiliary experimental protocols known as backward experiments. Here, we experimentally investigate the thermodynamics of Szilard's engine by implementing two distinct types of backward experiments. We verify and compare the corresponding fluctuation theorems and thermodynamic uncertainty relations associated with each protocol. Our results reveal that the entropy production inferable from measurement may serve as a more relevant quantifier of information than the widely used mutual information.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Path Integral Approach to Input-Output Theory

Input-output theory is a well-known tool in quantum optics and ubiquitous in the description of quantum systems probed by light. Owing to the generality of the setup it describes, the theory finds application in a wide variety of experiments in circuit and cavity QED. We present an approach to input-output theory using the Schwinger-Keldysh path integral formalism that gives us direct access to the full output field statistics such as the first and second order coherence functions. By making the rich toolbox of non-equilibrium quantum field theory accessible, our formalism greatly simplifies the treatment of nonlinear systems and provides a uniform way of obtaining perturbative results. We showcase this particular strength by computing the output field statistics of a Kerr nonlinear oscillator at finite temperatures through the use of diagrams and diagram summation techniques. We find a reduction in reflection that is not due to photon leakage but rather associated to the squeezing of the output light.

quant-ph

Deterministic Equations for Feedback Control of Open Quantum Systems

Feedback control in open quantum dynamics is crucial for the advancement of various coherent platforms. However, currently only a handful of feedback master equations exist in the literature, which are restricted to specific types of feedback. In this letter we first introduce a unifying framework, based on a single general equation, that describes all possible feedback schemes in sequentially (and continuously) measured systems, and from which all previous results follow. Next, we specialize it to the case of quantum jumps and introduce a new type of feedback based on the channel of the last detected jump, as well as the time elapsed since it occurred. Our description is experimentally grounded, and naturally allows for the introduction of realistic effects, such as time-delays in the feedback loop. We illustrate our results with two time-dependent feedback protocols conditioned on quantum-jump detections: one achieving population inversion of a two-level system against a thermal bath, and another enabling real-time reversal of quantum transitions, both admitting steady-state solutions.

quant-ph

A Quantum Mechanical Pendulum Clock

We investigate an optomechanical system as a model of an autonomous mechanical pendulum clock in the quantum regime, whose operation relies only on incoherent (thermal) resources. The escapement of the clock, the mechanism that translates oscillatory motion into ticks, is provided by an emitter in the optical cavity and the operation of the clock relies on the existence of a limit cycle. Since the clock is based on an oscillatory degree of freedom, it can overcome the thermodynamic uncertainty relation and is thus more accurate than clocks that rely only on stochastic transitions. Furthermore, by increasing the amount of emitters in the cavity, the clock approaches the behavior expected for a macroscopic pendulum clock, where fluctuations become irrelevant while the clock dynamics becomes completely irreversible. This allows for investigating the quantum-to-classical transition of pendulum clocks.

quant-ph

Quantum thermodynamics of continuous feedback control

The laws of thermodynamics are a cornerstone for describing nanoscale and open quantum systems. However, formulating these laws for systems under continuous feedback control and under experimentally relevant conditions is challenging. In this work, we lay out a formalism for the laws of thermodynamics in an open quantum system under continuous measurement and feedback described by a Quantum Fokker Planck Master Equation. We derive expressions for work, heat, and measurement-induced energy changes, and we investigate entropy production and fluctuation theorems. We illustrate our results with a continuous version of a measurement-driven Szilard engine, as well as a work extraction scheme in a two-level system under bang-bang control. Our results provide insights into the energetics as well as the irreversibility of classical and quantum systems under continuous feedback control.

quant-ph

Active Quantum Reservoir Engineering: Using a Qubit to Manipulate its Environment

Quantum reservoir engineering leverages dissipative processes to achieve desired behavior, with applications ranging from entanglement generation to quantum error correction. Therein, a structured environment acts as an entropy sink for the system and no time-dependent control over the system is required. We develop a theoretical framework for active reservoir engineering, where time-dependent control over a quantum system is used to manipulate its environment. In this case, the system may act as an entropy sink for the environment. Our framwork captures the dynamical interplay between system and environment, and provides an intuitive picture of how finite-size effects and system-environment correlations allow for manipulating the environment by repeated initialization of the quantum system. We illustrate our results with two examples: a superconducting qubit coupled to an environment of two-level systems and a semiconducting quantum dot coupled to nuclear spins. In both scenarios, we find qualitative agreement with previous experimental results, illustrating how active control can unlock new functionalities in open quantum systems.

quant-ph

A Thermodynamic Framework for Coherently Driven Systems

The laws of thermodynamics are a cornerstone of physics. At the nanoscale, where fluctuations and quantum effects matter, there is no unique thermodynamic framework because thermodynamic quantities such as heat and work depend on the accessibility of the degrees of freedom. We derive a thermodynamic framework for coherently driven systems, where the output light is assumed to be accessible. The resulting second law of thermodynamics is strictly tighter than the conventional one and it demands the output light to be more noisy than the input light. We illustrate our framework across several well-established models and we show how the three-level maser can be understood as an engine that reduces the noise of a coherent drive. Our framework opens a new avenue for investigating the noise properties of driven-dissipative quantum systems.

quant-ph

Wigner-function formalism for the detection of single microwave pulses in a resonator-coupled double quantum dot

Semiconductor double quantum dots (DQD) coupled to superconducting microwave resonators offer a promising platform for the detection of single microwave photons. In previous works, the photodetection was studied for a monochromatic source of microwave photons. Here, we theoretically analyze the photodetection of single microwave pulses. The photodetection in this case can be seen as a non-linear filtering process of an incoming signal, the pulse, to an outgoing one, the photocurrent. This analogy to signal processing motivated the derivation of a Wigner-function formalism which provides a compelling visualization of the time and frequency properties of the photodetector for low intensities. We find a trade-off between detecting the time and the frequency of the incoming photons in agreement with the time-energy uncertainty relation. As the intensity of the source increases, the photodetection is influenced by coherent Rabi oscillations of the DQD. Our findings give insight into the time-dependent properties of microwave photons interacting with electrons in a DQD-resonator hybrid system and provide guidance for experiments on single microwave pulse detection.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Time-resolved Stochastic Dynamics of Quantum Thermal Machines

Steady-state quantum thermal machines are typically characterized by a continuous flow of heat between different reservoirs. However, at the level of discrete stochastic realizations, heat flow is unraveled as a series of abrupt quantum jumps, each representing an exchange of finite quanta with the environment. In this work, we present a framework that resolves the dynamics of quantum thermal machines into cycles classified as engine-like, cooling-like, or idle. We analyze the statistics of individual cycle types and their durations, enabling us to determine both the fraction of cycles useful for thermodynamic tasks and the average waiting time between cycles of a given type. Central to our analysis is the notion of intermittency, which captures the operational consistency of the machine by assessing the frequency and distribution of idle cycles. Our framework offers a novel approach to characterizing thermal machines with significant relevance to experiments involving mesoscopic transport through quantum dots.

quant-ph

Role of Quantum Coherence in Kinetic Uncertainty Relations

The Kinetic Uncertainty Relation (KUR) bounds the signal-to-noise ratio of stochastic currents in terms of the number of transitions per unit time, known as the dynamical activity. This bound was derived in a classical context, and can be violated in the quantum regime due to coherent effects. However, the precise connection between KUR violations and quantum coherence has so far remained elusive, despite significant investigation. In this work, we solve this problem by deriving a modified bound that exactly pinpoints how, and when, coherence might lead to KUR violations. Our bound is sensitive to the specific kind of unraveling of the quantum master equation. It therefore allows one to compare quantum jumps and quantum diffusion, and understand, in each case, how quantum coherence affects fluctuations. We illustrate our result on a double quantum dot, where the electron current is monitored either by electron jump detection or with continuous diffusive charge measurement.

quant-ph

Optimal time estimation and the clock uncertainty relation for stochastic processes

Time estimation is a fundamental task that underpins precision measurement, global navigation systems, financial markets, and the organisation of everyday life. Many biological processes also depend on time estimation by nanoscale clocks, whose performance can be significantly impacted by random fluctuations. In this work, we formulate the problem of optimal time estimation for Markovian stochastic processes, and present its general solution in the asymptotic (long-time) limit. Specifically, we obtain a tight upper bound on the precision of any time estimate constructed from sustained observations of a classical, Markovian jump process. This bound is controlled by the mean residual time, i.e. the expected wait before the first jump is observed. As a consequence, we obtain a universal bound on the signal-to-noise ratio of arbitrary currents and counting observables in the steady state. This bound is similar in spirit to the kinetic uncertainty relation but provably tighter, and we explicitly construct the counting observables that saturate it. Our results establish ultimate precision limits for an important class of observables in non-equilibrium systems, and demonstrate that the mean residual time, not the dynamical activity, is the measure of freneticity that tightly constrains fluctuations far from equilibrium.

cond-mat.stat-mech

Quantum Thermodynamics

The theory of quantum thermodynamics investigates how the concepts of heat, work, and temperature can be carried over to the quantum realm, where fluctuations and randomness are fundamentally unavoidable. These lecture notes provide an introduction to the thermodynamics of small quantum systems. It is illustrated how the laws of thermodynamics emerge from quantum theory and how open quantum systems can be modeled by Markovian master equations. Quantum systems that are designed to perform a certain task, such as cooling or generating entanglement are considered. Finally, the effect of fluctuations on the thermodynamic description is discussed.

quant-ph