arXiv subjects

S. Savel'ev

Publications and source records attributed to S. Savel'ev.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Is a single photon's wave front observable?

The ultimate goal and the theoretical limit of weak signal detection is the ability to detect a single photon against a noisy background. [...] In this paper we show, that a combination of a quantum metamaterial (QMM)-based sensor matrix and quantum non-demolition (QND) readout of its quantum state allows, in principle, to detect a single photon in several points, i.e., to observe its wave front. Actually, there are a few possible ways of doing this, with at least one within the reach of current experimental techniques for the microwave range. The ability to resolve the quantum-limited signal from a remote source against a much stronger local noise would bring significant advantages to such diverse fields of activity as, e.g., microwave astronomy and missile defence. The key components of the proposed method are 1) the entangling interaction of the incoming photon with the QMM sensor array, which produces the spatially correlated quantum state of the latter, and 2) the QND readout of the collective observable (e.g., total magnetic moment), which characterizes this quantum state. The effects of local noise (e.g., fluctuations affecting the elements of the matrix) will be suppressed relative to the signal from the spatially coherent field of (even) a single photon.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Quantum metamaterial without local control

A quantum metamaterial can be implemented as a quantum coherent 1D array of qubits placed in a transmission line. The properties of quantum metamaterials are determined by the local quantum state of the system. Here we show that a spatially-periodic quantum state of such a system can be realized without direct control of the constituent qubits, by their interaction with the initializing ("priming") pulses sent through the system in opposite directions. The properties of the resulting quantum photonic crystal are determined by the choice of the priming pulses. This proposal can be readily generalized to other implementations of quantum metamaterials.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Feedback-controlled adiabatic quantum computation

We propose a simple feedback-control scheme for adiabatic quantum computation with superconducting flux qubits. The proposed method makes use of existing on-chip hardware to monitor the ground-state curvature, which is then used to control the computation speed to maximize the success probability. We show that this scheme can provide a polynomial speed-up in performance and that it is possible to choose a suitable set of feedback-control parameters for an arbitrary problem Hamiltonian.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Noise-spectroscopy of multiqubit systems: Determining all their parameters by applying an external classical noise

Imagine that you have several sets of two coupled qubits, but you do not know the parameters of their Hamitonians. How to determine these without resorting to the usual spectroscopy approach to the problem? Based on numerical modeling, we show that all the parameters of a system of two coupled qubits can be determined by applying to it an external classical noise and analysing the Fourier spectrum of the elements of the system's density matrix. In particular, the interlevel spacings as well as the strength and sign of qubit-qubit coupling can be determined this way.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Two-qubit parametric amplifier: large amplification of weak signals

Using numerical simulations, we show that two coupled qubits can amplify a weak signal about hundredfold. This can be achieved if the two qubits are biased simultaneously by this weak signal and a strong pump signal, both of which having frequencies close to the inter-level transitions in the system. The weak signal strongly affects the spectrum generated by the strong pumping drive by producing and controlling mixed harmonics with amplitudes of the order of the main harmonic of the strong drive. We show that the amplification is robust with respect to noise, with an intensity of the order of the weak signal. When deviating from the optimal regime (corresponding to strong qubit coupling and a weak-signal frequency equal to the inter-level transition frequency) the proposed amplifier becomes less efficient, but it can still considerably enhance a weak signal (by several tens). We therefore propose to use coupled qubits as a combined parametric amplifier and frequency shifter.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Squeezing as the source of inefficiency in the quantum Otto cycle

The availability of controllable macroscopic devices, which maintain quantum coherence over relatively long time intervals, for the first time allows an experimental realization of many effects previously considered only as Gedankenexperiments, such as the operation of quantum heat engines. The theoretical efficiency ηof quantum heat engines is restricted by the same Carnot boundary η_C as for the classical ones: any deviations from quasistatic evolution suppressing ηbelow η_C. Here we investigate an implementation of an analog of the Otto cycle in a tunable quantum coherent circuit and show that the specific source of inefficiency is the quantum squeezing of the thermal state due to the finite speed of compression/expansion of the system.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Noise enhanced performance of adiabatic quantum computing by lifting degeneracies

We investigate the symmetry breaking role of noise in adiabatic quantum computing using the example of the CNOT gate. In particular, we analyse situations where the choice of initial configuration leads to symmetries in the Hamiltonian and degeneracies in the spectrum. We show that, in these situations, there exists an optimal level of noise that maximises the success probability and the fidelity of the final state. The effects of an artificial noise source with a time-dependent amplitude are also explored and it is found that such a scheme would offer a considerable performance enhancement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Noise-induced quantum coherence and persistent Rabi oscillations in a Josephson flux qubit

We demonstrate theoretically the noise-stimulated enhancement of quantum coherence in a superconducting flux qubit. First, an external classical noise can increase the off-diagonal components of the qubit density matrix. Second, in the presence of noise, the Rabi oscillations survive for times significantly longer than the Rabi decay time in a noiseless system. These Rabi oscillations appear as a modulation of the forced response of the qubit to the ac driving field. These effects can be considered as a manifestation of quantum stochastic resonance and are relevant to experimental techniques, such as Rabi spectroscopy.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Electronic properties of the armchair graphene nanoribbon

We investigate the electronic band structure of an undoped graphene armchair nanoribbon. We demonstrate that such nanoribbon always has a gap in its electronic spectrum. Indeed, even in the situations where simple single-electron calculations predict a metallic dispersion, the system is unstable with respect to the deformation of the carbon-carbon bonds dangling at the edges of the armchair nanoribbon. The edge bonds' deformation couples electron and hole states with equal momentum. This coupling opens a gap at the Fermi level. In a realistic sample, however, it is unlikely that this instability could be observed in its pure form. Namely, since chemical properties of the dangling carbon atoms are different from chemical properties of the atoms inside the sample (for example, the atoms at the edge have only two neighbours, besides additional non-carbon atoms might be attached to passivate unpaired covalent carbon bonds), it is very probable that the bonds at the edge are deformed due to chemical interactions. This chemically-induced modification of the nanoribbon's edges can be viewed as an effective field biasing our predicted instability in a particular direction. Yet by disordering this field (e.g., through random substitution of the radicals attached to the edges) we may tune the system back to the critical regime and vary the electronic properties of the system. For example, we show that electrical transport through a nanoribbon is strongly affected by such disorder.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Surface Plasma Waves Across the Layers of Intrinsic Josephson Junctions

We predict surface electromagnetic waves propagating across the layers of intrinsic Josephson junctions. We find the spectrum of the surface waves and study the distribution of the electromagnetic field inside and outside the superconductor. The profile of the amplitude oscillations of the electric field component of such waves is peculiar: initially, it increases toward the center of the superconductor and, after reaching a crossover point, decreases exponentially.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Shape waves in 2D Josephson junctions: exact solutions and time dilation

We predict a new class of excitations propagating along a Josephson vortex in two-dimensional Josephson junctions. These excitations are associated with the distortion of a Josephson vortex line and have an analogy with shear waves in solid mechanics. Their shapes can have an arbitrary profile, which is retained when propagating. We derive a universal analytical expression for the energy of arbitrary shape excitations, investigate their influence on the dynamics of a vortex line, and discuss conditions where such excitations can be created. Finally, we show that such excitations play the role of a clock for a relativistically-moving Josephson vortex and suggest an experiment to measure a time dilation effect analogous to that in special relativity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Distinguishing quantum from classical oscillations in a driven phase qubit

Rabi oscillations are coherent transitions in a quantum two-level system under the influence of a resonant perturbation, with a much lower frequency dependent on the perturbation amplitude. These serve as one of the signatures of quantum coherent evolution in mesoscopic systems. It was shown recently [N. Gronbech-Jensen and M. Cirillo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 067001 (2005)] that in phase qubits (current-biased Josephson junctions) this effect can be mimicked by classical oscillations arising due to the anharmonicity of the effective potential. Nevertheless, we find qualitative differences between the classical and quantum effect. First, while the quantum Rabi oscillations can be produced by the subharmonics of the resonant frequency (multiphoton processes), the classical effect also exists when the system is excited at the overtones. Second, the shape of the resonance is, in the classical case, characteristically asymmetric; while quantum resonances are described by symmetric Lorentzians. Third, the anharmonicity of the potential results in the negative shift of the resonant frequency in the classical case, in contrast to the positive Bloch-Siegert shift in the quantum case. We show that in the relevant range of parameters these features allow to confidently distinguish the bona fide Rabi oscillations from their classical Doppelganger.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Proton transport and torque generation in rotary biomotors

We analyze the dynamics of rotary biomotors within a simple nano-electromechanical model, consisting of a stator part and a ring-shaped rotor having twelve proton-binding sites. This model is closely related to the membrane-embedded F$_0$ motor of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, which converts the energy of the transmembrane electrochemical gradient of protons into mechanical motion of the rotor. It is shown that the Coulomb coupling between the negative charge of the empty rotor site and the positive stator charge, located near the periplasmic proton-conducting channel (proton source), plays a dominant role in the torque-generating process. When approaching the source outlet, the rotor site has a proton energy level higher than the energy level of the site, located near the cytoplasmic channel (proton drain). In the first stage of this torque-generating process, the energy of the electrochemical potential is converted into potential energy of the proton-binding sites on the rotor. Afterwards, the tangential component of the Coulomb force produces a mechanical torque. We demonstrate that, at low temperatures, the loaded motor works in the shuttling regime where the energy of the electrochemical potential is consumed without producing any unidirectional rotation. The motor switches to the torque-generating regime at high temperatures, when the Brownian ratchet mechanism turns on. In the presence of a significant external torque, created by ATP hydrolysis, the system operates as a proton pump, which translocates protons against the transmembrane potential gradient. Here we focus on the F$_0$ motor, even though our analysis is applicable to the bacterial flagellar motor.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Negative differential resistivity in superconductors with periodic arrays of pinning sites

We study theoretically the effects of heating on the magnetic flux moving in superconductors with a periodic array of pinning sites (PAPS). The voltage-current characteristic (VI-curve) of superconductors with a PAPS includes a region with negative differential resistivity (NDR) of S-type (i.e., S-shaped VI-curve), while the heating of the superconductor by moving flux lines produces NDR of N-type (i.e., with an N-shaped VI-curve). We analyze the instability of the uniform flux flow corresponding to different parts of the VI-curve with NDR. Especially, we focus on the appearance of the filamentary instability that corresponds to an S-type NDR, which is extremely unusual for superconductors. We argue that the simultaneous existence of NDR of both N- and S-type gives rise to the appearance of self-organized two-dimensional dynamical structures in the flux flow mode. We study the effect of the pinning site positional disorder on the NDR and show that moderate disorder does not change the predicted results, while strong disorder completely suppresses the S-type NDR.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Unidirectional rotary nanomotors powered by an electrochemical potential gradient

We examine the dynamics of biological nanomotors within a simple model of a rotor having three ion-binding sites. It is shown that in the presence of an external dc electric field in the plane of the rotor, the loading of the ion from the positive side of a membrane (rotor charging) provides a torque leading to the motor rotation. We derive equations for the proton populations of the sites and solve these equations numerically jointly with the Langevin-type equation for the rotor angle. Using parameters for biological systems, we demonstrate that the sequential loading and unloading of the sites lead to the unidirectional rotation of the motor. The previously unexplained phenomenon of fast direction-switching in the rotation of a bacterial flagellar motor can also be understood within our model.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Modelling chemical reactions using semiconductor quantum dots

We propose using semiconductor quantum dots for a simulation of chemical reactions as electrons are redistributed among such artificial atoms. We show that it is possible to achieve various reaction regimes and obtain different reaction products by varying the speed of voltage changes applied to the gates forming quantum dots. Considering the simplest possible reaction, $H_2+H\to H+H_2$, we show how the necessary initial state can be obtained and what voltage pulses should be applied to achieve a desirable final product. Our calculations have been performed using the Pechukas gas approach, which can be extended for more complicated reactions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Semiclassical Dynamics of Electron Wave Packet States with Phase Vortices

We consider semiclassical higher-order wave packet solutions of the Schrodinger equation with phase vortices. The vortex line is aligned with the propagation direction, and the wave packet carries a well-defined orbital angular momentum (OAM) $\hbar l$ ($l$ is the vortex strength) along its main linear momentum. The probability current coils around momentum in such OAM states of electrons. In an electric field, these states evolve like massless particles with spin $l$. The magnetic-monopole Berry curvature appears in momentum space, which results in a spin-orbit-type interaction and a Berry/Magnus transverse force acting on the wave packet. This brings about the OAM Hall effect. In a magnetic field, there is a Zeeman interaction, which, can lead to more complicated dynamics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Modeling an adiabatic quantum computer

We map adiabatic quantum evolution on the classical Hamiltonian dynamics of a 1D gas (Pechukas gas) and simulate the latter numerically. This approach turns out to be both insightful and numerically efficient, as seen from our example of a CNOT gate simulation. For a general class of Hamiltonians we show that the escape probability from the initial state scales no faster than |\dotλ|^γ, where |\dotλ| is the adiabaticity parameter. The scaling exponent for the escape probability is γ= 1/2 for all levels, except the edge (bottom and top) ones, where γ<~1/3. In principle, our method can solve arbitrarily large adiabatic quantum Hamiltonians.

quant-ph↗