arXiv subjects

Zhi-Hai Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Zhi-Hai Liu.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quantum Gates Built on a Spin Qubit and a Kitaev Parity Qubit

Spin is typically traced out in the description of quantum-dot-based Kitaev chains to simplify the construction of Majorana fermions. Yet the intrinsic spin structure of poor-man's Majorana modes in minimal Kitaev chains under finite Zeeman fields offers a natural interface for the Kitaev parity qubit to interact with other spinful systems. Here, we establish such a platform to bridge the parity qubit and a quantum-dot spin qubit, with the effective coupling governed by the spin-dependent delocalization of the Majorana modes. Depending on whether the spin qubit is coupled to one or two chains constituting the parity qubit, the parity-spin coupling exhibits distinct forms: an anisotropic parity-conserving exchange interaction or a nontrivial exchange tensor tunable via the interchain superconducting-phase bias. Leveraging fast spin-qubit manipulation, we further demonstrate universal parity-qubit control, high-fidelity qubit-state readout, and entangling operations between the parity and spin qubits. These results turn the spinful structure of poor-man's Majoranas from a finite-field imperfection into a resource for hybrid quantum control.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Spin qubit shuttling between coupled quantum dots with inhomogeneous Landé g-tensors

By utilizing the site-dependent spin quantization axis in semiconductor quantum dot (QD) arrays, shuttling-based spin qubit gates have become an appealing approach to realize scalable quantum computing due to the circumvention of using high-frequency driving fields. The emergence of a spin deviation from the local quantization axis of one residing QD is the prerequisite to implement the qubit gates. In this work, we study the non-adiabatic dynamics of a spin qubit shuttling between coupled QDs with inhomogeneous Landé g-tensors and a small magnetic field. The spin dynamics is analyzed through solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation of the qubit under the effects of spin-orbit interaction and rapid ramping inter-dot detuning. The precondition, imposed on the ramping time and the tunnel-coupling strength, to ensure a high-fidelity inter-dot transfer is estimated. We then calculate the change in the spin orientation of a transferred qubit, and study the dependences of the spin deviation on the difference in the quantization axes of the two QDs, the tunnel-coupling strength, and the ramping time. We also demonstrate that the effect of multiple rounds of inter-dot bidirectional shuttling can be captured by an operator matrix, and evaluate the idling times required for realizing the single-qubit Pauli-X and Pauli-Y gates. Intriguingly, it is confirmed that a generalized Hadamard gate can be achieved through tuning the idling times.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Multi-qubit DC gates over an inhomogeneous array of quantum dots

The prospect of large-scale quantum computation with an integrated chip of spin qubits is imminent as technology improves. This invites us to think beyond the traditional 2-qubit-gate framework and consider a naturally supported ``instruction set'' of multi-qubit gates. In this work, we systematically study such a family of multi-qubit gates implementable over an array of quantum dots by DC evolution. A useful representation of the computational Hamiltonian is proposed for a dot-array with strong spin-orbit coupling effects, distinctive $g$-factor tensors and varying interdot couplings. Adopting a perturbative treatment, we model a multi-qubit DC gate by the first-order dynamics in the qubit frame and develop a detailed formalism for decomposing the resulting gate, estimating and optimizing the coherent gate errors with appropriate local phase shifts for arbitrary array connectivity. Examples of such multi-qubit gates and their applications in quantum error correction and quantum algorithms are also explored, demonstrating their potential advantage in accelerating complex tasks and reducing overall errors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Laughlin charge pumping from interplay of chiral Dirac and chiral Majorana modes

Laughlin charge pumping has provided critical insights into the topological classification of individual materials, but remains largely unexplored in topological junctions. We explore Laughlin charge pumping in junctions composed of a chiral topological superconductor sandwiched between two quantum anomalous Hall insulators, driven by an adiabatically varying magnetic flux. Here, charge pumping can be mediated merely by chiral Dirac modes or by the interplay of chiral Dirac and chiral Majorana modes (CMMs). In the former case, a variation of one magnetic flux quantum induces the pumping of a unit charge, as the chiral Dirac mode accumulates the full flux-induced phase. In contrast, in the latter case, pumping a unit charge requires a variation of fractional magnetic flux quanta, determined by the device geometry and the parity of the number of enclosed superconducting vortices. This unique feature results from the charge-neutral and zero-momentum nature of zero-energy CMMs. Our work offers an experimentally viable pathway toward detecting CMMs and could also inspire further research into Laughlin charge or spin pumping in diverse topological junctions, which are now within experimental reach.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

One-dimensional quantum dot array integrated with charge sensors in an InAs nanowire

We report an experimental study of a one-dimensional quintuple-quantum-dot array integrated with two quantum dot charge sensors in an InAs nanowire. The device is studied by measuring double quantum dots formed consecutively in the array and corresponding charge stability diagrams are revealed with both direct current measurements and charge sensor signals. The one-dimensional quintuple-quantum-dot array are then tuned up and its charge configurations are fully mapped out with the two charge sensors. The energy level of each dot in the array can be controlled individually by using a compensated gate architecture (i.e., "virtual gate"). After that, four dots in the array are selected to form two double quantum dots and ultra strong inter-double-dot interaction is obtained. A theoretical simulation based on a 4-dimensional Hamiltonian confirms the strong coupling strength between the two double quantum dots. The highly controllable one-dimensional quantum dot array achieved in this work is expected to be valuable for employing InAs nanowires to construct advanced quantum hardware in the future.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Coupling of quantum-dot states via elastic-cotunneling and crossed Andreev reflection in a minimal Kitaev chain

Recently, exciting progress has been made in using the superconducting nanowires coupled to gate-defined quantum dots (QDs) to mimic the Kiteav chain and realize the Majorana-bound states via a poor man's route. The essential ingredient is to balance the interdot elastic-cotunneling (ECT) and crossed Andreev reflection (CAR). As theoretically proposed, this can be mediated by the Andreev bound states (ABSs) formed in the superconducting nanowires. However, most of the gate-tuning asymmetric features observed in experiments can not be captured using the current theoretical models. To address this insufficiency, here, we consider a full model that explicitly includes all the details of both the QD states and the ABSs. Remarkable agreement is found with the recent experimental observations, where our model correctly reveals the gate-tuning asymmetry in ECTs and by which the average QD state energy can also be extracted. In contrast, CARs do not depend on the tuning of QD states. Moreover, armed with the tunability of ECTs and CARs with QD states, we also predict a controllable anisotropic superexchange interaction between electron spins in the two separated QDs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Scattering description of edge states in Aharonov-Bohm triangle chains

Scattering theory has been suggested as a convenient method to identify topological phases of matter, in particular of disordered systems for which the Bloch band-theory approach is inapplicable. Here we examine this idea, employing as a benchmark a one-dimensional triangle chain whose versatility yields a scattering matrix that ``flows" in parameter space among several members of the topology classification scheme. Our results show that the reflection amplitudes (from both ends of a sufficiently long chain) do indicate the appearance of edge states in {\it all} (topological and non-topological) cases. For the topological cases, the transmission has a peak at the topological phase transition, which happens at the Fermi energy. A peak still exists as one moves into the non-topological `trivial' regions, in which another transmission peak may occur at nonzero energy, at which a relevant edge state appears in the isolated chain. For finite chains, the peak in the transmission strongly depends on their coupling of the leads, and {\it not} on the phase transition of the isolated chain. In any case, {\it the appearance of a peak in the transmission is not sufficient to conclude that the system undergoes a topological phase transition.}

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Topological phase transition in a narrow bandgap semiconductor nanolayer

Narrow bandgap semiconductor nanostructures have been explored for realization of topological superconducting quantum devices in which Majorana states can be created and employed for constructing topological qubits. However, a prerequisite to achieve the topological phase transition in these nanostructures is application of a magnetic field, which could complicate the technology development towards topological quantum computing. Here we demonstrate that a topological phase transition can be achieved in a narrow bandgap semiconductor nanolayer under application of a perpendicular electric field. Based on full band structure calculations, it is shown that the topological phase transition occurs at an electric-field induced band inversion and is accompanied by a sharp change of the $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ invariant at the critical field. We also demonstrate that the nontrivial topological phase is manifested by the quantum spin Hall edge states in a band-inverted nanolayer Hall-bar structure. We present the phase diagram of the nanolayer in the space of layer thickness and electric field strength, and discuss the optimal conditions to achieve a large topological bandgap in the electric-field induced topological phase of a semiconductor nanolayer.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Spin-Orbit Interaction Enabled High-Fidelity Two-Qubit Gates

We study the implications of spin-orbit interaction (SOI) for two-qubit gates (TQGs) in semiconductor spin qubit platforms. SOI renders the exchange interaction governing qubit pairs anisotropic, posing a serious challenge for conventional TQGs derived for the isotropic Heisenberg exchange. Starting from microscopic level, we develop a concise computational Hamiltonian that captures the essence of SOI, and use it to derive properties of the rotating-frame time evolutions. Two key findings are made. First, for the controlled-phase/controlled-Z gate, we show and analytically prove the existence of ``SOI nodes'' where the fidelity can be optimally enhanced, with only slight modifications in terms of gate time and local phase corrections. Second, we discover and discuss novel two-qubit dynamics that are inaccessible without SOI -- the reflection gate and the direct controlled-not gate. The relevant conditions and achievable fidelities are studied for the direct controlled-not gate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Topological charge and spin pumping in a semiconductor nanowire

The adiabatic topological pumping is proposed by periodically modulating a semiconductor nanowire double-quantum-dot chain. We demonstrate that the quantized charge transport can be achieved by a nontrivial modulation of the quantum-dot well and barrier potentials. When the quantum-dot well potential is replaced by a time-dependent staggered magnetic field, the topological spin pumping can be realized by periodically modulating the barrier potentials and magnetic field. We also demonstrate that in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit interaction, the double-quantum-dot chain can be used to implement the topological spin pumping. However, the pumped spin in this case can have a quantization axis other than the applied magnetic field direction. Moreover, we show that all the adiabatic topological pumping are manifested by the presence of gapless edge states traversing the band gap as a function of time.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Topological states and interplay between spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions in a spinful Su-Schrieffer-Heeger nanowire

The interplay between the spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions acting on a spinful Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model is studied based on an InAs nanowire subjected to a periodic gate potential along the axial direction. It is shown that a nontrivial topological phase can be achieved by regulating the confining-potential configuration. In the absence of the Zeeman field, we prove that the topology of the chain is not affected by the Rashba spin-orbit interaction due to the persisting chiral symmetry. The energies of the edge modes can be manipulated by varying the magnitude and direction of the external magnetic field. Remarkably, the joint effect of the two spin-related interactions leads to novel edge states that appear in the gap formed by the anti-crossing of the bands of a finite spinful dimerized chain, and can be merged into the bulk states by tilting the magnetic-field direction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Highly tunable quadruple quantum dot in a narrow bandgap semiconductor InAs nanowire

Quantum dots (QDs) made from semiconductors are among the most promising platforms for the developments of quantum computing and simulation chips, and have advantages over other platforms in high density integration and in compatibility to the standard semiconductor chip fabrication technology. However, development of a highly tunable semiconductor multiple QD system still remains as a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate realization of a highly tunable linear quadruple QD (QQD) in a narrow bandgap semiconductor InAs nanowire with fine finger gate technique. The QQD is studied by electron transport measurements in the linear response regime. Characteristic two-dimensional charge stability diagrams containing four groups of resonant current lines of different slopes are found for the QQD. It is shown that these current lines can be individually assigned as arising from resonant electron transport through the energy levels of different QDs. Benefited from the excellent gate tunability, we also demonstrate tuning of the QQD to regimes where the energy levels of two QDs, three QDs and all the four QDs are energetically on resonance, respectively, with the fermi level of source and drain contacts. A capacitance network model is developed for the linear QQD and the simulated charge stability diagrams based on the model show good agreements with the experiments. Our work presents a solid experimental evidence that narrow bandgap semiconductor nanowires multiple QDs could be used as a versatile platform to achieve integrated qubits for quantum computing and to perform quantum simulations for complex many-body systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Control of the Two-Electron Exchange Interaction in a Nanowire Double Quantum Dot

The two-electron exchange coupling in a nanowire double quantum dot (DQD) is shown to possess Moriya's anisotropic superexchange interaction under the influence of both the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings (SOCs) and a Zeeman field. We reveal the controllability of the anisotropic exchange interaction via tuning the SOC and the direction of the external magnetic field. The exchange interaction can be transformed into an isotropic Heisenberg interaction, but the uniform magnetic field becomes an effective inhomogeneous field whose measurable inhomogeneity reflects the SOC strength. Moreover, the presence of the effective inhomogeneous field gives rise to an energy-level anticrossing in the low-energy spectrum of the DQD. By fitting the analytical expression for the energy gap to the experimental spectroscopic detections [S. Nadj-Perge et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 166801 (2012)], we obtain the complete features of the SOC in an InSb nanowire DQD.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Spin-relaxation anisotropy in a nanowire quantum dot with strong spin-orbit coupling

We study the impacts of the magnetic field direction on the spin-manipulation and the spin-relaxation in a one-dimensional quantum dot with strong spin-orbit coupling. The energy spectrum and the corresponding eigenfunctions in the quantum dot are obtained exactly. We find that no matter how large the spin-orbit coupling is, the electric-dipole spin transition rate as a function of the magnetic field direction always has a $π$ periodicity. However, the phonon-induced spin relaxation rate as a function of the magnetic field direction has a $π$ periodicity only in the weak spin-orbit coupling regime, and the periodicity is prolonged to $2π$ in the strong spin-orbit coupling regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Spin-orbit coupling and electric-dipole spin resonance in a nanowire double quantum dot

We study the electric-dipole transitions for a single electron in a double quantum dot located in a semiconductor nanowire. Enabled by spin-orbit coupling (SOC), electric-dipole spin resonance (EDSR) for such an electron can be generated via two mechanisms: the SOC-induced intradot pseudospin states mixing and the interdot spin-flipped tunneling. The EDSR frequency and strength are determined by these mechanisms together. For both mechanisms the electric-dipole transition rates are strongly dependent on the external magnetic field. Their competition can be revealed by increasing the magnetic field and/or the interdot distance for the double dot. To clarify whether the strong SOC significantly impact the electron state coherence, we also calculate relaxations from excited levels via phonon emission. We show that spin-flip relaxations can be effectively suppressed by the phonon bottleneck effect even at relatively low magnetic fields because of the very large $g$-factor of strong SOC materials such as InSb.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

The impacts of the quantum-dot confining potential on the spin-orbit effect

For a nanowire quantum dot with the confining potential modeled by both the infinite and the finite square wells, we obtain exactly the energy spectrum and the wave functions in the strong spin-orbit coupling regime. We find that regardless of how small the well height is, there are at least two bound states in the finite square well: one has the $σ^{x}\mathcal{P}=-1$ symmetry and the other has the $σ^{x}\mathcal{P}=1$ symmetry. When the well height is slowly tuned from large to small, the position of the maximal probability density of the first excited state moves from the center to $x\ne0$, while the position of the maximal probability density of the ground state is always at the center. A strong enhancement of the spin-orbit effect is demonstrated by tuning the well height. In particular, there exists a critical height $V^{c}_{0}$, at which the spin-orbit effect is enhanced to maximal.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗