Microwave-induced cooling of a superconducting qubit

We demonstrated microwave-induced cooling in a superconducting flux qubit. The thermal population in the first-excited state of the qubit is driven to a higher-excited state by way of a sideband transition. Subsequent relaxation into the ground state results in cooling. Effective temperatures as low as approximately 3 millikelvin are achieved for bath temperatures of 30 to 400 millikelvin, a cooling factor between 10 and 100. This demonstration provides an analog to optical cooling of trapped ions and atoms and is generalizable to other solid-state quantum systems. Active cooling of qubits, applied to quantum information science, provides a means for qubit-state preparation with improved fidelity and for suppressing decoherence in multi-qubit systems.     

Mach-Zehnder interferometry in a strongly driven superconducting qubit

We demonstrate Mach-Zehnder-type interferometry in a superconducting flux qubit. The qubit is a tunable artificial atom, the ground and excited states of which exhibit an avoided crossing. Strongly driving the qubit with harmonic excitation sweeps it through the avoided crossing two times per period. Because the induced Landau-Zener transitions act as coherent beamsplitters, the accumulated phase between transitions, which varies with microwave amplitude, results in quantum interference fringes for n = 1 to 20 photon transitions. The generalization of optical Mach-Zehnder interferometry, performed in qubit phase space, provides an alternative means to manipulate and characterize the qubit in the strongly driven regime.     

Direct imaging of the diacetylene solid-state monomer-polymer phase transformation

The solid-state phase transformation from 1,6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2-4-hexadiyne (DCHD) diacetylene monomer to polymer has been studied dynamically by low-dose selected area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The total exposure required to induce polymerization is five orders of magnitude smaller than the critical dose for electron beam damage. The phase transformation is quasi-homogeneous, with the lattice parameters changing continuously as a function of beam dose. Characteristic streaking that develops in the selected area electron diffraction patterns in the [200] reciprocal directions during the intermediate stages of the transformation provides information about the defect-mediated mechanisms of this reaction.     

Coherent quantum dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit

We have observed coherent time evolution between two quantum states of a superconducting flux qubit comprising three Josephson junctions in a loop. The superposition of the two states carrying opposite macroscopic persistent currents is manipulated by resonant microwave pulses. Readout by means of switching-event measurement with an attached superconducting quantum interference device revealed quantum-state oscillations with high fidelity. Under strong microwave driving, it was possible to induce hundreds of coherent oscillations. Pulsed operations on this first sample yielded a relaxation time of 900 nanoseconds and a free-induction dephasing time of 20 nanoseconds. These results are promising for future solid-state quantum computing.     

Coherent sensing of a mechanical resonator with a single-spin qubit

Mechanical systems can be influenced by a wide variety of small forces, ranging from gravitational to optical, electrical, and magnetic. When mechanical resonators are scaled down to nanometer-scale dimensions, these forces can be harnessed to enable coupling to individual quantum systems. We demonstrate that the coherent evolution of a single electronic spin associated with a nitrogen vacancy center in diamond can be coupled to the motion of a magnetized mechanical resonator. Coherent manipulation of the spin is used to sense driven and Brownian motion of the resonator under ambient conditions with a precision below 6 picometers. With future improvements, this technique could be used to detect mechanical zero-point fluctuations, realize strong spin-phonon coupling at a single quantum level, and implement quantum spin transducers.     

Coherent state evolution in a superconducting qubit from partial-collapse measurement

Measurement is one of the fundamental building blocks of quantum-information processing systems. Partial measurement, where full wavefunction collapse is not the only outcome, provides a detailed test of the measurement process. We introduce quantum-state tomography in a superconducting qubit that exhibits high-fidelity single-shot measurement. For the two probabilistic outcomes of partial measurement, we find either a full collapse or a coherent yet nonunitary evolution of the state. This latter behavior explicitly confirms modern quantum-measurement theory and may prove important for error-correction algorithms in quantum computation.     

Observation of phase transitions in spreading activation networks

Phase transitions, similar to those seen in physical systems, are observed in spreading activation networks. Such networks are used both in theories of cognition and in artificial intelligence applications. This result confirms a predicted abrupt behavioral change as either the topology of the network or the activation parameters are varied across phase boundaries.     

Radiation dosimetry by a new solid-state effect

Ionizing radiation can induce strong electrical polarization phenomena in dielectic solids. These radiation-induced thermally activated depolarization (RITAD) effects are quite different from radioelectret effects. For nominally pure calcium fluoride samples, the RITAD signals show a signal-to-noise power advantage of 40 decibels over that of thermoluminescence signals measured under the same experimental conditions. Ease of measurement, very high radiation sensitivity, and simple sample fabrication requirements give the RITAD phenomena a great potential for use as a new solid-state dosimetry technique.     

Methane synthesis on nickel by a solid-state ionic method

The feasibility of electrochemically synthesizing methane by a Fischer-Tropsch type reaction by use of a solid oxide electrolyte has been demonstrated. This solid-state ionic approach provides in situ control of the oxygen activity at the gascatalyst interface by imposing a suitable voltage drop across an oxygen-conducting solid electrolyte from an external source. Methanation rates for hydrogen-carbon monoxide and hydrogen-carbon dioxide synthesis gas mixtures upon nickel electrodes showed substantial enhancement with the use of this technique, reaching values nearly two orders of magnitude higher than their intrinsic rates.     

Observation of skyrmions in a multiferroic material

A magnetic skyrmion is a topologically stable particle-like object that appears as a vortex-like spin texture at the nanometer scale in a chiral-lattice magnet. Skyrmions have been observed in metallic materials, where they are controllable by electric currents. Here, we report the experimental discovery of magnetoelectric skyrmions in an insulating chiral-lattice magnet Cu(2)OSeO(3) through Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. We find that the skyrmion can magnetically induce electric polarization. The observed magnetoelectric coupling may potentially enable the manipulation of the skyrmion by an external electric field without losses due to joule heating.     

The chemistry of solid-state electronics

Since the original theoretical insights of Bardeen and Shockley about 40 years ago, the progress of solid-state electronics has been paced by the ability to control chemical bonding structures, particularly at surfaces and interfaces. The functioning of solid-state devices depends on being able to produce interfacial structures with a minimum number of defective chemical bonds. A series of chemical discoveries and insights, on germanium (Ge) and silicon (Si) surfaces and gallium arsenide-aluminum arsenide (GaAs-AlAs) interfaces, has brought the electronics revolution to its present state of development. In most cases, the technological consequences of these accidental discoveries could not be accurately foreseen. With that caution, the technological prognosis for some current research is also reviewed.     

A reversible solid-state crystalline transformation in a metal phosphide induced by redox chemistry

We demonstrate low-potential intercalation of lithium in a solid-state metal phosphide. A topotactic first-order transition between different but related crystal structures at room temperature takes place by an electrochemical redox process: MnP4 <--> Li7MnP4. The P-P bonds in the MnP4 structure are cleaved at the time of Li insertion (reduction) to produce crystalline Li7MnP4 and are reformed after reoxidation to MnP4, thereby acting as an electron storage reservoir. This is an unusual example of facile covalent bond breaking within the crystalline solid state that can be reversed by the input of electrochemical energy.     

烟叶果胶糖醛酸结构的固态核磁共振波谱表征

烟叶果胶不同糖醛酸结构的含量分布,对其生理功能和产品品质有着重要影响。为表征烟叶果胶糖醛酸结构,采用固态¹³C交叉极化/魔角旋转核磁共振波谱技术(¹³C CP/MAS NMR),以二甲基硅橡胶管为内标物质,建立烤烟烟叶中果胶含量的定量分析方法。选择NMR图谱中果胶C-6区域的波谱峰,应用PeakFit软件进行去卷积分峰处理,实现烟草样品果胶不同糖醛酸结构,即果胶酸(-COOH)、甲酯化果胶(-COOCH₃)、果胶酸钙盐(-COO^-)等定性和含量分布的分析表征。应用固态核磁共振波谱分析表征了不同部位9种烟叶样品中的果胶含量及其糖醛酸结构。结果表明,烟叶果胶含量随着烟叶部位上升而逐渐增高。样品烟叶中甲酯化果胶的含量分布均小于50%,属低甲酯化果胶。对比中部烟叶,上部叶的甲酯化果胶含量偏高,下部叶偏低,而上部叶的果胶酸钙盐含量较低,下部叶较高。结果为烟草果胶大分子结构与性能的关系研究,提供准确、简便的技术方法。     

Rapid solid-state precursor synthesis of materials

Precursor reactions based on metathetical (exchange) pathways have been found to be an effective synthetic route for the preparation of a large number of materials. These solid-solid reactions are extremely rapid (typically less than 1 second) and often can be initiated at or near room temperature. They are potentially useful for controlling product particle size and for preparing highquality cationic or anionic solid solutions. The frequently self-propagating and sometimes explosive behavior exhibited by these reactions can be attributed to the large amount of heat they release. As a consequence, thermodynamic considerations can be used to help select the best set of precursors as judged from reaction enthalpies. The factors that influence these reactions are illustrated by a discussion of MoS(2), ZrN, MoSi(2), and GaAs, examples of the many compounds accessible by this synthetic route.     

Quantum phase transition of a magnet in a spin bath

The excitation spectrum of a model magnetic system, LiHoF4, was studied with the use of neutron spectroscopy as the system was tuned to its quantum critical point by an applied magnetic field. The electronic mode softening expected for a quantum phase transition was forestalled by hyperfine coupling to the nuclear spins. We found that interactions with the nuclear spin bath controlled the length scale over which the excitations could be entangled. This generic result places a limit on our ability to observe intrinsic electronic quantum criticality.     

Observation of a one-dimensional Tonks-Girardeau gas

We report the observation of a one-dimensional (1D) Tonks-Girardeau (TG) gas of bosons moving freely in 1D. Although TG gas bosons are strongly interacting, they behave very much like noninteracting fermions. We enter the TG regime with cold rubidium-87 atoms by trapping them with a combination of two light traps. By changing the trap intensities, and hence the atomic interaction strength, the atoms can be made to act either like a Bose-Einstein condensate or like a TG gas. We measure the total 1D energy and the length of the gas. With no free parameters and over a wide range of coupling strengths, our data fit the exact solution for the ground state of a 1D Bose gas.     

Observation of bose-einstein condensation in a dilute atomic vapor

A Bose-Einstein condensate was produced in a vapor of rubidium-87 atoms that was confined by magnetic fields and evaporatively cooled. The condensate fraction first appeared near a temperature of 170 nanokelvin and a number density of 2.5 x 10(12) per cubic centimeter and could be preserved for more than 15 seconds. Three primary signatures of Bose-Einstein condensation were seen. (i) On top of a broad thermal velocity distribution, a narrow peak appeared that was centered at zero velocity. (ii) The fraction of the atoms that were in this low-velocity peak increased abruptly as the sample temperature was lowered. (iii) The peak exhibited a nonthermal, anisotropic velocity distribution expected of the minimum-energy quantum state of the magnetic trap in contrast to the isotropic, thermal velocity distribution observed in the broad uncondensed fraction.     

Observation of Fermi pressure in a gas of trapped atoms

We report the attainment of simultaneous quantum degeneracy in a mixed gas of bosons (lithium-7) and fermions (lithium-6). The Fermi gas has been cooled to a temperature of 0.25 times the Fermi temperature by thermal collisions with the evaporatively cooled bosons. At this temperature, the spatial size of the gas is strongly affected by the Fermi pressure resulting from the Pauli exclusion principle and gives clear experimental evidence for quantum degeneracy.