Nous avons étudié la dynamique quantique d'un circuit supraconducteur constitué d'un SQUID dc couplé à un transistor à paires de Cooper fortement asymétrique (ACPT). Le SQUID dc est un qubit de phase contrôlé par un courant de polarisation et un champ magnétique. L'ACPT est un qubit de charge contrôlé par un courant de polarisation, un champ magnétique et une tension de la grille.<br /><br />Nous avons mesuré par spectroscopie micro-onde les premiers niveaux d'énergie du circuit couplé en fonction des paramètres de contrôle. Les mesures des états quantiques des qubits de charge et de phase sont réalisées par une mesure d'échappement du SQUID dc avec une impulsion de flux nanoseconde appliquée dans celui-ci. La mesure de l'ACPT utilise un nouveau processus quantique : l'état excité de l'ACPT est transféré adiabatiquement vers l'état excité du SQUID durant l'impulsion de flux.<br /><br />Notre circuit permet de manipuler indépendamment chaque qubit tout comme il permet d'intriquer les états quantiques des deux circuits. Nous avons observé des anti-croisements des niveaux d'énergie des deux qubits lorsqu'ils sont mis en résonance. Le couplage a été mesuré sur une large gamme de fréquence, pouvant varier de 60 MHz à 1.1 GHz. Nous avons réussi à obtenir un couplage variable entre le qubit de charge et le qubit de phase. Nous avons analysé théoriquement la dynamique quantique de notre circuit. Cette analyse a permis de bien expliquer le couplage variable mesuré par une combinaison entre un couplage Josephson et un couplage capacitif entre les deux qubits.

La double île supraconductrice, composée de trois jonctions Josephson en série, est un circuit pouvant<br />se comporter comme un système à deux niveaux. Les énergies des états quantiques macroscopiques sont<br />contrôlées par deux tensions de grille et par une tension de polarisation VB.<br />Le transfert d'une paire de Cooper à travers le circuit dissipe dans l'environnement électromagnétique<br />une quantité d'énergie 2eVB, correspondant à la polarisation en tension. Les propriétés de transport<br />à travers ce dispositif, en absence de quasiparticules résiduelles, font apparaître la compétition entre le<br />couplage des états dégénérés de la double île et le taux de relaxation en fonction de la tension de<br />polarisation. Tant que la relaxation est le facteur limitant, le courant est uniquement déterminé par la<br />relaxation, conduisant au régime quantique. Par contre, si le couplage devient le facteur limitant (ou<br />si la relaxation domine), la dynamique change et le courant paradoxalement diminue, menant au<br />régime Zéno. Aux tensions suffisamment basses, le supercourant est identifié à travers les trois jonctions<br />en série.<br />Dans ce travail, il s'agit aussi de comprendre l'effet d'un cycle d'évolution adiabatique, réalisé par<br />l'application des deux tensions de grille alternatives de même fréquence et d'amplitude en quadrature de<br />phase, produisant un courant de pompage à travers le circuit. Cette thèse présente dans quelle mesure<br />le pompage adiabatique peut être exploité pour "lire" l'état du système. Le courant de pompage est, en<br />effet, sensible à l'occupation de l'état quantique, la charge pompée dans l'état fondamental et dans le<br />premier état excité étant de signe opposé.

Tubulin, microtubules and associated proteins were studied theoretically, computationally and experimentally in vitro and in vivo in order to elucidate the possible role these play in cellular information processing and storage. Use of the electric dipole moment of tubulin as the basis for binary switches (biobits) in nanofabricated circuits was explored with surface plasmon resonance, refractometry and dielectric spectroscopy. The effects of burdening the microtubular cytoskeleton of olfactory associative memory neurons with excess microtubule associated protein TAU in Drosophila fruitflies were determined. To investigate whether tubulin may be used as the substrate for quantum computation as a bioqubit, suggestions for experimental detection of quantum coherence and entanglement among tubulin electric dipole moment states were developed.

Tubulin, microtubules and associated proteins were studied theoretically, computationally and experimentally in vitro and in vivo in order to elucidate the possible role these play in cellular information processing and storage. Use of the electric dipole moment of tubulin as the basis for binary switches (biobits) in nanofabricated circuits was explored with surface plasmon resonance, refractometry and dielectric spectroscopy. The effects of burdening the microtubular cytoskeleton of olfactory associative memory neurons with excess microtubule associated protein TAU in Drosophila fruitflies were determined. To investigate whether tubulin may be used as the substrate for quantum computation as a bioqubit, suggestions for experimental detection of quantum coherence and entanglement among tubulin electric dipole moment states were developed.

This thesis describes experimental work towards developing a trapped ion quantum information processor. An existing ion trap apparatus was capable of trapping and laser-cooling single ions or small ion strings of 40 Ca+, and had been used for studies of quantum jumps and natural lifetime measurements in Ca. This thesis describes improvements in this apparatus, which have allowed the stability and the flexibility of experimental control of the ions to be greatly increased. This enabled experiments to read out the spin state of a single trapped ion, and to load ions with isotope selectivity through photoionization. The optical systems were improved by installation of new lasers, optical reference cavities, and a system of acousto-optic modulators for laser intensity switching and frequency control. The photon counting for fluorescence detection was improved, and a new photon time-of-arrival correlation circuit developed. This has permitted rapid and more sensitive detection of micromotion, and hence cancellation of stray fields in the trap. A study of resonant circuits in the low RF, high voltage (10 MHz, 1 kV) regime was carried out with a view to developing a new RF supply for the Paul trap with reduced noise and increased power. A new supply based on a helical resonator was built and used to trap ions. This technique has reduced noise and will permit higher secular frequencies to be attained in the future. A magnetic field B in the ion trap is used to define a quantization axis, and in one series of experiments was required to be of order 100 G to provide a substantial Zeeman splitting. A set of magnetic field coils to control the size and direction of B is described. The design of these posed some problems owing to an unforseen issue with the vacuum chamber. In short, it is magnetizable and acts to first approximation like a magnetic shield. The field coils had to be sufficiently substantial to produce the desired field at the ion even in the presence of this shielding effect, and dark resonance (and other) spectra with Zeeman splitting were obtained to calibrate the field using the ion as a probe. Finally, the thesis describes the successful loading of the ion trap by laser photoionization from a weak atomic beam. This involved two new lasers at 423 nm and 389 nm. Saturated absorption spectroscopy of neutral calcium is first described, then transverse excitation of an atomic beam in our vacuum chamber is used to identify all the main isotopes of calcium and confirm their abundances in our source (a heated sample of natural calcium). Finally, photoionization is used to load the trap. This has three advantages over electron-impact ionization. By avoiding an electron gun, we avoid charging of insulating patches and subsequent electric field drift as they discharge; the flux in the atomic beam and hence calcium (and other) deposits on the electrodes can be greatly reduced; and most importantly, the photoionization is isotope selective. Evidence is presented which suggests that even with an non-enriched source, the rare isotope 43 Ca can be loaded with reasonable efficiency. This isotope is advantageous for quantum information experiments for several reasons, but chiefly because its ground state hyperfine structure can act as a stable qubit.

Submitted by GEOVANE MODENA PEREIRA null (geovanemodena@hotmail.com) on 2018-02-10T03:04:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Geovane - Criptografia de Qubits de Férmions de Majorana por meio de Estados Ligados no Contínuo.pdf: 7524654 bytes, checksum: 0bd9409e8fa9c0c2da9190e44f4cfa33 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Santulo Custódio de Medeiros null (asantulo@rc.unesp.br) on 2018-02-14T16:11:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_gm_me_rcla.pdf: 7420427 bytes, checksum: 0a0aec5beec2ecdd26883e0f4524844f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-14T16:11:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_gm_me_rcla.pdf: 7420427 bytes, checksum: 0a0aec5beec2ecdd26883e0f4524844f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-01 / Nós investigamos teoricamente uma cadeia topológica de Kitaev conectada a dois pontos quânticos (QDs) hibridizados a terminais metálicos. Neste sistema, observamos o surgimento de dois fenômenos marcantes: (i) uma decriptografia do Férmion de Majorana (MF), que é detectado por meio de medições de condutância devido ao estado de vazamento assimétrico do qubit de MFs nos QDs; (ii) criptografia desse qubit em ambos os QDs quando o vazamento é simétrico. Em tal regime, temos portanto a criptografia proposta, uma vez que o qubit de MFs separa-se nos QDs como estados ligados no contínuo (BICs), os quais não são detectáveis em experimentos de condutância. / We theoretically investigate a topological Kitaev chain connected to a double quantum-dot (QD) setup hybridized with metallic leads. In this system, we observe the emergence of two striking phenomena: i) a decrypted Majorana Fermion (MF) - qubit recorded over a single QD, which is detectable by means of conductance measurements due to the asymmetrical MF-leaked state into the QDs; ii) an encrypted qubit recorded in both QDs when the leakage is symmetrical. In such a regime, we have a cryptography-like manifestation, since the MF-qubit becomes bound states in the continuum, which is not detectable in conductance experiments.

The development of integrated quantum photonics is integral to many areas of quantum information science, in particular linear optical quantum computing. In this context, a diversity of physical systems is being explored and thus versatility and adaptability are important prerequisites for any candidate platform. Silicon oxynitride is a promising material because its refractive index can be varied over a wide range. This dissertation describes the development of silicon oxynitride waveguides for applications in the field of integrated quantum photonics. The project consisted of three stages: design, characterisation, and application. First, the parameter space was studied through simulations. The structures were optimised to achieve low-loss devices with a small footprint at a wavelength of 900 nm. Buried channel waveguides with a cross-section of 1.6 ?m x 1.6 ?m and a core (cladding) refractive index of 1.545 (1.505) were chosen. Second, following their fabrication with plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, electron beam lithography, and reactive ion etching, the waveguides were characterised. The refractive index was shown to be tunable from the silica to the silicon nitride regime. Optimised tapers significantly improved the coupling efficiency. The minimum bend radius was measured to be less than 2 mm. Propagation losses as low as 1.45 dB cm-1 were achieved. Directional couplers with coupling ratios ranging from 0 to 1 were realised. Third, building blocks for linear optical quantum computing were demonstrated. Reconfigurable quantum circuits consisting of Mach-Zehnder interferometers with near perfect visibilities were fabricated along with a four-port switch. The potential of quantum speedup was illustrated by carrying out the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm with a fidelity of 100 % using on-demand single photons from a quantum dot. This dissertation presents the first implementation of tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometers, which act on single photons, based on silicon oxynitride waveguides. Furthermore, for the first time silicon oxynitride photonic quantum circuits were operated with on-demand single photons. Accordingly, this work has created a platform for the development of integrated quantum photonics.

Kvantová výpočetní technika je rychle rostoucí obor informatiky, který přenáší principy kvantových jevu do našeho každodenního života. Díky své kvantové podstatě získávají kvantové počítače převahu nad klasickými počítači. V této práci jsme se zaměřili na vysvětlení základů kvantového počítání a jeho implementaci na kvantovém počítači. Zejména se zaměřujeme na popis fungování, konstrukci a implementaci Groverova algoritmu jako jednoho ze základních kvantových algoritmů. Demonstrovali jsme sílu tohoto kvantového algoritmu při prohledávání databáze a porovnávali ho s klasickými nekvantovými algoritmy pomocí implementace prostřednictvím simulačního prostředí QISKit. Pro simulaci jsme použili QASM Simulator a State vector Simulator Aer backends a ukázali, že získané výsledky korelují s dříve diskutovanými teoretickými poznatky. Toto ukazuje, že Groverův algoritmus umožňuje kvadratické zrychlení oproti klasickému nekvantovému vyhledávacímu algoritmu, Použitelnost algoritmu stejně jako ostatních kvantových algoritmů je ale stále omezena několika faktory, mezi které patří vysoké úrovně dekoherence a chyby hradla.

We demonstrate a remarkable property of metallic Fermi liquids: the transverse conductivity assumes a universal value in the quasi-static (ω → 0) limit for wavevectors q in the regime l −1 mfp q pF, where lmfp is the mean free path and pF is the Fermi momentum. This value is (e2/h)RFS/q in two dimensions (2D), where RFS measures the local radius of curvature of the Fermi surface (FS) in momentum space. Even more surprisingly, we find that U(1) spin liquids with a spinon FS have the same universal transverse conductivity. This means such spin liquids behave effectively as metals in this regime, even though they appear insulating in standard transport experiments. Moreover, we show that transverse current fluctuations result in a universal low-frequency magnetic noise that can be directly probed by a spin qubit, such as a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, placed at a distance z above of the 2D metal or spin liquid. Specifically the magnetic noise is given by CωPFS/z, where PFS is the perimeter of the FS in momentum space and C is a combination of fundamental constants of nature. Therefore these observables are controlled purely by the geometry of the FS and are independent of kinematic details of the quasi-particles, such as their effective mass and interactions. This behavior can be used as a new technique to measure the size of the FS of metals and as a smoking gun probe to pinpoint the presence of the elusive spinon FS in two-dimensional systems. We estimate that this universal regime is within reach of current NV center spectroscopic techniques for several spinon FS candidate materials.

Previous work was successful at delineating reaction pathways for the photoactivated synthesis of an amine, [CztBu(PyriPr)(NH2−PyriPr)], by double intramolecular C−H activation and functionalization via irradiating a metal(II) azido complex, [CztBu(PyriPr)2NiN3. The present work seeks to expand upon earlier research, and to substitute the metal with iron or cobalt, and to expand the study to photocatalyzed intermolecular C−H activation and functionalization of organic substrates. Density functional theory (DFT) – B3LYP/6-31+G(d') and APFD/Def2TZVP – and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) were used to propose a detailed pathway comprised of intermediates of low, intermediate, or high spin multiplicity and photo-generated excited states for the reaction of the azido complex, [CztBu(PyriPr)2MN3] to form the amine complex [CztBu(PyriPr)M(NH2−PyriPr)], M = Co, Ni or Fe, and the intermediates along the reaction pathway. For applications on quantum computing, the photophysical properties of photoactive d8 nickel(II) complexes are modeled. Such systems take advantage of a two-level system pathway between ground to excited state electronic transitions and could be useful for the discovery of successful candidates for a room temperature qubit, the analogue of a classical computational bit. A modified organometallic model, inspired by a nitrogen vacancy selective intersystem crossing model in diamond, was developed to take advantage of the formation of excited states. Tanabe-Sugano diagrams predict areas where these excited states may relax via phosphorescent emission. Under Zeeman splitting, these transitions create the conditions required for a two-level system needed to design a functional organometallic qubit.