CAREER: Quantum Coherence in Vortex Systems and Superconducting Devices

非技术摘要--凝聚态物理学的一个关键研究问题是在芯片电路的尺度上研究量子相干性。这一领域的进展可以加快实现大规模量子计算机所需的改进步伐，并推进对大规模量子力学的基本理解。锡拉丘兹大学的这个教师早期职业发展项目的目标是建立和测量电路，这些电路可以探测通过纳米制造超导结构引导的涡旋的量子相干特性。涡旋是量子化的磁通束，在特定的外加磁场范围内穿过许多不同的超导体。该研究项目将广泛利用附近的NSF资助的康奈尔纳米设施。量子相干电路目前不在标准本科课程的范围内，对公众来说是一个陌生的话题，但由于量子信息的新兴领域，它正变得高度相关。因此，将为本科物理课程开发一门关于量子力学应用主题的新课程，该课程将处理重要的现代问题。涉及量子相干性研究的新实验项目将为高级本科实验室课程建立。在锡拉丘兹，几个关于量子相干电路的公开讲座将作为一个正在进行的系列的一部分。技术摘要--凝聚态物理学的一个关键研究问题是在芯片电路尺度上研究量子相干性。这一领域的进展可以加快实现大规模量子计算机所需的改进步伐，并推进对大规模量子力学的基本理解。锡拉丘兹大学的这个教师早期职业发展项目的目标是探索通过特征尺寸低至100 nm的纳米制造超导结构引导的涡旋的量子相干特性。该研究项目将广泛利用附近的NSF资助的康奈尔纳米设施。将开发实验来测量允许遵循两个不同路径的涡旋的量子干涉，并通过将涡旋耦合到另一个量子相干超导设备来检测单个涡旋的隧穿。量子相干电路目前在标准本科课程的范围之外，对公众来说是不熟悉的话题。因此，将为本科物理课程开发一门关于量子力学应用主题的新课程，该课程将处理重要的现代主题，包括量子信息的新兴领域。涉及量子相干性研究的新实验项目将为高级本科实验室课程建立。在锡拉丘兹，几个关于量子相干电路的公开讲座将作为一个正在进行的系列的一部分。

Non-Technical Abstract -- A key research problem in condensed-matter physics is the investigation of quantum coherence at the scale of circuits on a chip. Progress in this area could accelerate the pace of improvements necessary for implementing large-scale quantum computers and advance fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics at large scales. The goal of this Faculty Early Career Development project at Syracuse University is to build and measure circuits which can probe the quantum coherent properties of vortices that are guided through nanofabricated superconducting structures. Vortices are quantized bundles of magnetic flux which thread many different superconductors over a particular range of applied magnetic fields. The research project will make extensive use of the nearby, NSF-funded Cornell Nanoscale Facility. Quantum coherent circuits are currently outside the realm of the standard undergraduate curriculum and are unfamiliar topics to the general public, but are becoming highly relevant because of the emerging field of quantum information. Therefore, a new course on applied topics in quantum mechanics will be developed for the undergraduate physics program which will treat important modern problems. New experimental projects involving investigations of quantum coherence will be built for the upper-level undergraduate lab courses. Several public lectures on quantum coherent circuits will be given as part of an ongoing series at Syracuse. Technical Abstract -- A key research problem in condensed-matter physics is the investigation of quantum coherence at the scale of circuits on a chip. Progress in this area could accelerate the pace of improvements necessary for implementing large-scale quantum computers and advance fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics at large scales. The goal of this Faculty Early Career Development project at Syracuse University is to probe the quantum coherent properties of vortices that are guided through nanofabricated superconducting structures with feature sizes down to 100 nm. The research project will make extensive use of the nearby, NSF-funded Cornell Nanoscale Facility. Experiments will be developed to measure the quantum interference of a vortex that is permitted to follow two different paths and detect the tunneling of a single vortex by coupling the vortex to another quantum coherent superconducting device. Quantum coherent circuits are currently outside the realm of the standard undergraduate curriculum and are unfamiliar topics to the general public. Therefore, a new course on applied topics in quantum mechanics will be developed for the undergraduate physics program which will treat important modern topics, including the emerging field of quantum information. New experimental projects involving investigations of quantum coherence will be built for the upper-level undergraduate lab courses. Several public lectures on quantum coherent circuits will be given as part of an ongoing series at Syracuse.