CAREER: Quantum Coherence in Vortex Systems and Superconducting Devices

非技术摘要——凝聚态物理的一个关键研究问题是对芯片上电路规模的量子相干性的研究。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超导结构引导的涡流的量子相干特性。涡旋是量子化的磁通量束，它在特定的外加磁场范围内缠绕着许多不同的超导体。该研究项目将广泛利用附近由美国国家科学基金会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，本科物理专业应开设一门新的量子力学应用主题课程，以处理重要的现代问题。高等本科实验课程将建立涉及量子相干性研究的新实验项目。关于量子相干电路的几场公开讲座将作为雪城大学正在进行的系列讲座的一部分。技术摘要——凝聚态物理的一个关键研究问题是研究芯片上电路尺度上的量子相干性。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纳米制造的超导结构引导的漩涡的量子相干特性，这些结构的特征尺寸低至100纳米。该研究项目将广泛利用附近由美国国家科学基金会资助的康奈尔纳米设施。实验将被开发来测量允许遵循两个不同路径的漩涡的量子干涉，并通过将漩涡耦合到另一个量子相干超导装置来检测单个漩涡的隧穿。量子相干电路目前不在标准本科课程的范围内，对公众来说是一个不熟悉的话题。因此，本科物理专业应开设一门新的量子力学应用主题课程，以处理包括量子信息在内的重要现代主题。高等本科实验课程将建立涉及量子相干性研究的新实验项目。关于量子相干电路的几场公开讲座将作为雪城大学正在进行的系列讲座的一部分。

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.