Collaborative Research: Nonlinear Dynamics and Wave Propagation through Phononic Tunneling Junctions based on Classical and Quantum Mechanical Bistable Structures

这笔赠款将支持一些研究，这些研究将贡献与非线性动力学和波通过经典和量子力学双稳结构传播有关的新知识，这对声子量子计算至关重要。目前最先进的量子计算机以前所未有的速度完成复杂的计算；然而，它们需要非常低的工作温度，限制了它们的实际使用。此外，目前缺乏能够处理声子量子信息的良好隧道结限制了声子量子计算的进展。双稳结构是实现机械隧道结的一种很有前途的方法，因为在纳米尺度上，它们的能垒接近于单个声子的能量。该奖项支持基础研究，以提供开发这些新型隧道结所需的经典和量子力学双稳态结构的非线性动力学知识。这些隧道结将用于单声子携带的量子信息的处理和计算，并将极大地推动室温量子计算技术的发展。这种能力将促进动力学、量子物理、纳米科学和纳米制造方面的知识。由于科学、国防和工业领域对高性能计算的迫切需求，这项研究将使美国社会受益。这一多学科的研究将扩大未被充分代表的群体在科学和工程领域的参与，并对STEM教育产生积极的影响。本研究的目的是研究机械双稳结构在经典和量子状态下的基本非线性动力学和波的传输，为其作为机械隧道结的潜在应用奠定基础。这种机械隧道结将处理量子比特，这对使用声子的量子计算平台至关重要。这项研究的中心假设是，如果结构是由非线性和非接触的保守相互作用驱动的，那么纳米级双稳结构可以以足够高的传输效率传输机械波(声子)，以充当量子隧道结。这一假设将在经典和量子机制中得到验证，1)描述具有接触相互作用和非线性保守(非接触)相互作用的宏尺度双稳元件的瞬穿动力学和波传输，2)从理论和实验上评估通过微观结构的机械波(声子)传输效率，以及3)展示通过机械隧道结的声子隧穿的量子动力学。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This grant will support research that will contribute new knowledge related to nonlinear dynamics and wave propagation through classical and quantum mechanical bistable structures, which is critical for phononic quantum computing. Current state-of-the-art quantum computers complete complex computations at unprecedented speeds; however, they require very low operating temperatures, limiting their practical use. Further, the current lack of a well-established tunneling junction capable of processing phononic quantum information limits progress in phononic quantum computing. Bistable structures are a promising approach for the realization of a mechanical tunneling junction because, at the nanoscale, their energy barrier approaches the energy of a single phonon. This award supports fundamental research to provide the knowledge regarding the nonlinear dynamics of classical and quantum mechanical bistable structures needed for the development of these novel tunneling junctions. These tunneling junctions will be used for processing and computing of quantum information carried by single phonons and will dramatically advance the technology of room-temperature quantum computing. This capability will advance knowledge in dynamics, quantum physics, nanoscience, and nanofabrication. This research will benefit U.S. society due to the critical need for high performance computing in science, defense and industry. This multi-disciplinary research will broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering and positively impact STEM education.The objective of this research is to investigate the fundamental nonlinear dynamics and wave transmission through mechanical bistable structures in classical and quantum regimes for their potential application as mechanical tunneling junctions. Such mechanical tunneling junctions will process quantum bits, which is critical to quantum computing platforms using phonons. The central hypothesis of this research is that a nanoscale bistable structure can transmit mechanical waves (phonons) with a high enough transmission efficiency to act as a quantum tunneling junction if the structure is driven by nonlinear and contactless conservative interactions. This hypothesis will be tested in both classical and quantum regimes by 1) characterizing the snap-though dynamics and wave transmission of macroscale bistable elements with contact interactions and nonlinear conservative (contactless) interactions, 2) evaluating the mechanical wave (phonon) transmission efficiency through a micro-scale structure theoretically and experimentally, and 3) demonstrating the quantum dynamics of phonon tunneling through mechanical tunneling junction.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.