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

这笔赠款将支持通过经典和量子力学双稳态结构贡献与非线性动力学和波传播相关的新知识的研究，这对于声子量子计算至关重要。当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成熟隧道结限制了声子量子计算的进展。双稳态结构是实现机械隧道结的一种有前途的方法，因为在纳米尺度上，它们的能量势垒接近单个声子的能量。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。这些隧道结将用于处理和计算单个声子携带的量子信息，并将极大地推进室温量子计算技术。这种能力将增进动力学、量子物理、纳米科学和纳米制造方面的知识。由于科学、国防和工业对高性能计算的迫切需求，这项研究将使美国社会受益。这项多学科研究将扩大代表性不足群体对科学和工程的参与，并对 STEM 教育产生积极影响。这项研究的目的是研究经典和量子体系中机械双稳态结构的基本非线性动力学和波传输，以了解它们作为机械隧道结的潜在应用。这种机械隧道结将处理量子位，这对于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，如果纳米级双稳态结构由非线性和非接触式保守相互作用驱动，则该结构可以以足够高的传输效率传输机械波（声子），从而充当量子隧道结。该假设将通过以下方式在经典和量子领域进行测试：1）表征具有接触相互作用和非线性守恒（非接触）相互作用的宏观双稳态元件的瞬变动力学和波传输，2）从理论上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）通过机械隧道结演示声子隧道效应的量子动力学。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过利用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的评估进行评估，被认为值得支持。影响审查标准。

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.