3D-Printed Polymer Wires Enhance Quantum Light Technology
JQI Fellow Kartik Srinivasan and his colleagues have introduced an innovative method for improving single-photon collection—an essential step in advancing secure communications, high-precision imaging and quantum computing. By integrating new fabrication techniques, the research teams demonstrated a scalable and highly adaptable approach to guiding single photons efficiently into optical fibers.
Rydberg Atoms, Photonic Devices, and Graduate Student Mental Health: Embracing Complexity and Care in Physics
Dissertation Committee Chair: Steve Rolston, Trey Porto (co-chairs)
Committee:
Alan Migdall
Chandra Turpen
Tom Murphy (Dean’s Representative)
The Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a binary quantum fluid
Abstract: Instabilities, where initially small fluctuations seed the formation of large-scale structures, govern the dynamics in wide variety of fluid flows. The Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) is an iconic example that leads to the development of mushroom-shaped incursions when immiscible fluids are accelerated into each other. RTI drives structure formation throughout science and engineering including table-top oil and water mixtures; supernova explosions; and inertial confinement fusion. Despite its ubiquity, controlled laboratory RTI experiments are technically challenging.
Time Crystal Research Enters a New Phase
JQI researchers identified a set of promising ingredients for making time crystals. With those ingredients in mind, they developed a new theoretical framework that they hope will put time crystals research on an equal footing with the study of traditional phases of matter.
Certified Randomness from a Trapped-Ion Quantum Processor
Abstract: Recently, an experiment using a quantum processor realized a protocol for ‘Certified Randomness’, generating remotely verifiable randomness appealing for applications involving mutually untrusting parties. This protocol builds on the success of pushing the ability of quantum computers to perform beyond-classical computational tasks and leverages the classical hardness of sampling from random quantum circuits to certify 70 kbits of entropy against a realistic adversary using best-known attacks.
Mysteriously Mundane Turbulence Revealed in 2D Superfluid
A new experiment let JQI researchers get an unprecedented look at the currents hiding in a superfluid. The technique they developed allows them to measure the fluid velocity at specific locations in a superfluid, opening new opportunities to investigate the dynamics of superfluids, including how they experience turbulence.
Origin of edge states in 𝛑-conjugated systems revealed by explicit Clar models
Abstract: Edge states—localized electronic states at the boundaries of a material—are often attributed to structural defects or topological features in crystalline solids. In finite 𝜋-conjugated systems such as graphene nanoribbons, boron nitride, and short segments of single-walled carbon nanotubes, these edge states can lead to electron scattering and fluorescence quenching. Computational studies have shown that certain chemical modifications, such as tailored edge-passivation and fullerene-end capping, can suppress these states.
Probing Quantum Anomalous Hall States in Twisted Bilayer WSe2 via Attractive Polaron Spectroscopy
Abstract: Moire superlattices in semiconductors are predicted to exhibit a rich variety of interaction-induced topological states. However, experimental demonstrations of such topological states, apart from MoTe2 superlattices [1–8], have remained scarce [9, 10]. Here, we report the first optical detection of quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) states in twisted WSe2 homobilayer (tWSe2).
Polarization-Preserving Quantum Frequency Conversion for Trapped-Ion Quantum Networking
Abstract: While trapped ions are well-developed technologies for both quantum computation and simulation, incorporating them into nodes of a quantum network typically requires quantum frequency conversion (QFC). QFC extends the network's operating range given that most atomic ions emit polarization-entangled photons in the visible or near-infrared wavelengths.We demonstrate two-stage, polarization-preserving QFC for shifting Ba+ single photons upwards of 375 THz to the telecom O-band for quantum networking.
Curved Neutron Beams Could Deliver Benefits Straight to Industry
In a physics first, researchers have created beams of neutrons that travel in curves. The team created these Airy beams (named for English scientist George Airy) using a custom-built device. The beams could enhance neutrons’ ability to reveal useful information about materials ranging from pharmaceuticals to perfumes to pesticides—in part because the beams can bend around obstacles.