Pulsed laser cooling for cavity optomechanical resonators

Simultaneously enhanced magnomechanical cooling and entanglement assisted by an auxiliary microwave cavity

We propose a mechanism to simultaneously enhance quantum cooling and entanglement via coupling an auxiliary microwave cavity to a magnomechanical cavity. The auxiliary cavity acts as a dissipative cold reservoir that can efficiently cool multiple localized modes in the primary system via beam-splitter interactions, which enables us to obtain strong quantum cooling and entanglement. We analyze the stability of the system and determine the optimal parameter regime for cooling and entanglement under the auxiliary-microwave-cavity-assisted (AMCA) scheme. The maximum cooling enhancement rate of the magnon mode can reach 98.53%, which clearly reveals that the magnomechanical cooling is significantly improved in the presence of the AMCA. More importantly, the dual-mode entanglement of the system can also be significantly enhanced by AMCA in the full parameter region, where the initial magnon-phonon entanglement can be maximally enhanced by a factor of about 11. Another important result of the AMCA is that it also increases the robustness of the entanglement against temperature. Our approach provides a promising platform for the experimental realization of entanglement and quantum information processing based on cavity magnomechanics.

Enhancement of magnon-photon-phonon entanglement in a cavity magnomechanics with coherent feedback loop

In this paper, we present a coherent feedback loop scheme to enhance the magnon-photon-phonon entanglement in cavity magnomechanics. We provide a proof that the steady state and dynamical state of the system form a genuine tripartite entanglement state. To quantify the entanglement in the bipartite subsystem and the genuine tripartite entanglement, we use the logarithmic negativity and the minimum residual contangle, respectively, in both the steady and dynamical regimes. We demonstrate the feasibility of our proposal by implementing it with experimentally realizable parameters to achieve the tripartite entanglement. We also show that the entanglement can be significantly improved with coherent feedback by appropriately tuning the reflective parameter of the beam splitter and that it is resistant to environmental thermalization. Our findings pave the way for enhancing entanglement in magnon-photon-phonon systems and may have potential applications in quantum information.

Quantum brachistochrone

Quantum brachistochrone (QB) is a quantum analogue of classical brachistochrone (shortest path). It is a solution to the following problem: How can we perform a desired quantum operation (or obtain a desired final quantum state) most quickly, by a time-dependent Hamiltonian subject to given constraints? Finding QB is a fundamental problem in quantum mechanics in its own right. Moreover, it will be useful in the study of quantum information and quantum engineering, such as quantum speed limits and implementations of quantum computers. A general framework for finding QBs, called QB formalism, has been developed. It is based on Pontryagin's maximum principle. We review the basics of the QB formalism, give simple examples, and briefly discuss some related studies. This article is part of the theme issue 'Shortcuts to adiabaticity: theoretical, experimental and interdisciplinary perspectives'.

Simultaneous ground-state cooling of identical mechanical oscillators by Lyapunov control

The simultaneous cooling of multiple mechanical oscillators in the cavity optomechanical system has aroused people's attention and may be applicable in the quantum information process. In this paper, a scheme to realize the simultaneous ground-state cooling of two identical mechanical oscillators is proposed, where the frequency of one of the oscillators is designed according to Lyapunov control. By this method, the dark mode can effectively couple with the bright mode so that the two identical oscillators can be simultaneously cooled to their ground state. Extending this scheme into multiple identical mechanical oscillators, we show that simultaneous cooling can also be achieved.

Shortcuts to adiabaticity for open systems in circuit quantum electrodynamics

Shortcuts to adiabaticity are powerful quantum control methods, allowing quick evolution into target states of otherwise slow adiabatic dynamics. Such methods have widespread applications in quantum technologies, and various shortcuts to adiabaticity protocols have been demonstrated in closed systems. However, realizing shortcuts to adiabaticity for open quantum systems has presented a challenge due to the complex controls in existing proposals. Here, we present the experimental demonstration of shortcuts to adiabaticity for open quantum systems, using a superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamics system. By applying a counterdiabatic driving pulse, we reduce the adiabatic evolution time of a single lossy mode from 800 ns to 100 ns. In addition, we propose and implement an optimal control protocol to achieve fast and qubit-unconditional equilibrium of multiple lossy modes. Our results pave the way for precise time-domain control of open quantum systems and have potential applications in designing fast open-system protocols of physical and interdisciplinary interest, such as accelerating bioengineering and chemical reaction dynamics.

Robustness of the NV-NMR Spectrometer Setup to Magnetic Field Inhomogeneities

The NV-NMR spectrometer is a promising candidate for detection of NMR signals at the nanoscale. Field inhomogeneities, however, are a major source of noise that limits spectral resolution in state of the art NV-NMR experiments and constitutes a major bottleneck in the development of nanoscale NMR. Here we propose, a route in which this limitation could be circumvented in NV-NMR spectrometer experiments, by utilizing the nanometric scale and the quantumness of the detector.

Nondestructive Cooling of an Atomic Quantum Register via State-Insensitive Rydberg Interactions

We propose a protocol for sympathetically cooling neutral atoms without destroying the quantum information stored in their internal states. This is achieved by designing state-insensitive Rydberg interactions between the data-carrying atoms and cold auxiliary atoms. The resulting interactions give rise to an effective phonon coupling, which leads to the transfer of heat from the data atoms to the auxiliary atoms, where the latter can be cooled by conventional methods. This can be used to extend the lifetime of quantum storage based on neutral atoms and can have applications for long quantum computations. The protocol can also be modified to realize state-insensitive interactions between the data and the auxiliary atoms but tunable and nontrivial interactions among the data atoms, allowing one to simultaneously cool and simulate a quantum spin model.

Highly efficient cooling of mechanical resonator with square pulse drives

Ground state cooling of mechanical resonator is a way to generate macroscopic quantum states. Here we present a study of optomechanical cooling under the drive of square pulses without smooth profile. By illustrating the dynamical processes of cooling, we show how to choose the amplitudes and durations of square pulses, as well as the intervals between them, so that a mechanical resonator can be quickly cooled down to its ground state. Compared with the cooling under a continuous-wave drive field, the ground state cooling of a mechanical resonator can be performed more efficiently and flexibly by using square pulse drives. At certain times of such cooling process, the thermal phonon number under square pulse drives can become even lower than the theoretical limit for the cooling with a continuous-wave drive field of the same amplitude.

Robust optical polarization of nuclear spin baths using Hamiltonian engineering of nitrogen-vacancy center quantum dynamics

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is an important technique that uses polarization transfer from electron to nuclear spins to achieve nuclear hyperpolarization. Combining efficient DNP with optically polarized nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers offers promising opportunities for novel technological applications, including nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liquids, hyperpolarized nanodiamonds as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, and the initialization of nuclear spin-based diamond quantum simulators. However, none of the current realizations of polarization transfer are simultaneously robust and sufficiently efficient, making the realization of the applications extremely challenging. We introduce the concept of systematically designing polarization sequences by Hamiltonian engineering, resulting in polarization sequences that are robust and fast. We theoretically derive sequences and experimentally demonstrate that they are capable of efficient polarization transfer from optically polarized NV centers in diamond to the surrounding 13C nuclear spin bath even in the presence of control errors, making the abovementioned novel applications possible.

Ground-state cooling of a mechanical oscillator in a hybrid optomechanical system including an atomic ensemble

We investigate dynamical properties and the ground-state cooling of a mechanical oscillator in an optomechanical system coupling with an atomic ensemble. In this hybrid optomechanical system, an atomic ensemble which consists of two-level atoms couples with the cavity field. Here we consider the case where the atomic ensemble is in higher excitation. Studies show that the atom-field coupling strength can obviously influence the cooling process, and we can achieve the ground-state cooling of the mechanical oscillator by choosing the appropriate physical parameters of the system. Our cooling mechanism has potential applications in quantum information processing and procession measurement.

Controlling open quantum systems: tools, achievements, and limitations

The advent of quantum devices, which exploit the two essential elements of quantum physics, coherence and entanglement, has sparked renewed interest in the control of open quantum systems. Successful implementations face the challenge of preserving relevant nonclassical features at the level of device operation. A major obstacle is decoherence, which is caused by interaction with the environment. Optimal control theory is a tool that can be used to identify control strategies in the presence of decoherence. Here we review recent advances in optimal control methodology that allow typical tasks in device operation for open quantum systems to be tackled and discuss examples of relaxation-optimized dynamics. Optimal control theory is also a useful tool to exploit the environment for control. We discuss examples and point out possible future extensions.

Ultrafast Optimal Sideband Cooling under Non-Markovian Evolution

A sideband cooling strategy that incorporates (i) the dynamics induced by structured (non-Markovian) environments in the target and auxiliary systems and (ii) the optimally time-modulated interaction between them is developed. For the context of cavity optomechanics, when non-Markovian dynamics are considered in the target system, ground state cooling is reached at much faster rates and at a much lower phonon occupation number than previously reported. In contrast to similar current strategies, ground state cooling is reached here for coupling-strength rates that are experimentally accessible for the state-of-the-art implementations. After the ultrafast optimal-ground-state-cooling protocol is accomplished, an additional optimal control strategy is considered to maintain the phonon number as close as possible to the one obtained in the cooling procedure. Contrary to the conventional expectation, when non-Markovian dynamics are considered in the auxiliary system, the efficiency of the cooling protocol is undermined.

Optomechanical entanglement under pulse drive

We report a study of optomechanical entanglement under the drive of one or a series of laser pulses with arbitrary detuning and different pulse shapes. Because of the non-existence of system steady state under pulsed driving field, we adopt a different approach from the standard treatment to optomechanical entanglement. The situation of the entanglement evolution in high temperature is also discussed.

Quantum brachistochrone curves as geodesics: obtaining accurate minimum-time protocols for the control of quantum systems

Most methods of optimal control cannot obtain accurate time-optimal protocols. The quantum brachistochrone equation is an exception, and has the potential to provide accurate time-optimal protocols for a wide range of quantum control problems. So far, this potential has not been realized, however, due to the inadequacy of conventional numerical methods to solve it. Here we show that the quantum brachistochrone problem can be recast as that of finding geodesic paths in the space of unitary operators. We expect this brachistochrone-geodesic connection to have broad applications, as it opens up minimal-time control to the tools of geometry. As one such application, we use it to obtain a fast numerical method to solve the brachistochrone problem, and apply this method to two examples demonstrating its power.

Fast cooling in dispersively and dissipatively coupled optomechanics

The cooling performance of an optomechanical system comprising both dispersive and dissipative coupling is studied. Here, we present a scheme to cool a mechanical resonator to its ground state in finite time using a chirped pulse. We show that there is distinct advantage in using the chirp-pulse scheme to cool a resonator rapidly. The cooling behaviors of dispersively and dissipatively coupled system is also explored with different types of incident pulses and different coupling strengths. Our scheme is feasible in cooling the resonator for a wide range of the parameter region.

Absolute dynamical limit to cooling weakly coupled quantum systems

Here we address the question of just how cold one can cool a quantum system, given that the size of the control forces is limited. We solve this problem fully, within the dual regimes of (i) weak coupling, defined as that in which the thermalization dynamics of the system is preserved, and (ii) relatively strong control, being that in which appreciable cooling can be achieved. State-of-the art cooling schemes are presently implemented in this regime. Given that the maximum rate of coupling to the system is bounded, we identify a control protocol for cooling, and provide detailed structural arguments, supported by strong numerical evidence, that this protocol is globally optimal. From this we obtain simple expressions for the absolute limit to cooling. The methods developed can also be used to obtain optimal controls for a broad class of state-preparation problems.

Dynamic dissipative cooling of a mechanical resonator in strong coupling optomechanics

Cooling of mesoscopic mechanical resonators represents a primary concern in cavity optomechanics. In this Letter, in the strong optomechanical coupling regime, we propose to dynamically control the cavity dissipation, which is able to significantly accelerate the cooling process while strongly suppressing the heating noise. Furthermore, the dynamic control is capable of overcoming quantum backaction and reducing the cooling limit by several orders of magnitude. The dynamic dissipation control provides new insights for tailoring the optomechanical interaction and offers the prospect of exploring mesoscopic quantum physics.