Quantum physics articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Practical implementations of quantum photonic circuits consist primarily of large waveguide networks to path-encode information. Here, Mohantyet al. demonstrate quantum interference between transverse spatial modes in a single silicon nitride waveguide, enabling robust quantum information processing.

    • Aseema Mohanty
    • , Mian Zhang
    •  & Michal Lipson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    High-precision measurements could disclose fundamental dissimilarities between matter and antimatter, which are found imbalanced in the Universe. Here, the authors measure the magnetic moment of the antiproton with six-fold higher accuracy than before, finding it consistent with that of the proton.

    • H. Nagahama
    • , C. Smorra
    •  & S. Ulmer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Control engineering techniques are promising for realizing stable quantum systems to counter their extreme fragility. Here the authors use techniques from machine learning to enable real-time feedback suppression of decoherence in a trapped ion qubit by predicting its future stochastic evolution.

    • Sandeep Mavadia
    • , Virginia Frey
    •  & Michael J. Biercuk

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Looped trajectories of photons in a three-slit interference experiment could modify the resulting intensity pattern, but they are experimentally hard to observe. Here the authors exploit surface plasmon excitations to increase their probability, measuring their contribution and confirming Born’s rule.

    • Omar S Magaña-Loaiza
    • , Israel De Leon
    •  & Robert W. Boyd

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model describes a system that supports topological excitations. Here the authors simulate this model using87Rb atoms in a momentum-space lattice, observing the localized topological soliton state via quench dynamics, phase-sensitive injection and adiabatic preparation.

    • Eric J. Meier
    • , Fangzhao Alex An
    •  & Bryce Gadway

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Performing computation on encrypted data is a power tool for protecting a client’s privacy, but the best solutions achieved by classical approaches are only computationally secure. Here authors present and experimentally demonstrate a quantum protocol to achieve this using continuous variables.

    • Kevin Marshall
    • , Christian S. Jacobsen
    •  & Ulrik L. Andersen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Atom interferometers in microgravity environments can reach precisions unattainable on Earth. Here the authors report the operation of a dual species interferometer onboard a zero-G aircraft, testing universality of free fall in microgravity and providing a test bed for future moving inertial sensors.

    • Brynle Barrett
    • , Laura Antoni-Micollier
    •  & Philippe Bouyer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The efficient excitation of atoms using photons is a fundamental step in the control of photon-atom interaction and quantum information protocols. Here the authors show that photons with an exponentially rising envelope excite a single atom efficiently compared to a decaying temporal shape.

    • Victor Leong
    • , Mathias Alexander Seidler
    •  & Christian Kurtsiefer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Real-time quantum feedback control can be used to cool quantum systems to their motional ground states, but this has been so far achieved via classical probe fields. Here the authors report feedback cooling of a mechanical oscillator using a squeezed field, reporting higher cooling rate over classical light.

    • Clemens Schäfermeier
    • , Hugo Kerdoncuff
    •  & Ulrik L. Andersen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Describing thermodynamic processes, fluctuations of work are typically not considered bounded. Here the authors show that in some processes they diverge, making the processes unphysical, and construct a framework to quantify work extraction and work of formation of arbitrary quantum states with bounded fluctuations.

    • Jonathan G. Richens
    •  & Lluis Masanes

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In a future quantum internet, entanglement or a secret key should be efficiently provided between two points via intermediate nodes connected by optical channels. Here the authors derive general rate-loss trade-off for such protocols, that is applicable to any network topology.

    • Koji Azuma
    • , Akihiro Mizutani
    •  & Hoi-Kwong Lo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hybrid quantum systems combine efficient high-quality quantum dot sources with atomic vapours that can serve as precise frequency standards or quantum memories. Here, Portalupi et al. demonstrate an optimized atomic Cs-Faraday filter working with single photons emitted from a semiconductor quantum dot.

    • Simone Luca Portalupi
    • , Matthias Widmann
    •  & Ilja Gerhardt

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Silicon is a promising material for realization of quantum processors, particularly as it could be naturally integrated with classical control hardware based on CMOS technology. Here the authors report a silicon qubit device made with an industry-standard fabrication process on a CMOS platform.

    • R. Maurand
    • , X. Jehl
    •  & S. De Franceschi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quantum information processing requires long-storage time of quantum states, but this typically comes at the expense of their addressability. Here the authors developed a method that exploits interaction between Rydberg and ground states of an atom reporting fast state generation and long-term storage.

    • Lin Li
    •  & A Kuzmich

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Studying long-range interactions in the controlled environment of trapped ultracold gases can help our understanding of fundamental many-body physics. Here the authors excite a gas of Rydberg atoms with a ps laser pulse, demonstrating behaviour consistent with many-body correlations beyond mean-field.

    • Nobuyuki Takei
    • , Christian Sommer
    •  & Kenji Ohmori

  • Article
    | Open Access

    All-optical coherent control schemes offer well-localized and ultrafast control of individual qubits in many-qubit systems. Here the authors report on all-optical resonant and Raman-based control of single silicon vacancies using picosecond pulses, much faster than the ground state coherence time.

    • Jonas Nils Becker
    • , Johannes Görlitz
    •  & Christoph Becher

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Interference of linear plane waves produces non-trivial phenomena in both classical and quantum wave systems. Here, the authors describe and observe anomalously large time delays and frequency shifts in the resonant inelastic scattering of a 1D wave packet near a zero of the scattering coefficient.

    • M. Asano
    • , K. Y. Bliokh
    •  & F. Nori

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In the weak field limit, boson star evolution is governed by the Newton-Schrödinger equation. Here the authors report an optical setup that provides a formal analogue of such dynamics via the interaction between vortex beams and a medium with positive thermo-optical nonlinearity.

    • Thomas Roger
    • , Calum Maitland
    •  & Daniele Faccio

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Multipartite entangled states are a fundamental resource for quantum information processing tasks; it is thus important to verify their presence. Here the authors present and demonstrate a protocol that allows any party in a network to verify if an untrusted source is distributing multipartite entangled states.

    • W. McCutcheon
    • , A. Pappa
    •  & M. S. Tame

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Objective collapse theories are formulations of quantum physics that attempt to solve the measurement problem through modified dynamical laws. Here, the authors constrain such theories by testing a generalization of the Leggett-Garg inequality in a superconducting flux qubit experiment.

    • George C. Knee
    • , Kosuke Kakuyanagi
    •  & William J. Munro

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Scalable quantum information processing requires controllable high-coherence qubits. Here, the authors present superconducting flux qubits with broad frequency tunability, strong anharmonicity and high reproducibility, identifying photon shot noise as the main source of dephasing for further improvements.

    • Fei Yan
    • , Simon Gustavsson
    •  & William D. Oliver

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It would be desirable to have a reliable and scalable method to manipulate neutral-atoms for the creation of controllable quantum systems. Here the authors demonstrate real-time transport of single rubidium atoms in holographic microtraps controlled by liquid-crystal spatial light modulators.

    • Hyosub Kim
    • , Woojun Lee
    •  & Jaewook Ahn

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Majorana zero modes are a potential resource for quantum information processing as they offer immunity to noise, but they are difficult to create and control experimentally. Here, the authors use a photonic quantum simulator to mimic the exchange of Majorana zero modes in a spin-half chain.

    • Jin-Shi Xu
    • , Kai Sun
    •  & Guang-Can Guo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cavity optomechanics enables measurement of torque at levels unattainable by previous techniques, but the main obstacle to improved sensitivity is thermal noise. Here the authors present cryogenic measurement of a cavity-optomechanical torsional resonator with unprecedented torque sensitivity of 2.9 yNm/√Hz.

    • P. H. Kim
    • , B. D. Hauer
    •  & J. P. Davis

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Single spin defects can allow high-resolution sensing of molecules under an applied magnetic field. Here, the authors propose a protocol for three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging with angstrom-level resolution exploiting the dipolar field of a spin qubit, such as a diamond nitrogen-vacancy.

    • V. S. Perunicic
    • , C. D. Hill
    •  & L.C.L. Hollenberg

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Systems of interacting quantum spins provide a basis for quantum computation devices. Here, the authors demonstrate a quantum spin transistor in a Heisenberg spin chain, which may be realized in a system of trapped cold atoms.

    • O. V. Marchukov
    • , A. G. Volosniev
    •  & N. T. Zinner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Tests of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem aim at showing that the measurement statistics of a single qutrit are incompatible with noncontextual realism. Here, the authors use a superconducting qutrit with deterministic readouts to violate a noncontextuality inequality, ruling out several loopholes.

    • Markus Jerger
    • , Yarema Reshitnyk
    •  & Arkady Fedorov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Whether gravity causes decoherence is a natural question on the way of making quantum physics compatible with the theory of gravity. Here the authors devise a general method to estimate gravitational decoherence in any no-signalling physical theory, which holds even if quantum mechanics would be modified.

    • C. Pfister
    • , J. Kaniewski
    •  & S. Wehner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The spatial structure of vortex laser beams associates angular momentum to photons, which, in addition to their spin, can be used to tailor light-matter interactions. Here, the authors excite an atomic transition with a vortex laser beam, showing that the transfer of angular momentum modifies selection rules.

    • Christian T. Schmiegelow
    • , Jonas Schulz
    •  & Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Phase velocity of light can be slowed down when passing through a moving medium. Here the authors demonstrate a light dragging effect enhanced by three orders of magnitude over previous reports by using electromagnetically induced transparency in cold Rubidium atoms and utilize this effect for motion sensors.

    • Pei-Chen Kuan
    • , Chang Huang
    •  & Shau-Yu Lan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The length of time a qubit can store information is linked to its coherence time. Here, the authors demonstrate that industrially important crystals comprising more than one species can host qubits with unexpectedly long coherence times.

    • Hosung Seo
    • , Abram L. Falk
    •  & David D. Awschalom

  • Article
    | Open Access

    In thermodynamics, thermal properties of systems are obtained from averaging procedures which smooth out local details. Here, the authors introduce the concept of local quantum thermal susceptibility, a measure for the best achievable accuracy of estimation of temperature via local measurements.

    • Antonella De Pasquale
    • , Davide Rossini
    •  & Vittorio Giovannetti

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Two-dimensional arrays of trapped ion qubits are attractive platforms for quantum information processing, but rapid reloading remains a challenge. Here the authors use a continuous flux of pre-cooled neutral atoms to achieve fast loading of single ions without affecting the coherence of adjacent qubits.

    • Colin D. Bruzewicz
    • , Robert McConnell
    •  & Jeremy M. Sage

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Low-damage and high-precision imaging can be achieved by passing the same probe photons through the specimen more than once, and this has been previously achieved in double-pass transmission microscopy. Here, the authors generalize this idea to full-field multi-pass microscopy using a self-imaging cavity.

    • Thomas Juffmann
    • , Brannon B. Klopfer
    •  & Mark A. Kasevich

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides hold promise as scalable single-photon sources. Here, the authors demonstrate all-electrical, single-photon generation in tungsten disulphide and diselenide, achieving charge injection into the layers, containing quantum emitters.

    • Carmen Palacios-Berraquero
    • , Matteo Barbone
    •  & Mete Atatüre

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quantum-network protocols based on photon-atom interfaces have stimulated a great demand for single-photon sources with narrow bandwidth. Here the authors report the generation of entangled photon pairs with controllable bandwidth and coherence time from a Doppler-broadened hot atomic vapour cell.

    • Chi Shu
    • , Peng Chen
    •  & Shengwang Du

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mesoscopic electrical circuits are an ideal platform to explore quantum phenomena, but this requires cooling the electrons to very low temperature, which is challenging. Here, the authors employ three different in situthermometers to report electronic quantum transport at 6mK in a micrometer-scale circuit.

    • Z. Iftikhar
    • , A. Anthore
    •  & F. Pierre

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Spins confined to quantum dots are a possible qubit, but the mechanism that limits their coherence is unclear. Here, the authors use an all-optical Hahn-echo technique to determine the intrinsic coherence time of such spins set by its interaction with the inhomogeneously strained nuclear bath.

    • R. Stockill
    • , C. Le Gall
    •  & M. Atatüre

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Single-photon optical nonlinearity is possible using an optical cavity to create strong coupling between a cavity mode and a two-level quantum system. Here, the authors demonstrate it is also possible in the weak-coupling regime by using quantum interference in a polarization-degenerate cavity.

    • H. Snijders
    • , J. A. Frey
    •  & W. Löffler

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vacuum fluctuations can produce observable phenomena which can potentially be harnessed, for example using the dynamical Casimir effect. Here, the authors show that, on the basis of the same effect, it is possible to establish distinct two-mode coherence correlations in a pumped microwave cavity owing to absence of which-way information.

    • Pasi Lähteenmäki
    • , Gheorghe Sorin Paraoanu
    •  & Pertti J. Hakonen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Microwave single photon sources are important for quantum applications, but their design often incorporates a resonator that fixes the frequency of the emitted photon. Here, the authors demonstrate a tuneable on-demand photon source based on an artificial atom asymmetrically coupled to two transmission lines.

    • Z. H. Peng
    • , S. E. de Graaf
    •  & O. V. Astafiev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The discovery that the entropy of black holes is given by their horizon area inspired the holographic principle and led to gauge-gravity duality. Here, the author shows that all Rényi entropies satisfy a similar area law in holographic theories and are given by the areas of dual cosmic branes.

    • Xi Dong

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