This investigation completely classifies the spatial chaos problem in plane edge coloring (Wang tiles) with two symbols. For a set of Wang tiles $mathcal{B}$, spatial chaos occurs when the spatial entropy $h(mathcal{B})$ is positive. $mathcal{B}$ is called a minimal cycle generator if $mathcal{P}(mathcal{B}) eqemptyset$ and $mathcal{P}(mathcal{B})=emptyset$ whenever $mathcal{B}subsetneqq mathcal{B}$, where $mathcal{P}(mathcal{B})$ is the set of all periodic patterns on $mathbb{Z}^{2}$ generated by $mathcal{B}$. Given a set of Wang tiles $mathcal{B}$, write $mathcal{B}=C_{1}cup C_{2} cupcdots cup C_{k} cup N$, where $C_{j}$, $1leq jleq k$, are minimal cycle generators and $mathcal{B}$ contains no minimal cycle generator except those contained in $C_{1}cup C_{2} cupcdots cup C_{k}$. Then, the positivity of spatial entropy $h(mathcal{B})$ is completely determined by $C_{1}cup C_{2} cupcdots cup C_{k}$. Furthermore, there are 39 equivalent classes of marginal positive-entropy (MPE) sets of Wang tiles and 18 equivalent classes of saturated zero-entropy (SZE) sets of Wang tiles. For a set of Wang tiles $mathcal{B}$, $h(mathcal{B})$ is positive if and only if $mathcal{B}$ contains an MPE set, and $h(mathcal{B})$ is zero if and only if $mathcal{B}$ is a subset of an SZE set.
We report semiconducting behavior of monolayer graphene enabled through plasma activation of substrate surfaces. The graphene devices are fabricated by mechanical exfoliation onto pre-processed SiO2/Si substrates. Contrary to pristine graphene, these graphene samples exhibit a transport gap as well as nonlinear transfer characteristics, a large on/off ratio of 600 at cryogenic temperatures, and an insulating-like temperature dependence. Raman spectroscopic characterization shows evidence of sp3 hybridization of C atoms in the samples of graphene on activated SiO2/Si substrates. We analyze the hopping transport at low temperatures, and weak localization observed from magnetotransport measurements, suggesting a correlation between carrier localization and the sp3-type defects in the functionalized graphene. The present study demonstrates the functionalization of graphene using a novel substrate surface-activation method for future graphene-based applications.
Recent discoveries of the photoresponse of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) have shown the considerable potential of these two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides for optoelectronic applications. Among the various types of photoresponses of MoS2, persistent photoconductivity (PPC) at different levels has been reported. However, a detailed study of the PPC effect and its mechanism in MoS2 is still not available, despite the importance of this effect on the photoresponse of the material. Here, we present a systematic study of the PPC effect in monolayer MoS2 and conclude that the effect can be attributed to random localized potential fluctuations in the devices. Notably, the potential fluctuations originate from extrinsic sources based on the substrate effect of the PPC. Moreover, we point out a correlation between the PPC effect in MoS2 and the percolation transport behavior of MoS2. We demonstrate a unique and efficient means of controlling the PPC effect in monolayer MoS2, which may offer novel functionalities for MoS2-based optoelectronic applications in the future.
The discovery of topological phases in condensed matter systems has changed the modern conception of phases of matter. The global nature of topological ordering makes these phases robust and hence promising for applications. However, the non-locality of this ordering makes direct experimental studies an outstanding challenge, even in the simplest model topological systems, and interactions among the constituent particles adds to this challenge. Here we demonstrate a novel dynamical method to explore topological phases in both interacting and non-interacting systems, by employing the exquisite control afforded by state-of-the-art superconducting quantum circuits. We utilize this method to experimentally explore the well-known Haldane model of topological phase transitions by directly measuring the topological invariants of the system. We construct the topological phase diagram of this model and visualize the microscopic evolution of states across the phase transition, tasks whose experimental realizations have remained elusive. Furthermore, we developed a new qubit architecture that allows simultaneous control over every term in a two-qubit Hamiltonian, with which we extend our studies to an interacting Hamiltonian and discover the emergence of an interaction-induced topological phase. Our implementation, involving the measurement of both global and local textures of quantum systems, is close to the original idea of quantum simulation as envisioned by R. Feynman, where a controllable quantum system is used to investigate otherwise inaccessible quantum phenomena. This approach demonstrates the potential of superconducting qubits for quantum simulation and establishes a powerful platform for the study of topological phases in quantum systems.
The integer quantum Hall effect (IQHE) and chaos are commonly conceived as being unrelated. Contrary to common wisdoms, we find in a canonical chaotic system, the kicked spin-$1/2$ rotor, a Plancks quantum($h_e$)-driven phenomenon bearing a firm analogy to IQHE but of chaos origin. Specifically, the rotors energy growth is unbounded (metallic phase) for a discrete set of critical $h_e$-values, but otherwise bounded (insulating phase). The latter phase is topological in nature and characterized by a quantum number (quantized Hall conductance). The number jumps by unity whenever $h_e$ decreases passing through each critical value. Our findings, within the reach of cold-atom experiments, indicate that rich topological quantum phenomena may emerge from chaos.
We introduce a superconducting qubit architecture that combines high-coherence qubits and tunable qubit-qubit coupling. With the ability to set the coupling to zero, we demonstrate that this architecture is protected from the frequency crowding problems that arise from fixed coupling. More importantly, the coupling can be tuned dynamically with nanosecond resolution, making this architecture a versatile platform with applications ranging from quantum logic gates to quantum simulation. We illustrate the advantages of dynamic coupling by implementing a novel adiabatic controlled-Z gate, at a speed approaching that of single-qubit gates. Integrating coherence and scalable control, our gmon architecture is a promising path towards large-scale quantum computation and simulation.
We demonstrate a high efficiency deterministic quantum receiver to convert flying qubits to logic qubits. We employ a superconducting resonator, which is driven with a shaped pulse through an adjustable coupler. For the ideal time reversed shape, we measure absorption and receiver fidelities at the single microwave photon level of, respectively, 99.41% and 97.4%. These fidelities are comparable with gates and measurement and exceed the deterministic quantum communication and computation fault tolerant thresholds.
We present prominent photoresponse of bio-inspired graphene-based phototransistors sensitized with chlorophyll molecules. The hybrid graphene-chlorophyll phototransistors exhibit a high gain of 10^6 electrons per photon and a high responsivity of 10^6 A/W, which can be attributed to the integration of high-mobility graphene and the photosensitive chlorophyll molecules. The charge transfer at interface and the photogating effect in the chlorophyll layer can account for the observed photoresponse of the hybrid devices, which is confirmed by the back-gate-tunable photocurrent as well as the thickness and time dependent studies of the photoresponse. The demonstration of the graphene-chlorophyll phototransistors with high gain envisions a viable method to employ biomaterials for graphene-based optoelectronics.
The quantum behavior of superconducting qubits coupled to resonators is very similar to that of atoms in optical cavities [1, 2], in which the resonant cavity confines photons and promotes strong light-matter interactions. The cavity end-mirrors determine the performance of the coupled system, with higher mirror reflectivity yielding better quantum coherence, but higher mirror transparency giving improved measurement and control, forcing a compromise. An alternative is to control the mirror transparency, enabling switching between long photon lifetime during quantum interactions and large signal strength when performing measurements. Here we demonstrate the superconducting analogue, using a quantum system comprising a resonator and a qubit, with variable coupling to a measurement transmission line. The coupling can be adjusted through zero to a photon emission rate 1,000 times the intrinsic photon decay rate. We use this system to control photons in coherent states as well as in non-classical Fock states, and dynamically shape the waveform of released photons. This has direct applications to circuit quantum electrodynamics [3], and may enable high-fidelity quantum state transfer between distant qubits, for which precisely-controlled waveform shaping is a critical and non-trivial requirement [4, 5].
Although pinning of domain walls in ferromagnets is ubiquitous, the absence of an appropriate characterization tool has limited the ability to correlate the physical and magnetic microstructures of ferromagnetic films with specific pinning mechanisms. Here, we show that the pinning of a magnetic vortex, the simplest possible domain structure in soft ferromagnets, is strongly correlated with surface roughness, and we make a quantitative comparison of the pinning energy and spatial range in films of various thickness. The results demonstrate that thickness fluctuations on the lateral length scale of the vortex core diameter, i.e. an effective roughness at a specific length scale, provides the dominant pinning mechanism. We argue that this mechanism will be important in virtually any soft ferromagnetic film.
