We report the first nonadditive quantum error-correcting code, namely, a ((9, 12, 3)) code which is a 12-dimensional subspace within a 9-qubit Hilbert space, that outperforms the optimal stabilizer code of the same length by encoding more levels while correcting arbitrary single-qubit errors. Taking advantage of the graph states, we construct explicitly a complete encoding-decoding circuit for the proposed nonadditive error-correcting code.

Oscillating magnetic fields and field gradients can be used to implement single-qubit rotations and entangling multiqubit quantum gates for trapped-ion quantum information processing (QIP). With fields generated by currents in microfabricated surface-electrode traps, it should be possible to achieve gate speeds that are comparable to those of optically induced gates for realistic distances between the ion crystal and the electrode surface. Magnetic-field-mediated gates have the potential to significantly reduce the overhead in laser-beam control and motional-state initialization compared to current QIP experiments with trapped ions and will eliminate spontaneous scattering, a fundamental source of decoherence in laser-mediated gates.

An unresolved problem in physics is how the thermodynamic arrow of time arises from an underlying time reversible dynamics. We contribute to this issue by developing a measure of time-symmetry breaking, and by using the work fluctuation relations, we determine the time asymmetry of recent single molecule RNA unfolding experiments. We define time asymmetry as the Jensen-Shannon divergence between trajectory probability distributions of an experiment and its time-reversed conjugate. Among other interesting properties, the length of time’s arrow bounds the average dissipation and determines the difficulty of accurately estimating free energy differences in nonequilibrium experiments.

We have proposed a novel numerical method to calculate accurately physical quantities of the ground state using the tensor network wave function in two dimensions. The tensor network wave function is determined by an iterative projection approach which uses the Trotter-Suzuki decomposition formula of quantum operators and the singular value decomposition of matrix. The norm of the wave function and the expectation value of a physical observable are evaluated by a coarse-grain tensor renormalization group approach. Our method allows a tensor network wave function with a high bond degree of freedom (such as $D=8$) to be handled accurately and efficiently in the thermodynamic limit. For the Heisenberg model on a honeycomb lattice, our results for the ground state energy and the staggered magnetization agree well with those obtained by the quantum Monte Carlo and other approaches.

Coherent x-ray diffraction imaging is an x-ray microscopy technique with the potential of reaching spatial resolutions well beyond the diffraction limits of x-ray microscopes based on optics. However, the available coherent dose at modern x-ray sources is limited, setting practical bounds on the spatial resolution of the technique. By focusing the available coherent flux onto the sample, the spatial resolution can be improved for radiation-hard specimens. A small gold particle (size $<100\mathrm{nm}$) was illuminated with a hard x-ray nanobeam ($E=15.25\mathrm{keV}$, beam dimensions $\approx 100\times 100{\mathrm{nm}}^2$) and is reconstructed from its coherent diffraction pattern. A resolution of about 5 nm is achieved in 600 s exposure time.

Why do we not experience a violation of macroscopic realism in everyday life. Normally, no violation can be seen either because of decoherence or the restriction of coarse-grained measurements, transforming the time evolution of any quantum state into a classical time evolution of a statistical mixture. We find the sufficient condition for these classical evolutions for spin systems under coarse-grained measurements. However, there exist “nonclassical” Hamiltonians whose time evolution cannot be understood classically, although at every instant of time the quantum state appears as a classical mixture. We suggest that such Hamiltonians are unlikely to be realized in nature because of their high computational complexity.

The strongly correlated regime of the crossover from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing to Bose-Einstein condensation can be realized by diluting a system of two-component fermions with a short-range attractive interaction. We investigate this system via a novel continuous-space-time diagrammatic determinant Monte Carlo method and determine the universal curve $T_c/{\epsilon }_F$ for the transition temperature between the normal and the superfluid states as a function of the scattering length with the maximum on the Bose-Einstein condensation side. At unitarity, we confirm that $T_c/{\epsilon }_F=0.152(7)$.

We define an effective Lagrangian statistical model in phase space ($x$, $t$, $v$) for describing transport in highly heterogeneous velocity fields with complex spatial organizations. The spatial Markovian nature (and temporal non-Markovian nature) of Lagrangian velocities leads to an effective transport description that turns out to be a correlated continuous time random walk. This model correctly captures the Lagrangian velocity correlation properties and is demonstrated to represent a forward model for predicting transport in highly heterogeneous porous media for different types of velocity organizations.

If a central vector potential $V(r,a)$ in the Dirac equation is monotonic in a parameter $a$, then a discrete eigenvalue $E(a)$ is monotonic in $a$. For such a special class of comparisons, this generalizes an earlier comparison theorem that was restricted to node free states. Moreover, the present theorem applies to every discrete eigenvalue.

We study the entanglement dynamics of two cavities interacting with independent reservoirs. Expectedly, as the cavity entanglement is depleted, it is transferred to the reservoir degrees of freedom. We find also that when the cavity entanglement suddenly disappears, the reservoir entanglement suddenly and necessarily appears. Surprisingly, we show that this entanglement sudden birth can manifest before, simultaneously, or even after entanglement sudden death. Finally, we present an explanatory study of other entanglement partitions and of higher dimensional systems.

The visualization of an exceptional point in a $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric directional coupler (DC) is demonstrated. In such a system the exceptional point can be probed by varying only a single parameter. Using the Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory we prove that the spectrum of a $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric Hamiltonian is real as long as the radius of convergence has not been reached. We also show how one can use a $\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric directional coupler to measure the radius of convergence for non-$\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$-symmetric structures. For such systems the physical meaning of the rather mathematical term radius of convergence is exemplified.

We report an experimental demonstration of entanglement swapping over two quantum stages. By successful realizations of two cascaded photonic entanglement swapping processes, entanglement is generated and distributed between two photons, that originate from independent sources and do not share any common past. In the experiment we use three pairs of polarization entangled photons and conduct two Bell-state measurements: one between the first and second pair, and one between the second and third pair. This results in projecting the remaining two outgoing photons from pair 1 and 3 into an entangled state, as characterized by an entanglement witness. The experiment represents an important step towards a full quantum repeater where multiple entanglement swapping is a key ingredient.

We present a detailed characterization of coherence in seven transmon qubits in a circuit QED architecture. We find that spontaneous emission rates are strongly influenced by far off-resonant modes of the cavity and can be understood within a semiclassical circuit model. A careful analysis of the spontaneous qubit decay into a microwave transmission-line cavity can accurately predict the qubit lifetimes over 2 orders of magnitude in time and more than an octave in frequency. Coherence times $T_1$ and $T_2^{*}$ of more than a microsecond are reproducibly demonstrated.

We investigate the collapse dynamics of a dipolar condensate of ${}^{52}\mathrm{Cr}$ atoms when the $s$-wave scattering length characterizing the contact interaction is reduced below a critical value. A complex dynamics, involving an anisotropic, $d$-wave symmetric explosion of the condensate, is observed. The atom number decreases abruptly during the collapse. We find good agreement between our experimental results and those of a numerical simulation of the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation, including contact and dipolar interactions as well as three-body losses. The simulation indicates that the collapse induces the formation of two vortex rings with opposite circulations.

Quantum error-correcting codes can protect multipartite quantum states from errors on some limited number of their subsystems (usually qubits). We construct a family of Bell inequalities which inherit this property from the underlying code and exhibit the violation of local realism, without any quantum information processing (except for the creation of an entangled state). This family shows no reduction in the size of the violation of local realism for arbitrary errors on a limited number of qubits. Our minimal construction requires preparing an 11-qubit entangled state.

We find numerically that in the limit of weak atom-atom interactions a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice may develop a pulsating dynamical instability in which the atoms nearly periodically form a peak in the occupation numbers of the lattice sites, and then return to the unstable initial state. Multiple peaks behaving similarly are also found. Simple arguments show that the pulsating instability is a remnant of integrability, and give a handle on the relevant physical scales.

We show how to map a given $n$-qubit target Hamiltonian with bounded-strength $k$-body interactions onto a simulator Hamiltonian with two-body interactions, such that the ground-state energy of the target and the simulator Hamiltonians are the same up to an extensive error $O(ϵn)$ for arbitrary small $ϵ$. The strength of the interactions in the simulator Hamiltonian depends on $ϵ$ and $k$ but does not depend on $n$. We accomplish this reduction using a new way of deriving an effective low-energy Hamiltonian which relies on the Schrieffer-Wolff transformation of many-body physics.

We propose a scheme to investigate the nonequilibrium work distribution of a quantum particle under well controlled transformations of the external potential, exploiting the versatility of a single ion in a segmented linear Paul trap. We describe in detail how the motional quantum state of a single ion can be prepared, manipulated, and finally readout to fully determine the free energy difference in both harmonic and anharmonic potentials. Uniquely to our system, we show how an ion may be immersed in an engineered laser-field reservoir. Trapped ions therefore represent an ideal tool for investigating the Jarzynski equality in open and closed quantum systems.

We show the emergence of a strongly interacting Bose-Fermi mixture from a two-component Fermi mixture with population imbalance. By analyzing in situ density profiles of ${}^6\mathrm{Li}$ atoms in the BCS-BEC crossover regime, we identify a critical interaction strength, beyond which all minority atoms pair up with majority atoms and form a Bose condensate. This is the regime where the system can be effectively described as a boson-fermion mixture. We determine the dimer-fermion and dimer-dimer scattering lengths and beyond-mean-field contributions. Our study realizes a gedanken experiment of bosons immersed in a Fermi sea of one of their constituents, revealing the composite nature of the bosons.

Scattering at a central potential is completely characterized by the phase shifts which are the differences in phase between outgoing scattered and unscattered partial waves. In this Letter, it is shown that, for 2D scattering at a repulsive central potential, the phase shift cannot be uniquely defined due to a topological obstruction which is similar to monodromy in bound systems.