High-Density Quantum Sensing with Dissipative First Order Transitions

verfasst von: Meghana Raghunandan, Jörg Wrachtrup, Hendrik Weimer
Abstract: The sensing of external fields using quantum systems is a prime example of an emergent quantum technology. Generically, the sensitivity of a quantum sensor consisting of N independent particles is proportional to N. However, interactions invariably occurring at high densities lead to a breakdown of the assumption of independence between the particles, posing a severe challenge for quantum sensors operating at the nanoscale. Here, we show that interactions in quantum sensors can be transformed from a nuisance into an advantage when strong interactions trigger a dissipative phase transition in an open quantum system. We demonstrate this behavior by analyzing dissipative quantum sensors based upon nitrogen-vacancy defect centers in diamond. Using both a variational method and a numerical simulation of the master equation describing the open quantum many-body system, we establish the existence of a dissipative first order transition that can be used for quantum sensing. We investigate the properties of this phase transition for two- and three-dimensional setups, demonstrating that the transition can be observed using current experimental technology. Finally, we show that quantum sensors based on dissipative phase transitions are particularly robust against imperfections such as disorder or decoherence, with the sensitivity of the sensor not being limited by the T2 coherence time of the device. Our results can readily be applied to other applications in quantum sensing and quantum metrology where interactions are currently a limiting factor.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Theoretische Physik
SFB 1227: Designte Quantenzustände der Materie (DQ-mat)
Externe Organisation(en): Universität Stuttgart
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Physical review letters
Band: 120
ISSN: 0031-9007
Publikationsdatum: 13.04.2018
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Physik und Astronomie (insg.)
Elektronische Version(en): http://arxiv.org/abs/1703.07358 (Zugang: Offen)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.150501 (Zugang: Geschlossen)

BibTeX

@article{9dd5c9dda5be47999d04ef41b04b60ac,
title = "High-Density Quantum Sensing with Dissipative First Order Transitions",
abstract = "The sensing of external fields using quantum systems is a prime example of an emergent quantum technology. Generically, the sensitivity of a quantum sensor consisting of N independent particles is proportional to N. However, interactions invariably occurring at high densities lead to a breakdown of the assumption of independence between the particles, posing a severe challenge for quantum sensors operating at the nanoscale. Here, we show that interactions in quantum sensors can be transformed from a nuisance into an advantage when strong interactions trigger a dissipative phase transition in an open quantum system. We demonstrate this behavior by analyzing dissipative quantum sensors based upon nitrogen-vacancy defect centers in diamond. Using both a variational method and a numerical simulation of the master equation describing the open quantum many-body system, we establish the existence of a dissipative first order transition that can be used for quantum sensing. We investigate the properties of this phase transition for two- and three-dimensional setups, demonstrating that the transition can be observed using current experimental technology. Finally, we show that quantum sensors based on dissipative phase transitions are particularly robust against imperfections such as disorder or decoherence, with the sensitivity of the sensor not being limited by the T2 coherence time of the device. Our results can readily be applied to other applications in quantum sensing and quantum metrology where interactions are currently a limiting factor.",
author = "Meghana Raghunandan and J{\"o}rg Wrachtrup and Hendrik Weimer",
note = "Funding information: We thank D. D. B. Rao for fruitful discussions. This work was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within SFB 1227 (DQ-mat).",
year = "2018",
month = apr,
day = "13",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.150501",
language = "English",
volume = "120",
journal = "Physical review letters",
issn = "0031-9007",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "15",
}