Energy-level quantization and single-photon control of phase slips in YBa2Cu3O7–x nanowires

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in superconducting quantum circuits. However new quantum devices that have longer decoherence times at higher temperatures are urgently required for quantum technologies. Superconducting nanowires with quantum phase slips are promising candidates for use in novel quantum devices. Here, we demonstrate YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x nanowires with phase-slip dynamics and study their switching-current statistics at temperatures below 20 K. We apply theoretical models developed for Josephson junctions and show that our results provide strong evidence for energy-level quantization in the nanowires. The crossover temperature to the quantum regime of 12-13 K and the lifetime in the excited state exceeding 20 ms at 5.4 K are superior to those in conventional Josephson junctions. We also show how the absorption of a single photon changes the phase-slip and quantum state of a nanowire, which is important for the development of single-photon detectors with high operating temperature and superior temporal resolution.

Nano Superconductivity and Quantum Processing of Information in Living Organisms

“…There were three attempts of their formation at the current marked in the plot by the higher horizontal red arrow, and possibly one attempt shown by the lower horizontal red arrow. These attempts are consistent with quantum behavior of phase-slip lines in a nanowire made of high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7-x described in [6]. It shows a certain probability of the switch from superconducting to resistive state from the different quantized energy levels of the system.…”

“…The red line shows position of the zero current. In one and two-dimensional systems, such jumps correspond to phase-slip centers and phase-slip lines, respectively [6,9]. In [10], it was found that the minimal value of these jumps is 2/e, which is equal to the voltage of two nearly merged superconductor -normal metal boundaries.…”

“…It shows a certain probability of the switch from superconducting to resistive state from the different quantized energy levels of the system. The fact that formation of phase-slip lines happened not at the maximum current means that the switch of the system took place not from the ground energy level, but from an excited level [6].…”

“…This paper deals with the analyses of experimental results obtained by electrical transport measurements of the slices of rat and pig brains. The results are discussed in light of recently published article [6], which considers nanostructured quantum circuits based on quasi onedimensional quantum wires with phase slip centers. These quantum circuits appear promising in extending the operating range of quantum computers to higher temperatures.…”

Iron-Based Superconducting Nanowires: Electric Transport and Voltage-Noise Properties

“…The interest in superconducting nanowires has also recently increased, due to their possible application in quantum technologies, including quantum sensing and computing. This has been highlighted in the case of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (YBCO) nanowires with phase-slip dynamics, where evidence of energy-level quantization in the nanowires has been reported [ 7 ]. Moreover, it has also been shown that the absorption of a single photon changes the quantum state of the nanowire, an important result for the development of single-photon detectors with high operating temperature and superior temporal resolution [ 7 ].…”