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DOE OSTI2025

Benchmarking and Fidelity Response Theory of High-Fidelity Rydberg Entangling Gates

The fidelity of entangling operations is a key figure of merit in quantum information processing, especially in the context of quantum error correction. High-fidelity entangling gates in neutral atoms have seen remarkable advancement recently. A full understanding of error sources and their respective contributions to gate infidelity will enable the prediction of fundamental limits on quantum gates in neutral atom platforms with realistic experimental constraints. In this work, we implement the time-optimal Rydberg controlled-Z (CZ) gate, design a circuit to benchmark its fidelity, and achieve a fidelity, averaged over symmetric input states, of 0.9971 ( 5 ) , downward corrected for leakage error, which together with our recent work [Nature 634, 321–327 (2024)] forms a new state of the art for neutral atoms. The remaining infidelity is explained by an error model, consistent with our experimental results over a range of gate speeds, with varying contributions from different error sources. Further, we develop a fidelity response theory to efficiently predict infidelity from laser noise with nontrivial power spectral densities and derive scaling laws of infidelity with gate speed. Besides its capability of predicting gate fidelity, we also utilize the fidelity response theory to compare and optimize gate protocols, to learn laser frequency noise, and to study the noise response for quantum simulation tasks. Finally, we predict that a CZ gate fidelity of ≳ 0.999 is feasible with realistic experimental upgrades. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Tsai, Richard Bing-Shiun (ORCID:0000000286758677)↗

DOE OSTI2025

Robust multiresonant nonlocal metasurfaces by rational design

Abstract Dielectric metasurfaces supporting optical resonances have become a promising platform for quantum and nonlinear optics. However, resonant metasurfaces remain limited in their capacity to independently control the behavior of many distinct resonances despite efforts in computational optimization and inverse design. In this work, we overcome longstanding limitations by introducing a generalized rational design paradigm based on symmetry. Specifically, we use symmetry-broken metasurfaces with periodic “quadromer” lattices comprised of four nanostructures per unit cell to enable extensive control of multiple optical resonances. The rationally designed metasurfaces are readily fabricable, and we experimentally demonstrate metasurfaces that support up to four high Q-factor resonances with deliberately chosen free-space polarizations, spectral separations, and mode profiles. Our design paradigm may unlock new applications for multiresonant metasurfaces in quantum and nonlinear optics, optical sensing, and augmented reality displays.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Impact of quantum well thickness on efficiency loss in InGaN/GaN LEDs: Challenges for thin-well designs

We investigate the impact of quantum well (QW) thickness on efficiency loss in c-plane InGaN/GaN LEDs using a small-signal electroluminescence technique. Multiple mechanisms related to efficiency loss are independently examined, including injection efficiency, carrier density vs current density relationship, phase space filling, quantum-confined Stark effect, and Coulomb enhancement. An optimal QW thickness of around 2.7 nm in these InGaN/GaN LEDs was determined for QWs having constant In composition. Despite improved control of deep-level defects and lower carrier density at a given current density, LEDs with thin QWs still suffer from an imbalance in enhancement effects on the radiative and intrinsic Auger–Meitner recombination coefficients. The imbalance in enhancement effects results in a decline in internal quantum efficiency and radiative efficiency with decreasing QW thickness at low current density in LEDs with QW thicknesses below 2.7 nm. Here, we also investigate how LED modulation bandwidth varies with QW thickness, identifying the key trends and their implications for device performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Tailoring spectral properties for entangled photon generation

The linear intensity scaling of entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) offers a fundamental mechanism to enable nonlinear optical spectroscopy and microscopy under a substantially lower excitation power than is currently feasible. However, the long data acquisition time and low signal-to-noise ratio in reported ETPA-based spectroscopic and microscopic studies prevent its widespread application. To gain the full potential of this novel quantum light approach, it is essential to optimize entangled photon generation for significantly enhanced ETPA responses. Here, we report a new quantum light source by combining entangled photon generation with free-space femtosecond pump-pulse shaping. Here, through measurements of singles and coincidence counts by varying the patterns applied to a spatial light modulator to control the spectral widths of the pump pulses, we reveal strong dependence of the singles and coincidence count rates as well as their ratios on the spectral widths of pump pulses. An optimal spectral width for the highest ratios between the coincidence photon and the signal or idler photon count rates is also determined. Identification of such optimal spectral widths for entangled photon generation in the presence of postgeneration spectral selection makes this quantum light source a promising choice for ETPA-based spectroscopy and imaging.

Photon pairs & parametric down-conversion↗

DOE OSTI2026

Sparse Phase Ansatzes for Resource-Efficient Qudit State Preparation via the SNAP-Displacement Protocol

Efficient preparation of nonclassical bosonic states is a central requirement for quantum computing, simulation, and precision metrology. We study resource-efficient quantum state preparation in bosonic qudit systems using the SNAP-displacement (SD) protocol. Existing SD-based approaches typically require a large number of gates and SNAP phases, resulting in complex control pulses with longer ansatz durations and amplified impact of photon-loss and control errors. In this work, we focus on the near- to medium-term regime, in which noisy quantum devices impose trade-offs on the fidelity that can be achieved, which must be taken into account. Specifically, we propose to optimize only a subset of the SNAP phases and introduce three progressively more general sparse ansatzes. To provide fine-grained control and identify the most suitable ansatz for a given target fidelity, we further employ a scalarized multi-objective optimization that trades off fidelity against either the number of phases or the duration of the ansatz. Numerical results for several target states and qudit dimensions up to $d=64$, evaluated through the hypervolume of the Pareto frontiers, show that these sparse ansatzes achieve favorable trade-offs over the fully parameterized SD protocol in both ideal and noisy settings. The advantage is strongest and most consistent when minimizing the number of phases, while improvements in ansatz duration are smaller and more dependent on the target-state family and noise level, suggesting a practical route to more efficient near- and medium-term bosonic state preparation.

Ferrari Dacrema, Maurizio [Milan Polytechnic] (ORC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Quantum-classical tradeoffs and multi-controlled quantum gate decompositions in variational algorithms

The computational capabilities of near-term quantum computers are limited by the noisy execution of gate operations and a limited number of physical qubits. Hybrid variational algorithms are well-suited to near-term quantum devices because they allow for a wide range of tradeoffs between the amount of quantum and classical resources used to solve a problem. This paper investigates tradeoffs available at both the algorithmic and hardware levels by studying a specific case – applying the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) to instances of the Maximum Independent Set (MIS) problem. We consider three variants of the QAOA which offer different tradeoffs at the algorithmic level in terms of their required number of classical parameters, quantum gates, and iterations of classical optimization needed. Since MIS is a constrained combinatorial optimization problem, the QAOA must respect the problem constraints. This can be accomplished by using many multi-controlled gate operations which must be decomposed into gates executable by the target hardware. We study the tradeoffs available at this hardware level, combining the gate fidelities and decomposition efficiencies of different native gate sets into a single metric called the gate decomposition cost .

Tomesh, Teague↗

DOE OSTI2025

Roadmap on thermodynamics and thermal metamaterials

Thermal metamaterials represent a transformative paradigm in modern physics, synergizing thermodynamic principles with metamaterial engineering to master heat flow at will. As next-generation technologies demand multi-scale thermal control, this field urgently requires systematic frameworks to unify its multidisciplinary advances. Curated through a global collaboration involving over 50 specialists across 25 subdisciplines, this review primarily summarizes two decades of advancements, ranging from theoretical breakthroughs to functional implementations. The review reveals groundbreaking innovations in heat manipulation through the exploration of both classical and non-classical transport regimes, topological thermal control mechanisms, and quantum-informed phonon engineering strategies. By bridging physical insights like non-Hermitian thermal dynamics and valleytronic phonon transport with cutting-edge applications, we demonstrate paradigm-shifting capabilities: environment-adaptive thermal cloaks, AI-optimized metamaterials, and nonlinear thermal circuits enabling heat-based computation. Experimental milestones include 3D thermal null media with reconfigurable invisibility and thermal designs breaking classical conductivity limits. Here, this collaborative effort establishes an indispensable roadmap for physicists, highlighting pathways to quantum thermal management, entropy-controlled energy systems, and topological devices. As thermal metamaterials transition from laboratory marvels to technological cornerstones, this work provides the foundational lexicon and design principles for the coming era of intelligent thermal matter.

heat conduction control↗

DOE OSTI2025

Flat nonlinear optics with intersubband polaritonic metasurfaces

Nonlinear intersubband polaritonic metasurfaces produce some of the strongest second- and third-order nonlinear optical responses reported for condensed matter systems at infrared frequencies. These metasurfaces are fabricated as two-dimensional arrays of nanoresonators from multi-quantum-well semiconductor heterostructures, designed to produce strong nonlinear responses associated with intersubband transitions. By optimally coupling the optical modes of the nanoresonators to vertically polarized intersubband transitions in semiconductor heterostructures, one can boost the nonlinear response associated with intersubband transitions, make intersubband transitions interact with free-space radiation at normal incidence, and hence produce optically thin flat nonlinear optical elements compatible with free-space optical setups. As a result of the strong nonlinear response in these systems, significant nonlinear conversion efficiencies (>0.1 %) can be attained in deeply subwavelength optical films using modest pumping intensities of only 10–100 kW/cm 2 . Subwavelength metasurface thickness relaxes phase-matching constraints limiting the operation of bulk nonlinear crystals. Furthermore, the amplitude and phase of the nonlinear optical response in intersubband polaritonic metasurfaces can be tailored for a specific pump wavelength and a nonlinear process of interest through the co-optimization of quantum engineering of electron states in semiconductor heterostructures and photonic engineering of the metasurface nanoresonators design. Additionally, an applied voltage can dynamically control the amplitude and phase of the nonlinear optical response at a nanoresonator level. Here, we review the current state of the art in this rapidly expanding field, focusing on nonlinear processes supporting second-harmonic generation, saturable absorption, and optical power limiting.

flat optics↗

DOE OSTI2025

Building a quantum computing architecture using 3D superconducting cavities

Quantum computers promise advantages over classical machines for solving certain complex problems, but building processors that truly deliver this advantage remains a central challenge, particularly due to limited coherence times. Three-dimensional superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities offer an attractive platform due to their exceptionally long lifetimes. However, since these harmonic systems require nonlinear elements, such as transmons, for control, additional losses are often introduced. In this talk, I will present a multimode quantum system based on an elliptical SRF cavity hosting two cavity modes weakly coupled to an ancillary transmon circuit. This architecture is carefully engineered to preserve coherence while enabling efficient control. By optimizing the design to mitigate transmon-induced decoherence, we realize single-photon lifetimes of 20.6 ms and 15.6 ms in the two modes, with pure dephasing times exceeding 40 ms. Using sideband interactions and error-resilient protocols, such as measurement-based correction and post-selection, we demonstrate high-fidelity state control, including preparation of Fock states up to N=20 with fidelities above 95% (to our knowledge, the highest reported to date), as well as high-fidelity two-mode entanglement. These results highlight 3D SRF cavities as a robust foundation for qudit-based quantum information processing, harnessing the large Hilbert space of cavity modes. I will conclude by outlining strategies to further enhance coherence in both cavities and ancilla qubits, and discuss pathways toward scaling this architecture into a larger quantum computing platform.

Roy, Tanay [Fermilab]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Signal amplification in a solid-state sensor through asymmetric many-body echo

Electronic spins of nitrogen–vacancy centres in diamond constitute a promising system for micro- and nanoscale magnetic sensing, because of their operation under ambient conditions, ease of placement in close proximity to sensing targets and biological compatibility. At high densities, the electronic spins interact through dipolar coupling, which typically limits but can also potentially enhance sensing performance. Here we report the experimental demonstration of many-body signal amplification in a solid-state, room-temperature quantum sensor. Our approach uses time-reversed two-axis-twisting interactions, engineered through dynamical control of the quantization axis and Floquet engineering in a two-dimensional ensemble of nitrogen–vacancy centres. We observe that optimal amplification occurs when the backward evolution time equals twice the forward evolution time, in sharp contrast to the conventional Loschmidt echo. These observations can be understood as resulting from an underlying time-reversed mirror symmetry of the microscopic dynamics, providing key insights into signal amplification and opportunities for practical entanglement-enhanced quantum sensing.

quantum information↗

DOE OSTI2024

Qudit Gate Decomposition Dependence for Lattice Gauge Theories

In this work, we investigate the effect of decomposition basis on primitive qudit gates on superconducting radio-frequency cavity-based quantum computers with applications to lattice gauge theory. Three approaches are tested: SNAP & Displacement gates, ECD & single-qubit rotations $R(\theta,\phi)$, and optimal pulse control. For all three decompositions, implementing the necessary sequence of rotations concurrently rather then sequentially can reduce the primitive gate run time. The number of blocks required for the faster ECD &$R_p(\theta)$ is found to scale $\mathcal{O}(d^2)$, while slower SNAP & Displacement set scales at worst $\mathcal{O}(d)$. For qudits with $d<10$, the resulting gate times for the decompositions is similar, but strongly-dependent on experimental design choices. Optimal control can outperforms both decompositions for small $d$ by a factor of 2-12 at the cost of higher classical resources. Lastly, we find that SNAP & Displacement are slightly more robust to a simplified noise model.

Kürkçüoglu, Doga Murat↗

DOE OSTI2025

Efficiently Measuring 𝑑-Wave Pairing and Beyond in Quantum Gas Microscopes

Understanding the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity is among the most important problems in physics, one for which quantum simulation can provide new insights. However, it remains challenging to characterize superconductivity in existing cold-atom quantum simulation platforms. Here, in this work, we introduce a protocol for measuring a broad class of observables in fermionic quantum gas microscopes, including long-range superconducting pairing correlations (after a repulsive-to-attractive mapping). The protocol only requires global controls followed by site-resolved particle number measurements—capabilities that have been already demonstrated in multiple experiments—and is designed by analyzing the Hilbert space of fermions on two sites. The protocol is sample-efficient and we further optimize our pulses for robustness to experimental imperfections such as lattice inhomogeneity. Our Letter introduces a general tool for manipulating quantum states on optical lattices, enhancing their ability to tackle problems such as high-temperature superconductivity.

Hubbard model↗

DOE OSTI2025

Leveraging Hamiltonian simulation techniques to compile operations on bosonic devices

Circuit quantum electrodynamics enables the combined use of qubits and oscillator modes. Despite a variety of available gate sets, many hybrid qubit-boson (i.e. qubit-oscillator) operations are realizable only through optimal control theory, which is oftentimes intractable and uninterpretable. We introduce an analytic approach with rigorously proven error bounds for realizing specific classes of operations via two matrix product formulas commonly used in Hamiltonian simulation, the Lie–Trotter–Suzuki and Baker–Campbell–Hausdorff product formulas. We show how this technique can be used to realize a number of operations of interest, including polynomials of annihilation and creation operators, namely (a) p (a † ) q for integer p, q. We show examples of this paradigm including obtaining universal control within a subspace of the entire Fock space of an oscillator, state preparation of a fixed photon number in the cavity, simulation of the Jaynes–Cummings Hamiltonian, and simulation of the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect. This work demonstrates how techniques from Hamiltonian simulation can be applied to better control hybrid qubit-boson devices.

bosonic qubits↗

DOE OSTI2024

Dislocation half-loop control for optimal V-defect density in GaN-based light emitting diodes

V-defects are morphological defects that typically form on threading dislocations during epitaxial growth of $(0001)$-oriented GaN layers. A V-defect is a hexagonal pyramid-shaped depression with six {$10\bar{1}1$}-oriented sidewalls. These semipolar sidewalls have a lower polarization barrier than the polarization barriers present between the polar c-plane quantum wells and quantum barriers and can laterally inject carriers directly into quantum wells in GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs). This is especially important, as the high polarization field in c-plane GaN is a significant factor in the high forward voltage of GaN LEDs. The optimal V-defect density for efficient lateral carrier injection in a GaN LED (∼10 9 cm −2 ) is typically an order of magnitude higher than the threading dislocation density of GaN grown on patterned sapphire substrates (∼10 8 cm −2 ). Pure-edge dislocation loops have been known to exist in GaN, and their formation into large V-defects via low-temperature growth with high Si-doping has recently been studied. Here, in this work, we develop a method for pure-edge threading dislocation half-loop formation and density control via disilane flow, growth temperature, and thickness of the half-loop generation layer. We also develop a method of forming the threading dislocation half-loops into V-defects of comparable size to those originating from substrate threading dislocations.

Crystallographic defects↗

DOE OSTI2025

Ultracoherent SRF Cavity-Based Multi-Qudit Platform with Error-Resilient Control

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities offer a promising platform for quantum computing due to their long coherence times, yet integrating nonlinear elements like transmons for control often introduces additional loss. We report a multimode quantum system based on a 2-cell elliptical shaped SRF cavity, comprising two cavity modes weakly coupled to an ancillary transmon circuit, designed to preserve coherence while enabling efficient control of the cavity modes. We mitigate the detrimental effects of the transmon decoherence through careful design optimization that reduces transmon-cavity couplings and participation in the dielectric substrate and lossy interfaces, to achieve single-photon lifetimes of 20.6\,ms and 15.6\,ms for the two modes, and a pure dephasing time exceeding 40\,ms. This marks an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior 3D multimode memories. Leveraging sideband interactions and novel error-resilient protocols, including measurement-based correction and post-selection, we achieve high-fidelity control over quantum states. This enables the preparation of Fock states up to $N = 20$ with fidelities exceeding 95\%, the highest reported to date to the authors' knowledge, as well as two-mode entanglement with an estimated coherence-limited fidelities of 99.9\% after post-selection. These results establish our platform as a robust foundation for quantum information processing, allowing for future extensions to high-dimensional qudit encodings.

Kim, T. [Northwestern U.]↗

DOE OSTI2025

Ultracoherent superconducting cavity-based multiqudit platform with error-resilient control

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities offer a promising platform for quantum computing due to their long coherence times, yet integrating nonlinear elements like transmons for control often introduces additional loss. We report a multimode quantum system based on a 2-cell elliptical shaped SRF cavity, comprising two cavity modes weakly coupled to an ancillary transmon circuit, designed to preserve coherence while enabling efficient control of the cavity modes. We mitigate the detrimental effects of the transmon decoherence through careful design optimization that reduces transmon-cavity couplings and participation in the dielectric substrate and lossy interfaces, to achieve single-photon lifetimes of 20.6 ms and 15.6 ms for the two modes, and a pure dephasing time exceeding 40 ms. This marks an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior 3D multimode memories. Leveraging sideband interactions and novel error-resilient protocols, including measurement-based correction and post-selection, we achieve high-fidelity control over quantum states. This enables the preparation of Fock states up to $N = 20$ with fidelities exceeding 95%, the highest reported to date to the authors' knowledge, as well as two-mode entanglement with an estimated coherence-limited fidelities of 99.9% after post-selection. These results establish our platform as a robust foundation for quantum information processing, allowing for future extensions to high-dimensional qudit encodings.

Kim, Taeyoon [Fermilab; Northwestern U.]↗

DOE OSTI2026

Ultracoherent superconducting cavity-based multiqudit platform with error-resilient control

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities offer a promising platform for quantum computing due to their long coherence times, yet integrating nonlinear elements like transmons for control often introduces additional loss. We report a multimode quantum system based on a 2-cell elliptical-shaped SRF cavity, comprising two cavity modes weakly coupled to an ancillary transmon circuit, designed to preserve coherence while enabling efficient control of the cavity modes. We mitigate the detrimental effects of the transmon decoherence through careful design optimization that reduces transmon-cavity couplings and participation in the dielectric substrate and lossy interfaces, to achieve single-photon lifetimes of 20.6 ms and 15.6 ms for the two modes, and a pure dephasing time exceeding 40 ms. This marks an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior 3D multimode memories. Leveraging sideband interactions and novel error-resilient protocols, including measurement-based correction and post-selection, we achieve high-fidelity control over quantum states. This enables the preparation of Fock states up to N = 20 with fidelities exceeding 95%, the highest reported to date to the authors' knowledge, as well as two-mode entanglement with an estimated coherence-limited fidelities of 99.9% after post-selection. These results establish our platform as a robust foundation for quantum information processing, allowing for future extensions to high-dimensional qudit encodings.

Lu, Yao [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000020413698X)↗

DOE OSTI2026

Ultracoherent superconducting cavity-based multiqudit platform with error-resilient control

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities offer a promising platform for quantum computing due to their long coherence times, yet integrating nonlinear elements like transmons for control often introduces additional loss. We report a multimode quantum system based on a 2-cell elliptical-shaped SRF cavity, comprising two cavity modes weakly coupled to an ancillary transmon circuit, designed to preserve coherence while enabling efficient control of the cavity modes. We mitigate the detrimental effects of the transmon decoherence through careful design optimization that reduces transmon-cavity couplings and participation in the dielectric substrate and lossy interfaces, to achieve single-photon lifetimes of 20.6 ms and 15.6 ms for the two modes, and a pure dephasing time exceeding 40 ms. This marks an order-of-magnitude improvement over prior 3D multimode memories. Leveraging sideband interactions and novel error-resilient protocols, including measurement-based correction and post-selection, we achieve high-fidelity control over quantum states. This enables the preparation of Fock states up to N = 20 with fidelities exceeding 95%, the highest reported to date to the authors' knowledge, as well as two-mode entanglement with an estimated coherence-limited fidelities of 99.9% after post-selection. These results establish our platform as a robust foundation for quantum information processing, allowing for future extensions to high-dimensional qudit encodings.

Lu, Yao [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000020413698X)↗