Session J37: Physical Review Invited Session: Forefront Research Across Disciplines

Circuit QED theory and experiment: Encoding quantum information in harmonic oscillators

‘Circuit quantum electrodynamics’ is the theory of non-linear quantum optics extended to the study of microwave photons strongly interacting with ‘artificial atoms’ (Josephson junction qubits) embedded in superconducting electrical circuits. Recent remarkable theoretical and experimental progress in our ability to measure and manipulate the quantum states of individual microwave photons is leading to novel applications ranging from accelerating dark matter searches to quantum error correction using bosonic codes that have successfully extended the lifetime of quantum information. This talk will present an elementary introduction to the basic concepts underlying circuit QED and describe several recent novel experiments demonstrating these new found capabilities.   

Phase-Controlled Topological Superconductivity

This talk will explore alternative routes to generating Majorana zero modes, finding similarities between Majorana modes in vortex cores of 2D and 3D topological superconductors and schemes based on one-dimensional semiconductor-superconductor hybrids in a strong Zeeman field. Phase winding in vortices and full-shell nanowies has a 2D analog as well, which is phase control across an SNS junction, which in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman field, also generates leads to topological superconductivity. Results from recent experiments will be discussed in the context of this unified picture.   

Mechanics and applications of bio-conformable electronics

Seamlessly merging human body with electronics can not only digitize our body for internet of health and human-computer interaction, but also deliver therapeutics or even augment our capabilities. As human organs are soft and curvilinear, it is important to understand and rationally design the conformability of soft electronics to human tissue. This talk will present 2D and 3D analytical and numerical models along with experimental validations for the conformability of flexible and stretchable electronics on rigid and soft curvilinear surfaces. It will also introduce reversible physical adhesives based on cratered surfaces that can attach securely on bio-tissue but easy to remove and reuse. Noninvasive and invasive bio-conformable electronics will be demonstrated in this talk.   

Supersolidity in the ultracold: when atoms behave as solid and superfluid at the same time

Ultracold quantum gases are both an ideal test-bed platform to address key questions in quantum physics and a powerful resource to realize novel paradigms and novel phases of quantum matter. Moreover, the potential of such systems is becoming ever more enabling as scientists acquire an increasingly fine control over optical manipulation and inter-particle interactions.
Recently, a novel class of atomic species, possessing an exceptionally strong magnetic character is entering the stage, offering a new conceptual twist for the field. In our laboratories in Innsbruck, we have realized the first dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate and Fermi gas of the highly magnetic Erbium species and the first dipolar quantum mixture of Erbium and Dysprosium.
I will report on our recent observations of the elusive and paradoxical supersolid state of quantum matter, using both Erbium and Dysprosium ultracold gases. Such paradoxical phase, in which crystal rigidity and superfluid flow coexist, has intrigued scientists across different disciplines for decades. It now became possible to create supersolidity in the ultracold thanks to the unique interplay between long-range dipolar interactions, contact interactions, and a powerful stabilization mechanism based on quantum fluctuations.   

Strange Metals and Black Holes

The ‘strange metal’, a state of matter formed by electrons in many modern materials, including the compounds which exhibit high temperature superconductivity. In this state, electrons quantum entangle with each other and conduct electric current collectively (rather than one-by-one, as in an ordinary metal like copper). Quantum entanglement also has remarkable effects near the horizon of a black hole, leading to the Bekenstein-Hawking black hole entropy, and the Hawking temperature. Surprisingly, there is a deep connection between the nature of quantum entanglement in strange metals and black holes, and this has led to mutually beneficial insights. This connection is simply described by the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model, which leads to a common set of equations describing the quantum dynamics of certain strange metals and black holes. I will describe recent progress in developing a theory of strange metals building on the solvable SYK model.