Decoherence of flux qubits due to 1/f flux noise

We have investigated decoherence in Josephson-junction flux qubits. Based on the measurements of decoherence at various bias conditions, we discriminate contributions of different noise sources. In particular, we present a Gaussian decay function of the echo signal as evidence of dephasing due to $1/f$ flux noise whose spectral density is evaluated to be about $(10^{-6} \Phi_0)^2$/Hz at 1 Hz. We also demonstrate that at an optimal bias condition where the noise sources are well decoupled the coherence observed in the echo measurement is mainly limited by energy relaxation of the qubit.Comment: 4 pages, error in Fig.4 corrected, to appear in PR

Reversible writing of high-mobility and high-carrier-density doping patterns in two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures

A key feature of two-dimensional materials is that the sign and concentration of their carriers can be externally controlled with techniques such as electrostatic gating. However, conventional electrostatic gating has limitations, including a maximum carrier density set by the dielectric breakdown, and ionic liquid gating and direct chemical doping also suffer from drawbacks. Here, we show that an electron-beam-induced doping technique can be used to reversibly write high-resolution doping patterns in hexagonal boron nitride-encapsulated graphene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) van der Waals heterostructures. The doped MoS2 device exhibits an order of magnitude decrease of subthreshold swing compared with the device before doping, whereas the doped graphene devices demonstrate a previously inaccessible regime of high carrier concentration and high mobility, even at room temperature. We also show that the approach can be used to write high-quality p–n junctions and nanoscale doping patterns, illustrating that the technique can create nanoscale circuitry in van der Waals heterostructures

Local density of states and scanning tunneling currents in graphene

We present exact analytical calculations of scanning tunneling currents in locally disordered graphene using a multimode description of the microscope tip. Analytical expressions for the local density of states (LDOS) are given for energies beyond the Dirac cone approximation. We show that the LDOS at the $A$ and $B$ sublattices of graphene are out of phase by $\pi$ implying that the averaged LDOS, as one moves away from the impurity, shows no trace of the $2q_F$ (with $q_F$ the Fermi momentum) Friedel modulation. This means that a STM experiment lacking atomic resolution at the sublattice level will not be able of detecting the presence of the Friedel oscillations [this seems to be the case in the experiments reported in Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 101}, 206802 (2008)]. The momentum maps of the LDOS for different types of impurities are given. In the case of the vacancy, $2q_F$ features are seen in these maps. In all momentum space maps, $K$ and $K+K^\prime$ features are seen. The $K+K^\prime$ features are different from what is seen around zero momentum. An interpretation for these features is given. The calculations reported here are valid for chemical substitution impurities, such as boron and nitrogen atoms, as well as for vacancies. It is shown that the density of states close to the impurity is very sensitive to type of disorder: diagonal, non-diagonal, or vacancies. In the case of weakly coupled (to the carbon atoms) impurities, the local density of states presents strong resonances at finite energies, which leads to steps in the scanning tunneling currents and to suppression of the Fano factor.Comment: 21 pages. Figures 6 and 7 are correctly displayed in this new versio

Weak dipole moment of τ\tau in e+e−e^+e^- collisions with longitudinally polarized electrons

It is pointed out that certain CP-odd momentum correlations in the production and subsequent decay of tau pairs in $e^+e^-$ collisions get enhanced when the $e^-$ is longitudinally polarized. Analytic expressions for these correlations are obtained for the single-pion decay mode of $\tau$ when $\tau^+\tau^-$ have a ``weak" dipole form factor (WDFF) coupling to $Z$ . For $e^+e^-$ collisions at the $Z$ peak, a sensitivity of about 1-5$\times 10^{-17}$\mbox{$e$ cm} for the $\tau$ WDFF can be reached using a {\em single} $\tau^+\tau^-$ decay channel, with $10^6\, Z$'s likely to be available at the SLC at Stanford with $e^-$ polarization of 62\%-75\%.Comment: 9 pages, Latex, PRL-TH-93/17 (Revised

Broken time-reversal symmetry in Josephson junction involving two-band superconductors

A novel time-reversal symmetry breaking state is found theoretically in the Josephson junction between the two-gap superconductor and the conventional s-wave superconductor. This occurs due to the frustration between the three order parameters analogous to the two antiferromagnetically coupled XY-spins put under a magnetic field. This leads to the interface states with the energies inside the superconducting gap. Possible experimental observations of this state with broken time-reversal symmetry are discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figur

Isospin Breaking Effects in the Extraction of Isoscalar and Isovector Spectral Functions From e+e−→hadronse^+e^-\to hadrons

We investigate the problem of the extraction of the isovector and isoscalar spectral functions from data on $e^+e^-\to hadrons$, in the presence of non-zero isospin breaking. It is shown that the conventional approach to extracting the isovector spectral function in the $\rho$ resonance region, in which only the isoscalar contribution associated with $\omega\to \pi\pi$ is subtracted, fails to fully remove the effects of the isoscalar component of the electromagnetic current. The additional subtractions required to extract the pure isovector and isoscalar spectral functions are estimated using results from QCD sum rules. It is shown that the corrections are small ($\sim 2$) in the isovector case (though relevant to precision tests of CVC), but very large ($\sim 20$) in the case of the $\omega$ contribution to the isoscalar spectral function. The reason such a large effect is natural in the isoscalar channel is explained, and implications for other applications, such as the extraction of the sixth order chiral low-energy constant, $Q$, are discussed.Comment: minor changes to introduction, section 2. In Press Phys. Rev.

Lifshitz transition and van Hove singularity in a Topological Dirac Semimetal

A topological Dirac semimetal is a novel state of quantum matter which has recently attracted much attention as an apparent 3D version of graphene. In this paper, we report critically important results on the electronic structure of the 3D Dirac semimetal Na3Bi at a surface that reveals its nontrivial groundstate. Our studies, for the first time, reveal that the two 3D Dirac cones go through a topological change in the constant energy contour as a function of the binding energy, featuring a Lifshitz point, which is missing in a strict 3D analog of graphene (in other words Na3Bi is not a true 3D analog of graphene). Our results identify the first example of a band saddle point singularity in 3D Dirac materials. This is in contrast to its 2D analogs such as graphene and the helical Dirac surface states of a topological insulator. The observation of multiple Dirac nodes in Na3Bi connecting via a Lifshitz point along its crystalline rotational axis away from the Kramers point serves as a decisive signature for the symmetry-protected nature of the Dirac semimetal's topological groundstate.Comment: 5 pages, 4 Figures, Related papers on topological Fermi arcs and Weyl Semimetals (WSMs) are at http://physics.princeton.edu/zahidhasangroup/index.htm