Quantum Physics Commons^™

Nonlinear Diffusion, Hydrodynamic Cascades And Jamming In Kinetically Constrained Systems: Insights From Lattice Gas Models, Abhishek Raj

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation investigates non-linear diffusion processes and emergent dynamical phenomena in kinetically constrained lattice gases. Two central models are considered: a one-dimensional lattice gas exhibiting a diffusion cascade triggered by hydrodynamic nonlinearities and a triangular ladder exclusion model that undergoes a jamming transition. The former demonstrates stretched exponential decay consistent with non-perturbative long-time tails, while the latter illustrates how classical-quantum mappings yield insight into glassy dynamics and mobility constraints. Through a combination of numerical simulations, analytical perturbation theory, and mean-field approximations, the work uncovers mechanisms underlying anomalous transport, jamming transitions, and the breakdown of perturbative hydrodynamics.

Low-Cost Cutaneous Protoporphyrin Ix (Ppix) Detection (Cpd) Device For Follow-Up Monitoring Of Patients After Photodynamic Therapy, Md Asaduzzaman Rasel

Graduate Masters Theses

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to activate photosensitizing chemical compounds, known as photosensitizers, which induce the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the targeted destruction of cancer cells. Among various photosensitizers for PDT, Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is widely employed in oncology and dermatology due to its natural in situ generation via the metabolic conversion of 5- aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a non-phototoxic prodrug. Systemic administration of ALA after 3-6 hr drug delay leads to peak PpIX accumulation in tissues, facilitating therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, PpIX can persist in the skin for 24–48 hours post-treatment, …

Symmetrically Threaded Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices As Next-Generation Kerr-Cat Qubits, Bibek Bhandari, Irwin Huang, Ahmed Hajr, Kagan Yanik, Bingcheng Qing, Ke Wang, David I. Santiago, Justin Dressel, Irfan Siddiqi, Andrew N. Jordan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Kerr-cat qubits are bosonic qubits offering autonomous bit-flip protection, traditionally studied using driven superconducting nonlinear asymmetric inductive element (SNAIL) oscillators. Here, we theoretically explore an alternative circuit for Kerr-cat qubits based on symmetrically threaded superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The symmetrically threaded SQUID (STS) architecture employs a simplified flux-pumped design that suppresses two-photon dissipation, a dominant loss mechanism in high-Kerr regimes, by engineering the drive Hamiltonian’s flux operator to generate only even-order harmonics. By fulfilling two critical criteria for practical Kerr-cat qubit operation, the STS emerges as an ideal platform: (1) a static Hamiltonian with diluted Kerr nonlinearity (achieved via …

Entanglement-Assisted Metrology Under Spatiotemporally Correlated Quantum Noise, Francisco U. Riberi

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Quantum sensors operating at the microscale are an emerging branch of quantum technologies where tangible experimental successes have already been reported. State-of-the-art atomic interferometers allow to measure and estimate a variety of physical parameters with unprecedented precision. In principle, exploiting the full power of quantum mechanics would lead to quantitatively better performance bounds over the best possible classical strategies under the same given set of resource constraints. However, the quantum systems' fragility to external disturbances has so far hindered most of these gains to be reached in practice, particularly in the limit of large probe number $N$. Parallel, {\em purely …

Simulating Chemiluminescence Spectra Of Oh Radical Using Quantum Dynamical Simulations, Triet M. Cao

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Chemiluminescence is a phenomenon of light emission that occurs when molecules transition from an excited state to the ground state. This phenomenon is widely utilized in applications ranging from quantifying product yields in chemical reactions to biological imaging and atmospheric chemistry studies. It has also been used in many crucial applications in the scarce conditions of heat and electricity, such as light sources for astronomy discovery or deep-sea diving. A notable example of such reactions is combustion, where highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (OH) are products. These radicals exhibit a chemiluminescence spectrum because of the interaction between their ground state and …

The Design Of Coplanar Waveguide Traveling-Wave Kinetic-Impedance Parametric Amplifiers, Jordan Scott Savoie

Master's Theses

Astronomical observations and many physics experiments rely on cryogenic amplifiers for readout. Current sensitivity is limited by the noise figure of high-electronmobility transistor (HEMT) amplifiers, which have proven di!cult to decrease further in recent years. Traveling-wave kinetic-impedance parametric amplifiers (TKIPAs) are an emerging class of amplifiers which have the potential to substantially improve the sensitivity of microwave low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) while also accepting relatively high input powers and amplifying over a wide bandwidth. In this thesis, I present the design, modeling, and testing procedures for coplanar waveguide (CPW) TKIPAs developed by our group at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Using …

Relational Observables, Quiddities, And Structural Realism, Emily Adlam

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this article, I argue that modern spacetime physics causes problems for a number of traditional accounts of modality, but also offers important new ideas about the connection between modal and non-modal features of reality. I suggest that recent work on relational observables in general relativity and quantum gravity can help us understand how non-modal features of reality could arise from modal features of reality within some form of modal ontic structural realism. In particular, I argue that the notion of an ‘internal view,’ as employed in the partial/complete observables formalism and the quantum reference frame formalism, is an important …

Non-Linear Atom-Laser Interactions Using Rubidium Pump-Probe Spectroscopy, Grace Neil

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

An experiment was performed to demonstrate the pump-probe spectroscopy of Rubidium (Rb) vapor, revealing the nonlinear atom-laser interactions in the 5S1/2 ↔ 5D5/2 transition in Rb that can be used to generate quantum entanglement between two laser beams. The setup included a tunable infrared diode laser, optical mirrors, photodiode-detectors, a beam-splitter, and a temperature- regulated rubidium gas chamber, all of which are controlled by the TeachSpin laser controller and monitor. The output from the laser-diode was split into a pump (90%) and a signal probe (10%), which intersected in counter-propagating directions inside the Rubidium chamber. The analysis shows that in …

An Alternative Approach To Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics In Curved Space, Robert A. Hulsey

Dissertations

In the research presented in this dissertation, we propose an alternative formulation of non-relativistic quantum mechanics in curved spaces (Riemannian manifolds). Some toy quantum models (2D quantum harmonic oscillator in Poincaré half-plane model and the flat chart model of hyperbolic 2-space) are studied to understand the physical implications of this alternative formulation.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization And Optical Studies Of Silver-Indium-(Zinc)-Chalcogenide Fluorescent Quantum Dots, Sujal Acharya

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Developing a non-toxic, high-performance fluorescent nanomaterial is crucial for overcoming the environmental and health restrictions of current cadmium, and lead based quantum dots (QDs), which limit the application of quantum dots in optoelectronics and bioimaging. In this thesis, we synthesized environmentally friendly AgInS2 QDs by a colloidal method, systematically altering the In/Ag precursor ratio from 2 to 6 to study the impact on their optical and photophysical properties. Our goals were to find the optimal stoichiometry for maximum quantum efficiency and stability. We also investigated further improving optical and photophysical properties through shelling with ZnS. The emission spectra appeared broad, …

A Systematic Approach To The Characterization Of Liquid-Vapor Coexistence In Platinum, Meghan K. Lentz

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Platinum is a material standard used in high pressure and shock compression experiments at Sandia National Laboratories. During experiments, materials are subjected to a very large range of thermodynamic conditions, during which materials regularly enter the liquid-vapor coexistence region. Despite its status as a standard, the region around the liquid-vapor critical point is poorly understood for platinum, with reported critical temperatures spanning approximately 7000 K. In this dissertation we conduct density functional theory based molecular dynamics (DFTMD) simulations for platinum for a range of temperatures and densities near liquid-vapor coexistence. The phase diagram for platinum is refined near the critical …

Phase Nanoscopy With Correlated Frequency Combs, Xiaobing Zhu

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

In this dissertation a sensing method applying to any physical quantity that modifies optical phase is developed. Two pulses are produced inside a synchronously pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator, generating two identical, undistinguishable frequency combs. The physical quantity to be measured applies a small phase shift/round trip to one of the pulses, resulting in a frequency shift of the corresponding comb. The latter frequency is measured as a beat by interfering the two combs on a detector. A world record resolution, close to the quantum limit, of 0.033 nanoradian (corresponding to 0.006 fm in displacement) is achieved. A detailed analysis of …

Advancing Diamond Quantum Sensors: Isotropic Flux Concentrators And Phase Noise Mitigation, Maziar Saleh Ziabari

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Two methods for improving the sensitivity of nitrogen vacancy quantum sensors in diamond are explored. First, by passively concentrating the magnetic flux, three orthogonally oriented ferrite truncated cone pairs amplify the field isotropically by 19 times, allowing measurement of Earth's field without a bias field and increasing sensitivity. Through thorough analysis, modeling and tuning a novel 3-dimensional flux concentrator system, we achieve a fractional standard deviation of less than 1% anisotropy and quantify minimal deadzones and ambient temperature-limited variations below 40 nT/hour. Second, we characterize, model and calculate phase noise in NV experiments, which in NV sensors is effectively indistinguishable …

Quantum Memory, Isabel Martinez-Robles

Physics and Astronomy Summer Fellows

Isolated quantum systems are almost always observed to achieve thermal equilibrium in experiments. Understanding cases where they do not thermalize, and therefore retain memory about the initial state, could lead to the development of a quantum memory. We excite atoms in a magneto-optical trap, where they are cold enough to treat as stationary. In our experiment, our atoms exchange energy via dipole-dipole interactions and fail to thermalize. We present a theoretical and computational analysis that suggests that our system starts in an exceptional initial state.

Basic Theory And Implementations Of Quantum Error Correction, Derek Rodriguez

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

The introduction of quantum computing has presented algorithmic solutions to computationally difficult challenges that are far more efficient than those of classical computers. These algorithms leverage the properties of quantum mechanics to manipulate the quantum properties of subatomic particles, requiring immense precision and stability. Current quantum hardware, however, is too noisy and introduces too many errors for these algorithms to be useful in practice, necessitating the use of error correction algorithms. This field survey seeks to introduce various principles of quantum mechanics relevant to quantum computing and quantum error correction (QEC), detail the implementation and motivations of a basic QEC …

The Gauge/Gravity Holographic Duality Between String Theory And Quantum Field Theory: A Full Introduction, Alex A. Short

Physics

The Anti-deSitter Spacetime / Conformal Field Theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence is a well known holographic duality between ten dimensional superstring theories and conformal quantum field theories. The existence of such a correspondence is fascinating and the duality provides a powerful tool-set for working out problems in both string theory and quantum field theory. The correspondence defines a dictionary of terms that exist dual to one another in each theory, allowing theorists to understand the dynamics in one system based on quantities from another. Furthermore, when one side of the duality has strong coupling (meaning the approximations of perturbation theory are no …

Excitons And Polaritons In Two-Dimensional Materials Heterostructures - Applications As Qubits, Time Crystals, And Superfluids, Gabriel Pimenta Martins

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation is concerned with exploring the properties and applications of excitons and polaritons in two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures. It focuses on their potential to form qubits, time crystals, and superfluids. The work is motivated by the unique electronic and optical properties of 2D materials—specifically, their ability to host strongly bound excitons and hybrid light-matter quasiparticles known as polaritons. By exploiting a combination of theoretical modeling and numerical simulations, this work examines the behavior of these quasiparticles under various physical conditions, including strain-induced pseudomagnetic fields, optical microcavities, and periodic external potentials.

The first part of this dissertation is devoted …

Data Encoding, Compilation, And Algorithms For Quantum Machine Learning, Aviraj Sinha

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Quantum computing enables new approaches to data processing, especially in quantum machine learning. Unlike classical systems, quantum data must be synthesized through operations and can exist in superposition. Encoding choices affect efficiency, noise resilience, and trainability—key factors in quantum machine learning models. This dissertation enhances quantum data encodings by extending quantum read-only memory (QROM) beyond binary representations, improving efficiency and parallelism. It introduces new compilation methods for quantum random number generators (QRNGs), supporting non-parametric distributions for post-quantum cryptography. Additionally, it explores Cayley graph-based encodings to extract spectral features for quantum machine learning.

Noise-Embedded Image Processing Based On Quantum Data Encodings, Yayu Mo

Multidisciplinary Studies Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in quantum information have significantly impacted the field of image processing, although challenges remain. Especially in the edge detection and image encoding area, distorted feature and noises would affect the further classification or super resolution tasks. In our work, we conduct researches on two stages to both evaluate the potential of Quantum-based Convolutional Structure in extracting distorted feature and further explore the effects of quantum noise channels on quantum image encodings.

In the first stage, we propose a method to extract distorted edge features by applying shallow layers in quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNN). By combining the advantages of …

Explorations Of Amplified Feedback In Quantum Circuits, Maxwell B. Weiner

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The Josephson Traveling Wave Parametric Amplifier (TWPA) has emerged as a key technology for high-fidelity qubit readout in superconducting quantum computing. By leveraging the nonlinear inductance of an array of Josephson Junctions, the TWPA enables broadband, near-quantum-limited amplification with minimal added noise, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio in qubit measurements. Unlike traditional resonant parametric amplifiers, which suffer from bandwidth constraints, the traveling wave design of the TWPA allows for wideband operation, making it particularly suited for multiplexed readout of both simple qubits and large-scale quantum processors.

In this thesis, we explore how the TWPA can be integrated into a feedback …

Quasi-Normal Modes Of Extended Uncertainty Principle Kerr Black Holes, Ava Hoeger, Jonas Mureika

Honors Thesis

The current understanding of gravity is shaped largely by Albert Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. This theory is highly successful at predicting phenomenon on macroscopic scales, but it faces unphysical singularities at quantum scales. This thesis will explore the possibility of combining General Relativity with quantum mechanics through the Extended Uncertainty Principle (EUP), which provides a new, fundamental length scale correction to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. This allows for quantum gravity effects at macroscopic scales, which will be examined through Kerr black holes with event horizons on the order of . These black holes are rotating and electrically neutral, and …

Measurements And Modeling Of Phonon-Mediated Quasiparticle Poisoning In Superconducting Qubit Arrays, Eric Yelton

Dissertations - ALL

The realization of a quantum computer that can correct for random errors on its constituent quantum bits, or qubits, is one of the primary goals in the quantum information science community. One of the leading protocols to correct these errors on a quantum processor relies on nearest-neighbor coupling of an array of physical qubits that act collectively as a single logical qubit. Superconducting circuits are a leading implementation of a physical qubit and have been used in some of the first demonstrations of this error correction scheme. A key assumption of this protocol is that errors on the physical qubits …

Theoretical Proof Of And Proposed Experimental Search For The Ground Triplet State Of A Wigner-Regime Two-Electron ‘Artificial Atom’ In A Magnetic Field, Marlina Slamet, Viraht Sahni

Publications and Research

It is experimentally established that there is no ground triplet state of the natural He atom. There is also no exact analytical solution to the Schrödinger equation corresponding to this state. For a two-dimensional two-electron ‘artificial atom’ or a semiconductor quantum dot in a magnetic field, as described by the Schrödinger–Pauli equation, we provide theoretical proof of the existence of a ground triplet state by deriving an exact analytical correlated wave function solution to the equation. The state exists in the Wigner high-electron-correlation regime. We further explain that the solution satisfies all requisite symmetry and electron coalescence constraints of …

Bismuth-207 For Purity Monitoring System For Lartpc: Dune And Proto-Dune, Rohit Raut

2025 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), the U.S. flagship neutrino experiment, relies on high purity liquid argon (LAr) for optimal detector performance. Ensuring and monitoring LAr purity is crucial, as electronegative impurities can degrade signal quality in detectors. As part of Proto-DUNE, a prototype detector at CERN for DUNE, this study explores the use of Bismuth-207 (Bi-207) as a novel tool for real-time LAr purity monitoring and calibration. Bi-207 emits monochromatic internal conversion electrons, allowing precise impurity assessment without interfering with standard detector operations. By simulating the behavior of radioactive Bi-207 and analyzing data from the Proto-DUNE Vertical Drift detector, …

Computational Analysis Of Proton Conductivity Factors In Grotthuss-Style Mechanisms, Brock Dyer

Physics and Astronomy Honors Papers

The mechanism and fundamental molecular properties involved in proton conduction are discussed. Four calculable properties are presented: the proton affinity, binding energy (between protonated and neutral forms), intramolecular tautomerization barrier, and proton hopping barrier. An overview of the computational methods used in this thesis, including an introduction to the many-body Schrödinger equation and Density Functional Theory, as well as a look at Plane-Wave Density Functional Theory and Gaussian-Type Orbital Density Functional Theory are presented. 4,5-dimethyl-[1,2,3]-triazole is used as a model system, with 10 variations being generated with varying amounts and positions of fluorine substitution on the methyl groups. Preliminary calculations …

Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonics: Fundamentals And Applications, Mingyuan Hong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum plasmonics explores the interaction between light and collective charge oscillations at metal-dielectric interfaces, enabling strong light confinement and enhanced quantum effects at the nanoscale. While traditional quantum optics has primarily focused on single-photon systems, an intermediate regime exists between classical and single-photon optics - multiparticle (or multiphoton) quantum optics. In this regime, classical light sources, when analyzed through techniques such as photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection and projective measurement, can reveal nontrivial quantum correlations. This thesis investigates how multiparticle quantum plasmonics harnesses these correlations to control quantum statistical properties, enhance coherence, and enable novel applications in quantum technologies.

In this thesis, …

Analyticity And Supershift With Regular Sampling, Fabrizio Colombo, Irene Sabadini, Daniele C. Struppa, Alain Yger

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The notion of supershift (in itself a generalization of the notion of superoscillation arising in quantum mechanics) expresses the fact that the sampling of a function in an interval allows to compute the values of the function far from the interval. In this paper, we study the relation between supershift and real analyticity. We use a classical result due to Serge Bernstein to show that real analyticity for a complex-valued function implies a strong form of supershift. On the other hand, we use a parametric version of a result by Leonid Kantorovitch to show that the converse is not true. …

Fiber Bundles Of The Complex Projective Space And Their Relation To Quantum Physics, Emily Wessman

Student Research Symposium

The complex projective space CPⁿ is the space of lines through the origin in Cⁿ⁺¹ with an equivalence relation defined by Z ~ λZ' for λ ∈ C*. We define the points under the equivalence relation as homogeneous coordinates, represented by [Z₀ : Z₁ : ... Z_n]. Since all Z,sub>i cannot equal zero, we can find a unique set of n coordinates (z₁,...,z_n) such that [Z₀ : Z₁ : ... : Z_n] ~ [1 : z₁ : ... : z_n] where z …

32 - Nested Two Level Decomposition For Quantum Computing, Andrew Maciejunes, John Stenger, Dan Gunlycke, Nikos Chrisochoides

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Abstract—We present a two-level decomposition strategy for solving the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). A Problem-Level Decomposition (PLD) partitions a 9-node (72-qubit) VRP into smaller Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) instances. Each TSP is then further simplified via Circuit-Level Decomposition (CLD), enabling execution on near-term quantum devices. Our approach achieves up to 90% reductions in circuit depth and qubit count. These results demonstrate the feasibility of solving VRPs previously too complex for quantum simulators and provide early evidence of potential quantum utility.

Optimizing Fisher Information In Quantum Technology, Bran Purvis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fisher information is a statistical metric whose inverse represents a lower bound on the variance of an unbiased estimator. Naturally, in order to make the best estimates of a given unknown parameter, one would desire to find ways to minimize the value of this lower bound. Thus, the Fisher information can also be used to compare the quality of different estimators for a given parameter: whichever estimator has a lower value for its Fisher information must also provide better estimates. The same holds true in the framework of quantum information theory, where an analog to the Fisher information, dubbed quantum …