ABSTRACT Strain engineering in semiconductor nanostructures offers a promising route to optimize electronic and optical properties for advanced quantum technologies. This study explores the relationship between core and shell thicknesses and strain distribution in Ge/Si core/shell nanowires (CS NWs), targeting their application as hosts for spin qubits. NWs were synthesized using an Au‐catalysed chemical vapor deposition technique, achieving control over core and shell dimensions. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and elemental mapping confirmed structural integrity, while Geometric Phase Analysis and Raman spectroscopy provided both qualitative and quantitative insights into strain variations driven by core and shell dimensions. Furthermore, polarization‐resolved µ‐Raman measurements allowed us to quantify the longitudinal and transverse phonon mode splitting as a function of strain in the Ge core. The electronic transport properties were investigated by hole mobility measurements. Finally, we observed a record high hole mobility of 25400 cm2 V−1 s−1, underscoring the potential of our CS NW structures for the realization of high‐fidelity spin qubits. Our findings highlight the critical role of geometry in strain tuning and provide valuable design guidelines for optimizing Ge/Si CS NWs in scalable quantum device architectures.

Two-level systems (TLSs) are the basic units of quantum computers but face a trade-off between operation speed and coherence due to shared coupling paths. Here, we investigate a TLS given by a singlet-triplet (ST+) transition. We identify a magnetic-field configuration that maximizes dipole coupling while minimizing total dephasing, forming a compromise-free sweet spot that mitigates this fundamental trade-off. The TLS is implemented in a crystal-phase-defined double-quantum dot in an InAs nanowire. Using a superconducting resonator, we measure the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) gap, the spin-photon coupling strength, and the total TLS dephasing rate as a function of the in-plane magnetic-field orientation. Our theoretical description postulates phonons as the dominant noise source. The compromise-free sweet spot originates from the SOI, suggesting that it is not restricted to this material platform but might find applications in any material with SOI. These findings pave the way for enhanced nanomaterial engineering for next-generation qubit technologies.

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In a superconducting weak link, the supercurrent is carried by Andreev bound states (ABSs) formed by the phase-coherent reflection of electrons and their time-reversed partners. A single, highly transmissive ABS can serve as an ideal, compact two-level system, due to a potentially large energy difference to the next ABS. While the coherent manipulation of such Andreev levels qubits (ALQs) has been demonstrated, a long-range coupling between two ALQs, necessary for advanced qubit architectures, has not been achieved, yet. Here, we demonstrate a coherent remote coupling between two ALQs, mediated by a microwave photon in a novel superconducting microwave cavity coupler. The latter hosts two modes with different coupling rates to an external port. This allows us to perform fast readout of each qubit using the strongly coupled mode, while the weakly coupled mode is utilized to mediate the coupling between the qubits. When both qubits are tuned into resonance with the latter mode, we find excitation spectra with avoided-crossings, in very good agreement with the Tavis-Cummings model. Based on this model, we identify highly entangled two-qubit states for which the entanglement is mediated over a distance of six millimeters. This work establishes ALQs as compact and scalable solid-state qubits.

Qubits require a compromise between operation speed and coherence. Here, we demonstrate a compromise-free singlet-triplet (ST) qubit, where the qubit couples maximally to the driving field while simultaneously coupling minimally to the dominant noise sources. The qubit is implemented in a crystal-phase defined double-quantum dot in an InAs nanowire. Using a superconducting resonator, we measure the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) gap, the spin-photon coupling strength and the qubit decoherence rate as a function of the in-plane magnetic-field orientation. We demonstrate a spin qubit sweet spot maximizing the dipolar coupling and simultaneously minimizing the decoherence. Our theoretical description postulates phonons as the most likely dominant noise source. The compromise-free sweet spot originates from the SOI suggesting that it is not restricted to this material platform, but might find applications in any material with SOI. These findings pave the way for enhanced engineering of these nanomaterials for next-generation qubit technologies.

Radiofrequency reflectometry can provide fast and sensitive electrical read-out of charge and spin qubits in quantum dot devices coupled to resonant circuits. In situ frequency tuning and impedance matching of the resonator circuit using voltage-tunable capacitors (varactors) is needed to optimize read-out sensitivity, but the performance of conventional semiconductor- and ferroelectric-based varactors degrades substantially in the millikelvin temperature range relevant for solid-state quantum devices. Here we show that strontium titanate and potassium tantalate, materials which can exhibit quantum paraelectric behaviour with large field-tunable permittivity at low temperatures, can be used to make varactors with perfect impedance matching and resonator frequency tuning at 6 mK. We characterize the varactors at 6 mK in terms of their capacitance tunability, dissipative losses and magnetic field insensitivity. We use the quantum paraelectric varactors to optimize the radiofrequency read-out of carbon nanotube quantum dot devices, achieving a charge sensitivity of 4.8 mu e Hz-1/2 and a capacitance sensitivity of 0.04 aF Hz-1/2. Using materials that show quantum paraelectricity, a phenomenon in which ferroelectric order is suppressed at very low temperature, voltage-tunable capacitors can be created for use in sensitive read-out circuits to measure cryogenic quantum devices.

Decoherence of a charge qubit is usually credited to charge noise in the environment. Here we show that charge noise may not be the limiting factor for the qubit coherence. To this end, we study coherence properties of a crystal-phase defined semiconductor nanowire double quantum dot (DQD) charge qubit strongly coupled to a high-impedance resonator using radio-frequency reflectometry. Response of this hybrid system is measured both at a charge noise sensitive operation point (with finite DQD detuning) and at an insensitive point (so-called sweet spot with zero detuning). A theoretical model based on the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian matches the experimental results well and yields only a 10% difference in decoherence rates between the two cases, despite that the sensitivity to detuning charge noise differs by a factor of 5. Therefore, the charge noise is not limiting the coherence in this experiment with this type of semiconducting nanowire qubits.

Gatemon qubits are the electrically tunable cousins of superconducting transmon qubits. In this work, we demonstrate the full coherent control of a gatemon qubit based on hole carriers in a Ge/Si core/shell nanowire, with the longest coherence times in group IV material gatemons to date. The key to these results is a high-quality Josephson junction obtained in a straightforward and reproducible annealing technique. We demonstrate that the transport through the narrow junctions is dominated by only two quantum channels, with transparencies up to unity. This novel qubit platform holds great promise for quantum information applications, not only because it incorporates technologically relevant materials, but also because it provides new opportunities, like an ultrastrong spin-orbit coupling in the few-channel regime of Josephson junctions.

Hybridization is a very fundamental quantum mechanical phenomenon, with the text book example of binding two hydrogen atoms in a hydrogen molecule. In semiconductor physics, a quantum dot (QD) can be considered as an artificial atom, with two coupled QDs forming a molecular state, and two electrons on a single QD the equivalent of a helium atom. Here we report tunnel spectroscopy experiments illustrating the hybridization of another type of discrete quantum states, namely of superconducting subgap states that form in segments of a semiconducting nanowire in contact with superconducting reservoirs. We show and explain a collection of intermediate states found in the process of merging individual bound states, hybridizing with a central QD and eventually coherently linking the reservoirs. These results may serve as a guide in future Majorana fusion experiments and explain a large variety of recent bound state experiments.

We compare the adiabatic quantized charge pumping performed in two types of InAs nanowire double quantum dots (DQDs), either with tunnel barriers defined by closely spaced narrow bottom gates, or by well-separated side gates. In the device with an array of bottom gates of 100 nm pitch and 10 μm lengths, the pump current is quantized only up to frequencies of a few MHz due to the strong capacitive coupling between the bottom gates. In contrast, in devices with well-separated side gates with reduced mutual gate capacitances, we find well-defined pump currents up to 30 MHz. Our experiments demonstrate that high frequency quantized charge pumping requires careful optimization of the device geometry, including the typically neglected gate feed lines.

Correlations are fundamental in describing many body systems - not only in natural sciences. However, in experiments, correlations are notoriously difficult to assess on the microscopic scale, especially for electron spins. Here, we demonstrate a direct measurement of the spin cross-correlations between the currents of a Cooper pair splitter, an electronic device that emits electrons originating from Cooper pairs in a superconductor. While it is firmly established theoretically that these electron pairs form maximally spin-entangled singlet states with opposite spin projections, no spin correlation experiments have been demonstrated so far. We use ferromagnetic sidegates, compatible with superconducting electronic structures, to individually spin polarize the transmissions of two quantum dots fabricated in the two electronic paths, which act as tunable spin filters. The signals are detected in standard transport and in highly sensitive transconductance experiments. We find that the spin-cross correlation is negative, compatible with spin singlet emission, and deviates from the ideal value mostly due to a finite overlap of the Zeeman split quantum dot states. Our results demonstrate a new route to perform spin auto- and cross correlation experiments in nanometer scaled electronic devices, especially suitable for those relying on magnetic field sensitive superconducting elements, like unconventional, triplet or topologically non-trivial superconductors, or to perform Bell tests with massive particles, like electrons.

A supercurrent transistor is a superconductor-semiconductor hybrid device in which the Josephson supercurrent is switched on and off using a gate voltage. While such devices have been studied using DC transport, radio-frequency measurements allow for more sensitive and faster experiments. Here a supercurrent transistor made from a carbon nanotube is measured simultaneously via DC conductance and radio-frequency reflectometry. The radio-frequency measurement resolves all the main features of the conductance data across a wide range of bias and gate voltage, and many of these features are seen more clearly. These results are promising for measuring other kinds of hybrid superconducting devices, in particular for detecting the reactive component of the impedance, which a DC measurement can never detect.

In quantum dot (QD) electron transport experiments additional features can appear in the differential conductance $dI/dV$ that do not originate from discrete states in the QD, but rather from a modulation of the density-of-states (DOS) in the leads. These features are particularly pronounced when the leads are strongly confined low dimensional systems, such as in a nanowire (NW) where transport is one-dimensional and quasi-zero dimensional lead-states can emerge. In this paper we study such lead-states in InAs NWs. We use a QD integrated directly into the NW during the epitaxial growth as an energetically and spatially well-defined tunnel probe to perform $dI/dV$ spectroscopy of discrete bound states in the `left' and `right' NW lead segments. By tuning a sidegate in close proximity of one lead segment, we can distinguish transport features related to the modulation in the lead DOS and to excited states in the QD. We implement a non-interacting capacitance model and derive expressions for the slopes of QD and lead resonances that appear in two-dimensional plots of $dI/dV$ as a function of source-drain bias and gate voltage in terms of the different lever arms determined by the capacitive couplings. We discuss how the interplay between the lever arms affect the slopes. We verify our model by numerically calculating the $dI/dV$ using a resonant tunneling model with three non-interacting quantum dots in series. Finally, we used the model to describe the measured $dI/dV$ spectra and extract quantitatively the tunnel couplings of the lead segments. Our results constitute an important step towards a quantitative understanding of normal and superconducting subgap states in hybrid NW devices.

We demonstrate superconducting vertical interconnect access (VIA) contacts to a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS_2), a layered semiconductor with highly relevant electronic and optical properties. As a contact material we use MoRe, a superconductor with a high critical magnetic field and high critical temperature. The electron transport is mostly dominated by a single superconductor/normal conductor junction with a clear superconductor gap. In addition, we find MoS_2 regions that are strongly coupled to the superconductor, resulting in resonant Andreev tunneling and junction dependent gap characteristics, suggesting a superconducting proximity effect. Magnetoresistance measurements show that the bandstructure and the high intrinsic carrier mobility remain intact in the bulk of the MoS_2. This type of VIA contact is applicable to a large variety of layered materials and superconducting contacts, opening up a path to monolayer semiconductors as a platform for superconducting hybrid devices.

Hybrid circuit quantum electrodynamics (QED) involves the study of coherent quantum physics in solid state systems via their interactions with superconducting microwave circuits. Here we present an implementation of a hybrid superconducting qubit that employs a carbon nanotube as a Josephson junction. We realize the junction by contacting a carbon nanotube with a superconducting Pd/Al bi-layer, and implement voltage tunability of the qubit frequency using a local electrostatic gate. We demonstrate strong dispersive coupling to a coplanar waveguide resonator via observation of a resonator frequency shift dependent on applied gate voltage. We extract qubit parameters from spectroscopy using dispersive readout and find qubit relaxation and coherence times in the range of $10-200~\rm{ns}$.

By mechanically distorting a crystal lattice it is possible to engineer the electronic and optical properties of a material. In graphene, one of the major effects of such a distortion is an energy shift of the Dirac point, often described as a scalar potential. We demonstrate how such a scalar potential can be generated systematically over an entire electronic device and how the resulting changes in the graphene work function can be detected in transport experiments. Combined with Raman spectroscopy, we obtain a characteristic scalar potential consistent with recent theoretical estimates. This direct evidence for a scalar potential on a macroscopic scale due to deterministically generated strain in graphene paves the way for engineering the optical and electronic properties of graphene and similar materials by using external strain.

Matthias Mergenthaler, 2, ∗ Ani Nersisyan, Andrew Patterson, Martina Esposito, Andreas Baumgartner, Christian Schönenberger, G. Andrew D. Briggs, Edward A. Laird, 2 and Peter J. Leek † Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, United Kingdom Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, United Kingdom (Dated: April 21, 2021)

s of Lectures (in alphabetical order) Single electron interferences in Fabry-Perot cavities H.Bartolomei , U. Gennser , Y. Jin , G.Fève (1) (1) Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France (2) Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France We study propagation of a train of single electron wavepackets generated by a Lorentzian pulses [1,2] along the edge channels of the integer quantum Hall effect. Using quantum point as electronic beam-splitters we define a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity [3,4,5] and study the single electron interference pattern of the transmitted current as a function of a plunger gate voltage. In addition to a DC voltage, we add an AC square voltage to the plunger gate potential, adding a time dependent component to the Aharonov bohm phase accumulated by particles moving around the cavity. By changing the time delay between the single electron pulses and the plunger gate voltage, we are able to sample the temporal shape of the AC potential.

Hybrid circuit QED involves the study of coherent quantum physics in solid-state systems via their interactions with superconducting microwave circuits. Here we present a crucial step in the implementation of a hybrid superconducting qubit that employs a carbon nanotube as a Josephson junction. We realize the junction by contacting a carbon nanotube with a superconducting Pd/Al bilayer, and implement voltage tunability of the quantum circuit's frequency using a local electrostatic gate. We demonstrate a strong dispersive coupling to a coplanar waveguide resonator by investigating the gate-tunable resonator frequency. We extract qubit parameters from spectroscopy using dispersive readout and find qubit relaxation and coherence times in the range of 10-200 ns.

Various promising qubit concepts have been put forward recently based on engineered superconductor subgap states like Andreev bound states, Majorana zero modes or the Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (Shiba) states. The coupling of these subgap states via a superconductor strongly depends on their spatial extension and is an essential next step for future quantum technologies. Here we investigate the spatial extension of a Shiba state in a semiconductor quantum dot coupled to a superconductor. With detailed transport measurements and numerical renormalization group calculations we find a remarkable more than 50 nm extension of the zero energy Shiba state, much larger than the one observed in very recent scanning tunneling microscopy measurements. Moreover, we demonstrate that its spatial extension increases substantially in a magnetic field.