Nonequilibrium critical dynamics of the two-dimensional ±J Ising model.

The ±J Ising model is a simple frustrated spin model, where the exchange couplings independently take the discrete value -J with probability p and +J with probability 1-p. It is especially appealing due to its connection to quantum error correcting codes. Here, we investigate the nonequilibrium critical behavior of the two-dimensional ±J Ising model, after a quench from different initial conditions to a critical point T_{c}(p) on the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic (PF) transition line, especially above, below, and at the multicritical Nishimori point (NP). The dynamical critical exponent z_{c} seems to exhibit nonuniversal behavior for quenches above and below the NP, which is identified as a preasymptotic feature due to the repulsive fixed point at the NP, whereas for a quench directly to the NP, the dynamics reaches the asymptotic regime with z_{c}≃6.02(6). We also consider the geometrical spin clusters (of like spin signs) during the critical dynamics. Each universality class on the PF line is uniquely characterized by the stochastic Loewner evolution with corresponding parameter κ. Moreover, for the critical quenches from the paramagnetic phase, the model, irrespective of the frustration, exhibits an emergent critical percolation topology at the large length scales.

Internal loss of superconducting resonators induced by interacting two-level systems.

In a number of recent experiments with microwave high quality superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators an anomalously weak power dependence of the quality factor has been observed. We argue that this observation implies that the monochromatic radiation does not saturate the two level systems (TLS) located at the interface oxide surfaces of the resonator and suggests the importance of their interactions. We estimate the microwave loss due to interacting TLS and show that the interactions between TLS lead to a drift of their energies that result in a much slower, logarithmic dependence of their absorption on the radiation power in agreement with the data.

Microscopic origin of low-frequency flux noise in josephson circuits.

We analyze the data and discuss their implications for the microscopic origin of the low-frequency flux noise in superconducting circuits. We argue that this noise is produced by spins at superconductor insulator boundary whose dynamics is due to RKKY interaction. We show that this mechanism explains size independence of the noise, different frequency dependences of the spectra reported in large and small SQUIDs, and gives the correct intensity for realistic parameters.

Quasiparticle poisoning and Josephson current fluctuations induced by Kondo impurities.

We introduce a toy model that allows us to study the physical properties of a spin impurity coupled to the electrons in the superconducting island. We show that, when the coupling of the spin is of the order of the superconducting gap Delta, two almost degenerate subgap states are formed. By computing the Berry phase that is associated with the superconducting phase rotations in this model, we prove that these subgap states are characterized by a different charge and demonstrate that the switching between these states has the same effect as quasiparticle poisoning (unpoisoning) of the island. We also show that an impurity coupled to both the island and the lead generates Josepshon current fluctuations.

Quantum two level systems and kondo-like traps as possible sources of decoherence in superconducting qubits.

We discuss the origin of decoherence in Josephson junction qubits. We find that two level systems in the surrounding insulator cannot be the dominant source of noise in small qubits. We argue that electron traps in the Josephson barrier with large Coulomb repulsion would emit noise that agrees both in magnitude and in temperature dependence with experimental data.

Models of environment and T1 relaxation in Josephson charge qubits.

A theoretical interpretation of the recent experiments of Astafiev et al. on the T1-relaxation rate in Josephson charge qubits is proposed. The experimentally observed reproducible nonmonotonic dependence of T1 on the splitting E(J) of the qubit levels suggests further specification of the previously proposed models of the background charge noise. From our point of view the most promising is the "Andreev fluctuator" model of the noise. In this model the fluctuator is a Cooper pair that tunnels from a superconductor and occupies a pair of localized electronic states. Within this model one can naturally explain both the average linear T1(E(J)) dependence and the irregular fluctuations.

Dynamical suppression of 1/f noise processes in qubit systems.

We investigate the capability of dynamical decoupling techniques to reduce decoherence from a realistic environment generating 1/f noise. The predominance of low frequency modes in the noise profile allows for decoherence scenarios where relatively slow control rates suffice for a drastic improvement. However, the actual figure of merit is very sensitive to the details of the dynamics, with decoupling performance which may deteriorate for non-Gaussian noise and/or high frequency working points. Our results are promising for robust solid-state qubits and beyond.

Non-Abelian holonomies, charge pumping, and quantum computation with Josephson junctions.

Non-Abelian holonomies can be generated and detected in certain superconducting nanocircuits. Here we consider an example where the non-Abelian operations are related to the adiabatic charge dynamics of the Josephson network. We demonstrate that such a device can be applied both for adiabatic charge pumping and as an implementation of a quantum computer.