Most quantum computation schemes propose encoding qubits in two-level systems. Others exploit the use of an infinite-dimensional system. In "Encoding a qubit in an oscillator" [Phys. Rev. A 64, 012310 (2001)], Gottesman, Kitaev, and Preskill (GKP) combined these approaches when they proposed a fault-tolerant quantum computation scheme in which a qubit is encoded in the continuous position and momentum degrees of freedom of an oscillator. One advantage of this scheme is that it can be performed by use of relatively simple linear optical devices, squeezing, and homodyne detection. However, we lack a practical method to prepare the initial GKP states. Here we propose the generation of an approximate GKP state by using superpositions of optical coherent states (sometimes called "Schrödinger cat states"), squeezing, linear optical devices, and homodyne detection.

Electromagnetic induced transparency is an optical phenomenon that allows transmission of a laser beam through a dense medium by using a control laser beam. Here, we propose the use of a quantum molecule where the control laser beam is replaced by the electron tunneling between quantum dots, which can be controlled by an external electric field, opening the possibility to induce transparency and slow light with electric gates. Our results show that a transparency window appears if the tunneling strength T e and the decay rate of direct exciton 1 obey the condition T e / 1 0.5.

An exactly solvable case of an interacting Hamiltonian of two bosonic modes is considered to study fundamental properties of the entanglement dynamics for coupled nonlinear oscillators. Such an interaction is of physical importance, either in a two-species Bose-Einstein condensate or in the case of two modes of electromagnetic fields interacting in Kerr media. The time-evolved state is obtained analytically for initial products of two Fock and two coherent states, and the purification times of the subsystems are determined. The possibility of dynamical generation of a quantum superposition state is discussed at such purification times. We also identify the existence of two regimes: the short time, phase spread regime where subsystem entropy rises monotonically and the self-interference regime where it oscillates and a purification phenomenon can be observed. Our results also show that the break time from the first regime to the second one becomes longer, as well as the purification and reversibility times, as the Planck constant becomes much smaller than a typical action in phase space.

Semiconductor quantum dots coherently driven by pulsed laser are fundamental physical systems which allow studying the dynamical properties of confined quantum states. These systems are attractive candidates for a solid-state qubit, which open the possibility for several investigations in quantum information processing. In this work we study the effects of a specific decoherence process, the spontaneous emission of excitonic states, in a quantum dot molecule. We model our system considering a three-level Hamiltonian and solve the corresponding master equation in the Lindblad form. Our results show that the spontaneous emission associated with the direct exciton helps to build up a robust indirect exciton state. This robustness against decoherence allows potential applications in quantum memories and quantum gate architectures. We further investigate several regimes of physical parameters, showing that this process is easily controlled by tuning of external fields.Comment: To appear in Physical Review

This work provides a complete description of entanglement properties between electrons inside coupled quantum molecules, nanoestructures which consist of two quantum dots. Each electron can tunnel between the two quantum dots inside the molecule, being also coupled by Coulomb interaction. First, it is shown that Bell states act as a natural basis for the description of this physical system, defining the characteristics of the energy spectrum and the eigenstates. Then, the entanglement properties of the eigenstates are discussed, shedding light on the roles of each physical parameters on experimental setup. Finally, a detailed analysis of the dynamics shows the path to generate states with a high degree of entanglement, as well as physical conditions associated with coherent oscillations between separable and Bell states.