Phys.org December 13, 2023 Quantum fluctuations (QFs) caused by zero-point phonon vibrations (ZPPVs) are known to prevent the occurrence of polar phases in bulk incipient ferroelectrics down to 0 K. On the other hand, little is known about the effects of QFs on the recently discovered topological patterns in ferroelectric nanostructures. A team of researchers in the US (University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Lonestar College, Texas) has shown how QFs affect the topology of several dipolar phases in ultrathin Pb(Zr0.4Ti0.6)O3 (PZT) films. They showed that the ZPPVs do not suppress polar patterns but rather stabilize the labyrinth, bimeron and bubble phases within […]
Tag Archives: Quantum fluctuations
Using quantum fluctuations to generate random numbers faster
Phys.org April 5, 2023 A popular approach to generating quantum random numbers is to use the quantum vacuum state. While convenient, this approach has been generally limited in speed compared to other schemes. Through custom codesign of optoelectronic integrated circuits and side-information reduction by digital filtering, an international team of researchers (Belgium, Denmark, Italy) experimentally demonstrated an ultrafast generation rate of 100 Gbit/s, setting a record for vacuum-based quantum random number generation by one order of magnitude. Their experimental demonstrations were well supported by an upgraded device-dependent framework that was secured against both classical and quantum side information and that […]
New evidence for quantum fluctuations near a quantum critical point in a superconductor
Phys.org August 31, 2020 Quantum fluctuations associated with exotic orders may account for the unusual characteristics of the normal state, and possibly affect the superconductivity in Copper oxide high-TC superconductors. Using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering an international team of researchers (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, UK) had shown spectroscopic evidence of fluctuations associated with a charge order in nearly optimally doped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. In the superconducting state the interplay between charge order fluctuations and bond-stretching phonons increases, an observation that is incompatible with expectations for competing orders. They argue that this behaviour reflects the properties of a dissipative system near […]