Measuring topological invariants in disordered discrete-time quantum walks

作者:Barkhofen Sonja*; Nitsche Thomas; Elster Fabian; Lorz Lennart; Gabris Aurel; Jex Igor; Silberhorn Christine
来源:PHYSICAL REVIEW A, 2017, 96(3): 033846.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.96.033846

摘要

Quantum walks constitute a versatile platform for simulating transport phenomena on discrete graphs including topological material properties while providing a high control over the relevant parameters at the same time. To experimentally access and directly measure the topological invariants of quantum walks, we implement the scattering scheme proposed by Tarasinski et al. [Phys. Rev. A 89, 042327 (2014)] in a photonic time multiplexed quantum walk experiment. The tunable coin operation provides opportunity to reach distinct topological phases, and accordingly to observe the corresponding topological phase transitions. The ability to read-out the position and the coin state distribution, complemented by explicit interferometric sign measurements, allowed the reconstruction of the scattered reflection amplitudes and thus the computation of the associated bulk topological invariants. As predicted, we also find localized states at the edges between two bulks belonging to different topological phases. In order to analyze the impact of disorder, we have measured invariants of two different types of disordered samples in large ensemble measurements, demonstrating their constancy in one disorder regime and a continuous transition with increasing disorder strength for the second disorder sample.

  • 出版日期2017-9-27