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Experimental Observation of a Generalized Thouless Pump with a Single Spin
Wenchao Ma1,2, Longwen Zhou3, Qi Zhang1,2
1CAS Key Laboratory of Microscale Magnetic Resonance and Department of Modern Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Researchers demonstrate a generalized Thouless pump with continuous control, enabled by quantum superposition in nonequilibrium states. This quantum simulation in diamond offers new insights into topological phase transitions.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Simulation
Background:
- The Thouless pump describes quantized charge transport via adiabatic modulation of periodic potentials.
- Conventional Thouless pumps are limited by the topology of energy bands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally realize and control a generalized Thouless pump beyond topological constraints.
- To explore the role of interband coherence and quantum superposition in novel quantum transport phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Quantum simulation using a single spin in diamond.
- Application of delicate control fields to a two-band insulator model.
- Adiabatic cyclic modulation of a one-dimensional periodic potential.
Main Results:
- Observation of a generalized Thouless pump with extensive and continuous controllability.
- Demonstration of key characteristics of the generalized Thouless pump.
- Pumping pronounced near a band-touching point.
Conclusions:
- Interband coherence in nonequilibrium states is crucial for generalized Thouless pumps.
- Quantum superposition of eigenstates is a key ingredient absent in classical physics.
- The system provides a novel method for detecting quantum and topological phase transitions.
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