Nonlinear quantum evolution of a dissipative superconducting qubit

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Lee, Orion, Cao, Qian, Joglekar, Yogesh N., Murch, Kater
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Lee, Orion
Cao, Qian
Joglekar, Yogesh N.
Murch, Kater
author_facet Lee, Orion
Cao, Qian
Joglekar, Yogesh N.
Murch, Kater
contents Unitary and dissipative models of quantum dynamics are linear maps on the space of states or density matrices. This linearity encodes the superposition principle, a key feature of quantum theory. However, this principle can break down in effective non-Hermitian dynamics arising from postselected quantum evolution. We theoretically characterize and experimentally investigate this breakdown in a dissipative superconducting transmon circuit. Within the circuit's three-level manifold, no-jump postselection generates an effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian governing the excited two-level subspace and an anti-Hermitian nonlinearity. We prepare different initial states and use quantum state tomography to track their evolution under this effective, nonlinear Hamiltonian. By comparing the evolution of a superposition-state to a superposition of individually-evolved basis states, we test linearity and observe clear violations which we quantify across the exceptional-point (EP) degeneracy of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We extend the analysis to density matrices, revealing a breakdown in linearity for the two-level subspace while demonstrating that linearity is preserved in the full three-level system. These results provide direct evidence of nonlinearity in non-Hermitian quantum evolution, highlighting unique features that are absent in classical non-Hermitian systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_25836
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonlinear quantum evolution of a dissipative superconducting qubit
Lee, Orion
Cao, Qian
Joglekar, Yogesh N.
Murch, Kater
Quantum Physics
Unitary and dissipative models of quantum dynamics are linear maps on the space of states or density matrices. This linearity encodes the superposition principle, a key feature of quantum theory. However, this principle can break down in effective non-Hermitian dynamics arising from postselected quantum evolution. We theoretically characterize and experimentally investigate this breakdown in a dissipative superconducting transmon circuit. Within the circuit's three-level manifold, no-jump postselection generates an effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian governing the excited two-level subspace and an anti-Hermitian nonlinearity. We prepare different initial states and use quantum state tomography to track their evolution under this effective, nonlinear Hamiltonian. By comparing the evolution of a superposition-state to a superposition of individually-evolved basis states, we test linearity and observe clear violations which we quantify across the exceptional-point (EP) degeneracy of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. We extend the analysis to density matrices, revealing a breakdown in linearity for the two-level subspace while demonstrating that linearity is preserved in the full three-level system. These results provide direct evidence of nonlinearity in non-Hermitian quantum evolution, highlighting unique features that are absent in classical non-Hermitian systems.
title Nonlinear quantum evolution of a dissipative superconducting qubit
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.25836