Quantum dot thermometry at ultra-low temperature in a dilution refrigerator with a 4He immersion cell.

Experiments performed at a temperature of a few millikelvins require effective thermalization schemes, low-pass filtering of the measurement lines, and low-noise electronics. Here, we report on the modifications to a commercial dilution refrigerator with a base temperature of 3.5 mK that enable us to lower the electron temperature to 6.7 mK measured from the Coulomb peak width of a quantum dot gate-defined in an [Al]GaAs heteostructure. We present the design and implementation of a liquid 4He immersion cell tight against superleaks, implement an innovative wiring technology, and develop optimized transport measurement procedures.

Gate-controlled phase switching in a parametron.

The parametron, a resonator-based logic device, is a promising physical platform for emerging computational paradigms. When the parametron is subject to both parametric pumping and external driving, complex phenomena arise that can be harvested for applications. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate deterministic phase switching of a parametron by applying frequency tuning pulses. To our surprise, we find different regimes of phase switching due to the interplay between a parametric pump and an external drive. We provide full modeling of our device with numerical simulations and find excellent agreement between model and measurements. Our result opens up new possibilities for fast and robust logic operations within large-scale parametron architectures.

Temperature-stabilized differential amplifier for low-noise DC measurements.

A tabletop low-noise differential amplifier with a bandwidth of 100 kHz is presented. Low voltage drifts of the order of 100 nV/day are reached by thermally stabilizing relevant amplifier components. The input leakage current is below 100 fA. Input-stage errors are reduced by extensive circuitry. Voltage noise, current noise, input capacitance, and input current are extraordinarily low. The input resistance is larger than 1 TΩ. The amplifiers were tested with and deployed for electrical transport measurements of quantum devices at cryogenic temperatures.

Measuring the Degeneracy of Discrete Energy Levels Using a GaAs/AlGaAs Quantum Dot.

We demonstrate an experimental method for measuring quantum state degeneracies in bound state energy spectra. The technique is based on the general principle of detailed balance and the ability to perform precise and efficient measurements of energy-dependent tunneling-in and -out rates from a reservoir. The method is realized using a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dot allowing for the detection of time-resolved single-electron tunneling with a precision enhanced by a feedback control. It is thoroughly tested by tuning orbital and spin degeneracies with electric and magnetic fields. The technique also lends itself to studying the connection between the ground-state degeneracy and the lifetime of the excited states.

Standing up to the big squeeze.

Consumer confidence is at its lowest ebb since 1980. Economic growth is at a standstill & unemployment & inflation are both rising. Here's a front-line report from more than three dozen operators who are fending off the recession's dual pressures of slow sales & rising costs. They are using discount pricing, partnering with vendors, setting pay for performance standards & a variety of other recession-beating practices.