Generation of spin-dependent coherent states in a quantum wire

Abstract

We propose an all-electrically controlled nanodevice - a gated semiconductor nanowire - capable of generating a coherent state of a single electron trapped in a harmonic oscillator or superposition of such coherent states - the Schrödinger cat state. In the proposed scheme, electron in the ground state of the harmonic potential is driven by resonantly oscillating Rashba spin-orbit coupling. This allows for the creation of the Schrödinger cat state with superposition amplitudes depending on the initial electron spin state. Such a method can be used for initialization of a single spin qubit defined in a coherent state. The harmonic confinement potential along the InSb nanowire and the modulation of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling is obtained by proper gating. The results are supported by realistic three-dimensional time-dependent self consistent Poisson-Schrödinger calculations.

6 pages, 4 figures