Quantum LC circuit

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An LC circuit can be quantized using the same methods as for the quantum harmonic oscillator. An LC circuit is a variety of resonant circuit, and consists of an inductor, represented by the letter L, and a capacitor, represented by the letter C. When connected together, an electric current can alternate between them at the circuit's resonant frequency:

ω=1LC

where L is the inductance in henries, and C is the capacitance in farads. The angular frequency ω has units of radians per second. A capacitor stores energy in the electric field between the plates, which can be written as follows:

UC=12CV2=Q22C

Where Q is the net charge on the capacitor, calculated as

Q(t)=tI(τ)dτ

Likewise, an inductor stores energy in the magnetic field depending on the current, which can be written as follows:

UL=12LI2=ϕ22L

Where ϕ is the branch flux, defined as

ϕ(t)tV(τ)dτ

Since charge and flux are canonically conjugate variables, one can use canonical quantization to rewrite the classical hamiltonian in the quantum formalism, by identifying

ϕϕ^
qq^
HH^=ϕ^22L+q^22C

and enforcing the canonical commutation relation

[ϕ^,q^]=i

One-dimensional harmonic oscillator

Hamiltonian and energy eigenstates

Wavefunction representations for the first eight bound eigenstates, n = 0 to 7. The horizontal axis shows the position x. The graphs are not normalised
Probability densities |ψn(x)|2 for the bound eigenstates, beginning with the ground state (n = 0) at the bottom and increasing in energy toward the top. The horizontal axis shows the position x, and brighter colors represent higher probability densities.

Like the one-dimensional harmonic oscillator problem, an LC circuit can be quantized by either solving the Schrödinger equation or using creation and annihilation operators. The energy stored in the inductor can be looked at as a "kinetic energy term" and the energy stored in the capacitor can be looked at as a "potential energy term".

The Hamiltonian of such a system is:

H=ϕ22L+12Lω2Q2

where Q is the charge operator, and ϕ is the magnetic flux operator. The first term represents the energy stored in an inductor, and the second term represents the energy stored in a capacitor. In order to find the energy levels and the corresponding energy eigenstates, we must solve the time-independent Schrödinger equation,

H|ψ=E|ψ 
Eψ=22L2ψ+12Lω2Q2ψ

Since an LC circuit really is an electrical analog to the harmonic oscillator, solving the Schrödinger equation yields a family of solutions (the Hermite polynomials).

Q|ψn=12nn!(Lωπ)1/4exp(LωQ22)Hn(LωQ)
n=0,1,2,

Magnetic Flux as a Conjugate Variable

A completely equivalent solution can be found using magnetic flux as the conjugate variable where the conjugate "momentum" is equal to capacitance times the time derivative of magnetic flux. The conjugate "momentum" is really the charge.

π=Cdϕdt

Using Kirchhoff's Junction Rule, the following relationship can be obtained:

CdVdt+1L0tVdt=0

Since V=dϕdt, the above equation can be written as follows:

Cd2ϕdt2+1Lϕ=0

Converting this into a Hamiltonian, one can develop a Schrödinger equation as follows:

idψdt=22C2ψ+ϕ22Lψ where ψ is a function of magnetic flux

Quantization of coupled LC circuits

Two inductively coupled LC circuits have a non-zero mutual inductance. This is equivalent to a pair of harmonic oscillators with a kinetic coupling term.

The Lagrangian for an inductively coupled pair of LC circuits is as follows:

L=12L1dQ1dt2+12L2dQ2dt2+mdQ1dtdQ2dtQ122C1Q222C2

As usual, the Hamiltonian is obtained by a Legendre transform of the Lagrangian.

H=12L1dQ1dt2+12L2dQ2dt2+mdQ1dtdQ2dt+Q122C1+Q222C2

Promoting the observables to quantum mechanical operators yields the following Schrödinger equation.

Eψ=22L1d2ψdQ1222L2d2ψdQ222md2ψdQ1dQ2+12L1ω2Q12ψ+12L2ω2Q22ψ

One cannot proceed further using the above coordinates because of the coupled term. However, a coordinate transformation from the wave function as a function of both charges to the wave function as a function of the charge difference Qd, where Qd=Q1Q2 and a coordinate Qc(somewhat analogous to a "Center-of-Mass"), the above Hamiltonian can be solved using the Separation of Variables technique.

The CM coordinate is as seen below:

Qc=L1Q1+L2Q2L1+L2

The Hamiltonian under the new coordinate system is as follows:

Eψ=2(1λ)2(L1+L2)d2ψdQc22(1λ)2μd2ψdQd2+12μω2Qd2ψ

In the above equation λ is equal to 2mL1+L2 and μ equals the reduced inductance.

The separation of variables technique yields two equations, one for the "CM" coordinate that is the differential equation of a free particle, and the other for the charge difference coordinate, which is the Schrödinger equation for a harmonic oscillator.

Eψc=2(1λ)2(L1+L2)d2ψcdQc2
Eψd=2(1λ)2μd2ψddQd2+12μω2Qd2ψd

The solution for the first differential equation once the time dependence is appended resembles a plane wave, while the solution of the second differential equation is seen above.

Hamiltonian mechanics

Classical case

Stored energy (Hamiltonian) for classical LC circuit:

=q2(t)2C+p2(t)2L 

Hamiltonian's equations:

(q,p)q=q(t)C=p˙(t) 
(q,p)p=p(t)L=q˙(t) ,

where q(t)=Cv(t)  stored capacitor charge (or electric flux) and p(t)=Li(t)  magnetic momentum (magnetic flux), v(t)  capacitor voltage and i(t)  inductance current, t  time variable.

Nonzero initial conditions: At q(0),p(0)  we shall have oscillation frequency:

ω=1LC ,

and wave impedance of the LC circuit (without dissipation):

ρ=LC 

Hamiltonian's equations solutions: At t0  we shall have the following values of charges, magnetic flux and energy:

𝐪=q(0)+jp(0)ωL 
<q(t)=Re[𝐪ejωt] 
p(t)=Im[ωL𝐪ejωt] 
=|𝐪|22C=constant 

Definition of the Phasor

In the general case the wave amplitudes can be defined in the complex space

a(t)=a1(t)+ja2(t) 

where j=1 .

a1(t)=q(t)q(0) ,

where q(0)=D(0)SC=2ρ  – electric charge at zero time, SC  capacitance area.

a2(t)=p(t)p(0) ,

where p(0)=2ρ  – magnetic flux at zero time, SL  inductance area. Note that, at the equal area elements

SC=SL=Sq 

we shall have the following relationship for the wave impedance:

ρ=LC=q(0)p(0).

Wave amplitude and energy could be defined as:

a(t)=aejωt 
=ω[a12(t)+a22(t)]=ω|a|2 .

Quantum case

In the quantum case we have the following definition for momentum operator:

p^=jq

Momentum and charge operators produce the following commutator:

[q^,p^]=j .

Amplitude operator can be defined as:

a^=a1^+ja2^=q^q0+jp^p0 ,

and phazor:

a(t)^=a^ejωt .

Hamilton's operator will be:

^ω[a^12(t)+a^22(t)]=ω[a^a^+1/2] 

Amplitudes commutators:

[a^1(t),a^2(t)]=j/2 
[a^(t),a^(t)]=1 .

Heisenberg uncertainty principle:

Δa^12(t)Δa^22(t)116 .

Wave impedance of free space

When wave impedance of quantum LC circuit takes the value of free space

ρ0=L0C0=μ0ϵ0=2αhe2=2αRH,

where e  electron charge, α  fine-structure constant, and RH  von Klitzing constant then "electric" and "magnetic" fluxes at zero time point will be:

q0=2ρ0=e2πα 
p0=2ρ0=ϕ02απ ,

where ϕ0=he  magnetic flux quantum.

Quantum LC circuit paradox

General formulation

In the classical case the energy of LC circuit will be:

WLC=WC+WL, 

where WC=0.5CVC2  capacitance energy, and WL=0.5LIL2  inductance energy. Furthermore, there are the following relationships between charges (electric or magnetic) and voltages or currents:

QC=CVC 
ΦL=LIL. 

Therefore, the maximal values of capacitance and inductance energies will be:

Wmax=WLC=QC022C+ΦL022L. 

Note that the resonance frequency ω0=1/LC  has nothing to do with the energy in the classical case. But it has the following relationship with energy in the quantum case:

W0=ω02=2LC. 

So, in the quantum case, by filling capacitance with the one electron charge:

QC0=e=CVC  and WC=e22C. 

The relationship between capacitance energy and the ground state oscillator energy will then be:

ξC=WCW0=2πRHLC=2πρqRH. 

where ρq=L/C  quantum impedance of LC circuit. The quantum impedance of the quantum LC circuit could be in practice of the two types:[clarification needed]

ρq=LC={ρw=2αRH, – wave impedance ρDOS=RH, – DOS impedance 

So, the energy relationships will be:

ξC=WCW0=2πρqRH={4πα,at ρw2π,at ρDOS

and that is the main problem of the quantum LC circuit: energies stored on capacitance and inductance are not equal to the ground state energy of the quantum oscillator. This energy problem produces the quantum LC circuit paradox (QLCCP).[citation needed]

Possible solution

Some simple solution of the QLCCP could be found in the following way. Yakymakha (1989)[1] (eqn.30) proposed the following DOS quantum impedance definition:

ρDOSij=ΔΦjΔQi=ijRH, 

where ΔΦj=jΦ0  magnetic flux, and ΔQi=ie  electric flux, i,j=integer.

So, there are no electric or magnetic charges in the quantum LC circuit, but electric and magnetic fluxes only. Therefore, not only in the DOS LC circuit, but in the other LC circuits too, there are only the electromagnetic waves. Thus, the quantum LC circuit is the minimal geometrical-topological value of the quantum waveguide, in which there are no electric or magnetic charges, but electromagnetic waves only. Now one should consider the quantum LC circuit as a "black wave box" (BWB), which has no electric or magnetic charges, but waves. Furthermore, this BWB could be "closed" (in Bohr atom or in the vacuum for photons), or "open" (as for QHE and Josephson junction). So, the quantum LC circuit should has BWB and "input – output" supplements. The total energy balance should be calculated with considering of "input" and "output" devices. Without "input – output" devices, the energies "stored" on capacitances and inductances are virtual or "characteristics", as in the case of characteristic impedance (without dissipation). Very close to this approach now are Devoret (2004),[2] which consider Josephson junctions with quantum inductance, Datta impedance of Schrödinger waves (2008) and Tsu (2008),[3] which consider quantum wave guides.

Explanation for DOS quantum LC circuit

As presented below, the resonance frequency for QHE is:

ωQ=1LQACQA=ωB2π, 

where ωB=eB/m cyclotron frequency, LQA=4πRHωB  and CQA=4πRHωB.  The scaling current for QHE will be:

IB=eωB4π. 

Therefore, the inductance energy will be:

WL=LQAIB22=ωB4. 

So for quantum magnetic flux Φ0=h/e , inductance energy is half as much as the ground state oscillation energy. This is due to the spin of electron (there are two electrons on Landau level on the same quantum area element). Therefore, the inductance/capacitance energy considers the total Landau level energy per spin.

Explanation for "wave" quantum LC circuit

By analogy to the DOS LC circuit, we have

W0=12WC2πα=γBYWC2 

two times lesser value due to the spin. But here there is the new dimensionless fundamental constant:

γBY=12πα 

which considers topological properties of the quantum LC circuit. This fundamental constant first appeared in the Bohr atom for Bohr radius:

aB=γBYλ0, 

where λ0=h/m0c  Compton wavelength of electron.

Thus, the wave quantum LC circuit has no charges in it, but electromagnetic waves only. So capacitance or inductance "characteristic energies" are γBY times less than the total energy of the oscillator. In other words, charges "disappear" at the "input" and "generate" at the "output" of the wave LC circuit, adding energies to keep balance.

Total energy of quantum LC circuit

Energy stored on the quantum capacitance:

WC=QC22C=2παWLC. 

Energy stored on the quantum inductance:

WL=ΦL22L=2παWLC. 

Resonance energy of the quantum LC circuit:

WLC=ωLC=LC. 

Thus, the total energy of the quantum LC circuit should be:

Wtot=WLC+WC+WL. 

In the general case, resonance energy WLC  could be due to the "rest mass" of electron, energy gap for Bohr atom, etc. However, energy stored on capacitance WC  is due to electric charge. Actually, for free electron and Bohr atom LC circuits we have quantized electric fluxes, equal to the electronic charge, e .

Furthermore, energy stored on inductance WL  is due to magnetic momentum. Actually, for Bohr atom we have Bohr Magneton:

μB=e2m0=0.5eνBSB=eaB2LBCB. 

In the case of free electron, Bohr Magneton will be:

μe=0.5eνeSe=0.5em0c2hλ022π=e2m0, 

the same, as for Bohr atom.

Applications

Electron as LC circuit

Electron capacitance could be presented as the spherical capacitor:

Ce=4πϵ01re1re+λ0=ϵ0λ02π, 

where re=λ022π  electron radius and λ0 Compton wavelength.

Note, that this electron radius is consistent with the standard definition of the spin. Actually, rotating momentum of electron is:

le=m0ωere2=/2, 

where ωe=m0c2/  is considered.

Spherical inductance of electron:

Le=μ0λ02π. 

Characterictic impedance of electron:

ρe=LeCe=μ0ϵ0=ρ0=2αRH. 

Resonance frequency of electron LC circuit:

ωe=1LeCe=2πcλ0=m0c2. 

Induced electric flux on electron capacitance:

Qe=CeVe. 

Energy, stored on electron capacitance:

WCe=CeVe22=Qe22Ce=2παW0, 

where W0=m0c2  is the "rest energy" of electron. So, induced electric flux will be:

Qe=2αm0c2ϵ0λ0=e. 

Thus, through electron capacitance we have quantized electric flux, equal to the electron charge.

Magnetic flux through inductance:

Φe=LeIe. 

Magnetic energy, stored on inductance:

WLe=LeIe22=Φe22Le=2παW0. 

So, induced magnetic flux will be:

Φe=2μ0hcα=2αΦ0. 

where Φ0=h/e  magnetic flux quantum. Thus, through electron inductance there are no quantization of magnetic flux.

Bohr atom as LC circuit

Bohr radius:

aB=λ02πα 

where λ0=hm0c  Compton wavelength of electron, α  fine-structure constant.

Bohr atomic surface:

SB=4πaB2 .

Bohr inductance:

LB=μ0λ0SB .

Bohr capacitance:

CB=ϵ0λ0SB .

Bohr wave impedance:

ρB=LBCB=μ0ϵ0=ρ0. 

Bohr angular frequency:

ωB=1LBCB=α22m0c2=2πcλB, 

where λB=4πaBα  Bohr wavelength for the first energy level.

Induced electric flux of the Bohr first energy level:

QB=CBVB. 

Energy, stored on the Bohr capacitance:

WCB=CBVB22=QB22CB=2παWB, 

where WB=ωB  is the Bohr energy. So, induced electric flux will be:

QB=2πα3m0c2CB=e. 

Thus, through the Bohr capacitance we have quantized electric flux, equal to the electron charge.

Magnetic flux through the Bohr inductance:

WLB=LBIB22=ΦB22LB=2παW0. 

So, induced magnetic flux will be:

ΦB=πα2ecλ0LB=2αΦ0. 

Thus, through the Bohr inductance there are no quantization of magnetic flux.

Photon as LC circuit

Photon "resonant angular frequency":

ωw=1LwCw. 

Photon "wave impedance":

ρw=LwCw=μ0ϵ0=ρ0. 

Photon "wave inductance":

Lw=ρ0ωw. 

Photon "wave capacitance":

Cw=1ρ0ωw. 

Photon "magnetic flux quantum":

ϕw=LwIw=ϕ0=he. 

Photon "wave current":

Iw=heLw=eωw2α. 

Quantum Hall effect as LC circuit

In the general case 2D- density of states (DOS) in a solid could be defined by the following:

D2D=m*π2 ,

where m*=ξm0  current carriers effective mass in a solid, m0  electron mass, and ξ  dimensionless parameter, which considers band structure of a solid. So, the quantum inductance can be defined as follows:

LQL=ϕ02D2D=ξLQ0,

where LQ08πβLQY  – the ‘’ideal value’’ of quantum inductance at ξ=1  and another ideal quantum inductance:

LQY=μ0λ0=H/m2 , (3)

where μ0  magnetic constant, β=14α  magnetic "fine-structure constant"[1] (p. 62), α  fine-structure constant and λ0  Compton wavelength of electron, first defined by Yakymakha (1994)[4] in the spectroscopic investigations of the silicon MOSFETs.

Since defined above quantum inductance is per unit area, therefore its absolute value will be in the QHE mode:

LQA=LQLnB ,

where the carrier concentration is:

nB=eBh ,

and h  is the Planck constant. By analogically, the absolute value of the quantum capacitance will be in the QHE mode:

CQA=CQLnB ,

where

CQL=e2D2D=ξCQ0,

is DOS definition of the quantum capacitance according to Luryi,[5] CQ0=8παCQY  – quantum capacitance ‘’ideal value’’ at ξ=1 , and other quantum capacitance:

CQY=ϵ0λ0=3.6492417F/m2 ,

where ϵ0  dielectric constant, first defined by Yakymakha (1994)[4] in the spectroscopic investigations of the silicon MOSFETs. The standard wave impedance definition for the QHE LC circuit could be presented as:

ρQ=LQACQA=ϕ02e2=he2=RH ,

where RH=he2=25.812813kΩ  von Klitzing constant for resistance.

The standard resonant frequency definition for the QHE LC circuit could be presented as:

ωQ=1LQACQA=ωcϕ0e=ωc2π,

where ωc=eBm*  standard cyclotron frequency in the magnetic field B.

Hall scaling current quantum will be

IH=heLQA=eωB4π ,

where ωB=eBm*  Hall angular frequency.

Josephson junction as LC circuit

Electromagnetic induction (Faraday) law:

Vind=Φt=LIt, 

where Φ  magnetic flux, L  Josephson junction quantum inductance and I  Josephson junction current. DC Josephson equation for current:

I=IJsinϕ, 

where IJ  Josephson scale for current, ϕ  phase difference between superconductors. Current derivative on time variable will be:

It=IJcosϕϕt. 

AC Josephson equation:

ϕt=qV=2πΦ0V, 

where   reduced Planck constant, Φ0=h/2e Josephson magnetic flux quantum, q=2e  and e  electron charge. Combining equations for derivatives yields junction voltage:

V=Φ02πIJ1cosϕIt=LJIt, 

where

LJ=Φ02πIJ1cosϕ 

is the Devoret (1997)[6] quantum inductance.

AC Josephson equation for angular frequency:

ωJ=qV. 

Resonance frequency for Josephson LC circuit:

ωJ=1LJCJ. 

where CJ  is the Devoret quantum capacitance, that can be defined as:

CJ=1LJωJ2=Φ0IJV02cosϕ2π. 

Quantum wave impedance of Josephson junction:

ρJ=LJCJ=V0IJ1cosϕ. 

For V0=0,1mV and IJ=0,2μA wave impedance will be ρJ=500Ω. 

Flat Atom as LC circuit

Quantum capacitance of Flat Atom (FA):

CF0=ϵ0λ0SF0=5.1805107  F,

where λ0=hm0c .

Quantum inductance of FA:

LF0=μ0λ0SF0=7.3524102  H.

Quantum area element of FA:

SF0=λ0cωF0=hm0ωF0=1.4196107  m2.

Resonance frequency of FA:

ωF0=1LF0CF0=5123.9  rad/s.

Characteristic impedance of FA:

ρF0=LF0CF0=ρ0=2αRH, 

where ρ0  is the impedance of free space.

Total electric charge on the first energy level of FA:

QF1=eSF0SB=2106e ,

where SB=4πaB2  Bohr quantum area element. First FA was discovered by Yakymakha (1994)[4] as very low frequency resonance on the p-channel MOSFETs. Contrary to the spherical Bohr atom, the FA has hyperbolic dependence on the number of energy level (n)[7]

ωF0n=ωF0n. 

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Yakymakha O.L.(1989). High Temperature Quantum Galvanomagnetic Effects in the Two- Dimensional Inversion Layers of MOSFET's (In Russian). Kyiv: Vyscha Shkola. p. 91. ISBN:5-11-002309-3. djvu
  2. Devoret M.H., Martinis J.M. (2004). "Implementing Qubits with Superconducting Integrated Circuits". Quantum Information Processing, v.3, N1. PDF
  3. Raphael Tsu and Timir Datta (2008) "Conductance and Wave Impedance of Electrons". Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium, Hangzhou, China, March 24–28. PDF
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yakymakha O.L., Kalnibolotskij Y.M. (1994). "Very-low-frequency resonance of MOSFET amplifier parameters". Solid- State Electronics 37(10), 1739–1751. PDF
  5. Serge Luryi (1988). "Quantum capacitance device". Appl.Phys.Lett. 52(6). PDF
  6. Devoret M.H. (1997). "Quantum Fluctuations". Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp. 351–386. PDF
  7. Yakymakha O.L., Kalnibolotskij Y.M., Solid- State Electronics, vol.38, no.3,1995, pp. 661–671. PDF

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  • Michel H.Devoret. Quantum Fluctuation in Electric Circuit. PDF
  • Fan Hong-yi, Pan Xiao-yin. Chin.Phys.Lett. No.9(1998)625. PDF
  • Xu, Xing-Lei; Li, Hong-Qi; Wang, Ji-Suo Quantum fluctuations of mesoscopic damped double resonance RLC circuit with mutual capacitance inductance coupling in thermal excitation state. Chinese Physics, vol. 16, issue 8, pp. 2462–2470 (2007).[1]
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  • Boris Ya. Zel’dovich. Impedance and parametric excitation of oscillators. UFN, 2008, v. 178, no 5. PDF