Geometric Landau-Zener interferometry

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Nov 11;107(20):207002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.207002. Epub 2011 Nov 11.

Abstract

We propose a new type of interferometry, based on geometric phases accumulated by a periodically driven two-level system undergoing multiple Landau-Zener transitions. As a specific example, we study its implementation in a superconducting charge pump. We find that interference patterns appear as a function of the pumping frequency and the phase bias, and clearly manifest themselves in the pumped charge. We also show that the effects described should persist in the presence of realistic decoherence.