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arXiv:2106.02632 · Physical Review Research

Superconducting on-chip spectrometer for mesoscopic quantum systems

J. Griesmar, Ramiro H. Rodriguez, Vincent Benzoni, Jean-Damien Pillet, Jean-Loup Smirr, F. Lafont, Çağlar Girit

Published Oct 28, 2021• 11 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to probe physical, chemical, and biological systems. Recent advances in microfabrication have introduced novel, intriguing mesoscopic quantum systems including superconductor-semiconductor hybrid devices and topologically nontrivial electric circuits. A sensitive, general-purpose spectrometer to probe the energy levels of these systems is lacking. We propose an on-chip absorption spectrometer functioning well into the millimeter wave band which is based on a voltage-biased superconducting quantum interference device. We demonstrate the capabilities of the spectrometer by coupling it to a variety of superconducting systems, probing phenomena such as quasiparticle and plasma excitations. We perform spectroscopy of a microscopic tunable nonlinear resonator in the 40--50-GHz range and measure transitions to highly excited states. The Josephson junction spectrometer, with outstanding frequency range, sensitivity, and coupling strength will enable new experiments in linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of novel mesoscopic systems.

DOI
10.1103/physrevresearch.3.043078

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Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to probe physical, chemical, and biological systems. Recent advances in microfabrication have introduced novel, intriguing mesoscopic quantum systems including superconductor-semiconductor hybrid devices and topologically nontrivial electric circuits. A sensitive, general-purpose spectrometer to probe the energy levels of these systems is lacking. We propose an on-chip absorption spectrometer functioning well into the millimeter wave band which is based on a voltage-biased superconducting quantum interference device. We demonstrate the capabilities of the spectrometer by coupling it to a variety of superconducting systems, probing phenomena such as quasiparticle and plasma excitations. We perform spectroscopy of a microscopic tunable nonlinear resonator in the 40--50-GHz range and measure transitions to highly excited states. The Josephson junction spectrometer, with outstanding frequency range, sensitivity, and coupling strength will enable new experiments in linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of novel mesoscopic systems.
We perform two-tone spectroscopy on quantum circuits, where high-frequency radiation is generated by a voltage-biased superconductor-normal-superconductor Josephson junction and detection is carried out by an ancillary microwave resonator. We implement this protocol on two different systems, a transmon qubit and a $\ensuremath{\lambda}/4$ resonator. We demonstrate that this two-tone Josephson spectroscopy operates well into the millimeter-wave band, reaching frequencies larger than 80 GHz, and is well suited for probing highly coherent quantum systems.
Using a quantum detector, a superconductor-insulator-superconductor junction, we probe separately the emission and absorption noise in the quantum regime of a superconducting resonant circuit at equilibrium. At low temperature the resonant circuit exhibits only absorption noise related to zero point fluctuations, whereas at higher temperature emission noise is also present. By coupling a Josephson junction, biased above the superconducting gap, to the same resonant circuit, we directly measure the noise power of quasiparticles tunneling through the junction at two resonance frequencies. It exhibits a strong frequency dependence, consistent with theoretical predictions.
Quantum mechanics can strongly influence the noise properties of mesoscopic devices. To probe this effect we have measured the current fluctuations at high-frequency (5-90G Hz) using a superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junction as an on-chip spectrum analyzer. By coupling this frequency-resolved noise detector to a quantum device we can measure the high-frequency, non-symmetrized noise as demonstrated for a Josephson junction. The same scheme has been used to detect the current fluctuations arising from coherent charge oscillations in a two-level system, a superconducting charge qubit. A narrow band peak was observed in the spectral noise density at the frequency of the coherent charge oscillations.
Voltage-tunable superconductor-semiconductor devices offer a unique platform to realize dynamic tunability in superconducting quantum circuits. By galvanically connecting a gated InAs\mathrm{In}\mathrm{As}InAs-Al\mathrm{Al}Al Josephson junction to a coplanar waveguide resonator, we demonstrate the use of a superconducting element with wideband gate tunability. We show that the resonant frequency is controlled via a gate-tunable Josephson inductance and that the nonlinearity of the InAs\mathrm{In}\mathrm{As}InAs-Al\mathrm{Al}Al junction is nondissipative as is the case with conventional AlOx-Al{\mathrm{Al}\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{-Al}AlOx​-Al junctions. As the gate voltage is decreased, the inductive participation of the junction increases up to $44\mathrm{%}$, resulting in the resonant frequency being tuned by over 2GHz2\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GHz}2GHz. Utilizing the wide tunability of the device, we demonstrate that two resonant modes can be adjusted such that they strongly hybridize, exhibiting an avoided-level crossing with a coupling strength of 51MHz51\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}51MHz. Implementing such voltage-tunable resonators is the first step toward realizing wafer-scale continuous voltage control in superconducting circuits for qubit-qubit coupling, quantum limited amplifiers, and quantum memory platforms.
Hybrid quantum systems play an essential role in efforts towards the advancements of quantum information technology and quantum sensing by bridging distinct technological platforms. In particular, hybrid systems comprising superconducting microwave circuits are being pursued intensely in light of existing achievements in superconducting qubits and precise quantum control in microwave circuits. Their realization relies on the design of superconducting resonators capable of coupling to an oscillatory mode of a second quantum system, facilitating the probing and manipulation of one via the other. In order to accommodate the coupled system, its particular constraints and requirements must be respected, which may be quite extreme from the perspective of established superconducting circuit design and operation. Overcoming this challenge has proved to be a substantial obstacle for the attainment of strongly coupled hybrid systems, despite spectacular advances in superconducting microwave circuits individually. In this work, we examine two approaches tackling this issue for different hybrid quantum systems, focusing on the optimization and characterization of the superconducting circuits. The first device aims at a superconductor-atom hybrid system through the coupling to Rydberg-Rydberg transitions in ultra-cold Rb-87 atoms trapped near the superconducting chip. Using simulations in conjunction with theoretical considerations, we demonstrate a comprehensive geometry parameter optimization procedure for maximum coupling rate. Presenting an experimental implementation of the resulting circuit, we validate its suitability for use under the intended operation conditions, including the option of tuning the electronic transition frequencies using a dc voltage. Secondly, we investigate a device designed for applications in large magnetic in-plane fields used to mediate coupling to integrated micromechanical oscillators; more specifically it is a flux-tunable SQUID resonator comprising Josephson nano-constrictions as nonlinear inductive components. Performing a thorough characterization of its frequency and Kerr anharmonicity tuning behavior at fields up to several hundred mT, we discover a pronounced asymmetry in its flux response at large fields. We show this asymmetry to be caused by the nano-constrictions turning into Josephson diodes, develop an intuitive macroscopic model for its field-induced emergence and reconstruct the diode current-phase relation from the flux tuning data. Several figures of merit informing the suitability of the SQUID resonators for optomechanical systems as well as other applications are improved by the diode effect, highlighting the potential of Josephson diodes in superconducting microwave circuits. Our results provide a promising stepping stone for the advancement of hybrid systems involving superconducting microwave circuits, putting new and exciting operation and coupling regimes within reach.
We have fabricated and measured Josephson junction (JJ) defect spectrometers, which are frequency-tunable, nearly harmonic oscillators that probe strongly coupled two-level systems (TLSs) in the barrier of a JJ. The JJDSs accommodate a wide range of junction inductances, LJ, while maintaining a resonance frequency, fres, in the range of 4–8 GHz. By applying a magnetic flux bias to tune fres, we detect strongly coupled TLSs in the junction barrier as splittings in the device spectrum. JJDSs fabricated with a via-style Al/thermal AlOx/Al junction and measured between 30–45 mK with single-photon excitation levels show a density of TLSs in the range σTLSh≈0.4-0.5/GHzμm2, and a junction loss tangent of tanδJ≈2.9×10−3.