Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2605.06296 · Physical Review A

From flat to narrow bands: Engineering quantum emission in a one-dimensional Lieb lattice

Zhiyong Liu, Yue Sun, Ying Hu

physics.opticsquant-phSubmitted May 7, 2026• Announced May 8, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We develop a comprehensive theoretical framework that unifies quantum emission dynamics in one-dimensional Lieb lattices, bridging the gap between ideal flat-band coherence and realistic narrow-band dissipation. By coupling an emitter to sublattices with finite flat-band wavefunction overlap, we activate a collective, size-independent interaction fundamentally distinct from dispersive-band processes. Controllably breaking lattice symmetry transforms the flat band into a narrow dispersive band, enabling a continuous crossover from non-Markovian to Markovian dynamics governed by the competition between coupling strength and engineered bandwidth. Crucially, we derive explicit scaling laws that provide a quantitative blueprint for tuning spontaneous emission from coherent trapping to Markovian decay. Our work provides a unified framework that connects idealized flat-band physics to emerging narrow-band platforms such as moir$\rm\acute{e}$ photonic crystals, offering a practical toolkit for interpreting experiments and engineering quantum emission in structured photonic environments.

Journal reference
Physical Review A (2026)
DOI
10.1103/scl3-s18t
Comments
14 pages,6 figures, Phys. Rev. A, accepted 28 April, 2026

Related papers

Lattice quantum electrodynamics of a molecular emitter in a topological gap

Clarisse Fournier, Johannes Düreth, Elena Fanella +12 more

Engineering the photonic environment using lattices of coupled resonators, which we refer to as lattice quantum electrodynamics (QED), provides a route to control both the spontaneous emission of individual quantum emitters and the photon-mediated interactions between them. Here we introduce an optical lattice QED platform based on individual dibenzoterrylene (DBT) molecules embedded in anthracene crystals and coupled to lattices of open optical microcavities. This hybrid architecture benefits from narrow-linewidth molecular emitters, site-resolved optical access, engineered coupled-resonator bands, and compatibility with established molecular frequency-tuning techniques. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we observe emitter-photon bound states formed when the optical transition of a single molecule is tuned to the band gap of a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) cavity lattice. These in-gap states display directional localization and photon emission on a single sublattice, inherited from the vacancy-induced topological edge modes of the underlying SSH lattice. Our results establish open-cavity lattices coupled to DBT molecules as a versatile architecture for engineering many-emitter quantum optical systems with controllable photon-mediated interactions.

quant-pharXiv:2607.20231•Jul 23, 2026•0 citations

Observation of Non-Markovian Radiative Phenomena in Structured Photonic Lattices

Rodrigo A. Vicencio, Fabiola G. L. Carcamo-Macaya Diego Román-Cortés, Diego Román-Cortés +1 more

The spectral structure of a photonic reservoir shapes radiation phenomena for embedded quantum emitters. We implement an all-optical analog to study such an effect, particularly to observe the non-Markovian radiation dynamics of an emitter coupled to two-dimensional structured reservoirs. Its dynamics is simulated by light propagating through a photonic lattice, acting as a reservoir for an adjacent waveguide that mimics a coupled quantum emitter. We study radiation dynamics in square and Lieb lattices under different coupling regimes and observe how the flat band properties of the Lieb lattice significantly enhances light-matter coupling and non-Markovianity. Our platform opens a path for the experimental exploration of single-photon quantum optical phenomena in structured reservoirs to enhance light-matter interactions.

arXiv:2501.09261•Physical Review Letters•Jun 4, 2025•6 citations

Constructing mode-resolved quantum optical models for emitters in photonic crystals

Antonio Morales-Pérez, Iñaki García-Elcano, Chiara Devescovi +3 more

Recent advances are enabling quantum emitters to interact with photonic crystals, whose electromagnetic modes exhibit complex dispersion relations, spatial mode structure, and polarization textures. However, modeling light-matter behavior in these systems faces a persistent trade-off: electromagnetic approaches based on Maxwell-equation solvers provide realistic vectorial descriptions but are difficult to integrate with quantum many-body and non-perturbative methods, whereas simplified quantum-optical lattice models are tractable but typically rely on scalar and spatially independent light-matter couplings that miss essential features of these structured photonic environments. Here, we introduce a constructive framework to derive quantum-optical lattice descriptions that overcome this trade-off. Combining symmetry-constrained tight-binding constructions with numerically computed photonic band structures and field profiles, our method yields minimal, symmetry-enforced lattice Hamiltonians that reproduce the target photonic dispersion while retaining the mode-resolved (position- and polarization-dependent) structure of the light-matter coupling. We show that these models recover Green's-function-based emitter dynamics in the perturbative regime, while providing access to non-perturbative quantum dynamical simulations beyond emitter-only descriptions. As a proof of principle, we apply the framework to a two-dimensional photonic crystal and show that it captures polarization-dependent directional emission inaccessible to scalar models, while enabling the analysis of non-Markovian light-matter dynamics and entanglement. Our results provide a practical bridge between classical electromagnetic simulation tools and quantum-optical many-body and non-Markovian modeling in photonic crystal settings.

quant-pharXiv:2607.12603•Jul 15, 2026•0 citations

EMISSION DYNAMICS OF A QUBIT IN PHOTONIC LATTICES WITH SYNTHETIC POTENTIALS

PINTO, Marcel Augusto

Engineering the on-site frequencies of a photonic lattice provides a powerful route to endow emitted photons with non-trivial dynamical and topological properties, reshaping the way a coupled qubit decays. This thesis investigates the emission dynamics of a qubit weakly coupled to photonic lattices hosting such synthetic potentials, showing how the resulting band structure dictates qualitatively distinct regimes of light-matter interaction.In the first part, we study a qubit coupled to a one-dimensional coupled-cavity array with a linear gradient in the cavity frequencies, which acts on photons as a synthetic force $F$. For strong $F$, emission becomes reversible and is captured by an effective Jaynes--Cummings model, producing a chiral, time-periodic excitation of an extended region of the array, either to the right or to the left of the qubit depending on its frequency. For weak $F$, the decay is non-Markovian and exhibits revivals reminiscent of atoms between mirrors, even though no mirrors are present: the finite bandwidth confines the emitted photon, and the dynamics is well described by a delay differential equation in which the amplitude and period of Bloch oscillations play the role of cavity length and round-trip time.In the second part, we move to two dimensions and couple a giant atom, a qubit with multiple, spatially separated coupling points, non-locally to a honeycomb lattice of resonators with detuned sublattice frequencies. By suitably arranging the coupling points, the giant atom selectively addresses a single valley, a capability unattainable with a local emitter. This valley-selective coupling endows the emitted photons with an effective valley-polarized Berry curvature, giving rise to valley-polarized edge modes at domain walls between regions of opposite sublattice detuning. As a consequence, a giant atom placed near such a domain wall exhibits chiral emission of valley-polarized photons without breaking time-reversal symmetry, suggesting a natural implementation in circuit QED.Together, these results establish synthetic potentials in photonic lattices as a versatile tool for controlling qubit emission, linking waveguide QED to Bloch-oscillation physics and to valleytronics.

•Jan 1, 2025•0 citations

Digital quantum simulation of flat-band and all-bands-flat dynamics for tunable quantum transport

Mrinal Kanti Giri, Pochung Chen

Abstract Flat-band systems offer a uniquely powerful tool for quantum control in dynamics due to their characteristic feature of having a dispersionless energy band. Simulating such highly sensitive systems on current digital quantum computers is a challenging task, due to the intrinsic limitations of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. Here we present high-fidelity digital quantum simulations of flat-band (FB) and all-bands-flat (ABF) lattices, using an advanced tensor network based variational optimization approach to compress the circuit depth. With the compressed quantum circuits, we first explore single-particle dynamics and observe two distinct behaviours: strong localization in ABF lattices and delocalization in FB lattices. By integrating FB and ABF lattices into a one-dimensional hybrid structure, we achieve controllable quantum transport, where the ABF lattice acts as a quantum switch. Extending to two-particle dynamics, we show that transport remains controllable by tuning the hopping amplitude alone, even in the presence of interactions. These results establish FB engineered systems as a promising pathway for scalable control of quantum transport in emerging quantum technologies, with potential applications in qubit isolation, particle trapping, and state transfer.

arXiv:2508.08734•Quantum Science and Technology•Jul 24, 2026•0 citations

Multiband and array effects in matter-wave-based waveguide QED

Alfonso Lanuza, Joonhyuk Kwon, Youngshin Kim +1 more

Recent experiments on spontaneous emission of atomic matter waves [Krinner et al., Nature (London) 559, 589 (2018); Stewart et al., Phys. Rev. Research 2, 043307 (2020)] open a window into the behavior of quantum emitters coupled to a waveguide. Here we develop an approach based on infinite products to study this system theoretically, without the need to approximate the band dispersion relation of the waveguide. We solve the system for a one-dimensional array of one, multiple, and an infinite number of quantum emitters and compare with the experiments. This leads to a detailed characterization of the decay spectrum, with a family of in-gap bound states, mechanisms for enhanced Markovian emission different from superradiance, and the emergence of matter-wave polaritons.

arXiv:2108.11759•Physical Review A•Feb 3, 2022•12 citations
We develop a comprehensive theoretical framework that unifies quantum emission dynamics in one-dimensional Lieb lattices, bridging the gap between ideal flat-band coherence and realistic narrow-band dissipation. By coupling an emitter to sublattices with finite flat-band wavefunction overlap, we activate a collective, size-independent interaction fundamentally distinct from dispersive-band processes. Controllably breaking lattice symmetry transforms the flat band into a narrow dispersive band, enabling a continuous crossover from non-Markovian to Markovian dynamics governed by the competition between coupling strength and engineered bandwidth. Crucially, we derive explicit scaling laws that provide a quantitative blueprint for tuning spontaneous emission from coherent trapping to Markovian decay. Our work provides a unified framework that connects idealized flat-band physics to emerging narrow-band platforms such as moireˊ\rm\acute{e}eˊ photonic crystals, offering a practical toolkit for interpreting experiments and engineering quantum emission in structured photonic environments.
Engineering the photonic environment using lattices of coupled resonators, which we refer to as lattice quantum electrodynamics (QED), provides a route to control both the spontaneous emission of individual quantum emitters and the photon-mediated interactions between them. Here we introduce an optical lattice QED platform based on individual dibenzoterrylene (DBT) molecules embedded in anthracene crystals and coupled to lattices of open optical microcavities. This hybrid architecture benefits from narrow-linewidth molecular emitters, site-resolved optical access, engineered coupled-resonator bands, and compatibility with established molecular frequency-tuning techniques. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we observe emitter-photon bound states formed when the optical transition of a single molecule is tuned to the band gap of a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) cavity lattice. These in-gap states display directional localization and photon emission on a single sublattice, inherited from the vacancy-induced topological edge modes of the underlying SSH lattice. Our results establish open-cavity lattices coupled to DBT molecules as a versatile architecture for engineering many-emitter quantum optical systems with controllable photon-mediated interactions.
The spectral structure of a photonic reservoir shapes radiation phenomena for embedded quantum emitters. We implement an all-optical analog to study such an effect, particularly to observe the non-Markovian radiation dynamics of an emitter coupled to two-dimensional structured reservoirs. Its dynamics is simulated by light propagating through a photonic lattice, acting as a reservoir for an adjacent waveguide that mimics a coupled quantum emitter. We study radiation dynamics in square and Lieb lattices under different coupling regimes and observe how the flat band properties of the Lieb lattice significantly enhances light-matter coupling and non-Markovianity. Our platform opens a path for the experimental exploration of single-photon quantum optical phenomena in structured reservoirs to enhance light-matter interactions.
Recent advances are enabling quantum emitters to interact with photonic crystals, whose electromagnetic modes exhibit complex dispersion relations, spatial mode structure, and polarization textures. However, modeling light-matter behavior in these systems faces a persistent trade-off: electromagnetic approaches based on Maxwell-equation solvers provide realistic vectorial descriptions but are difficult to integrate with quantum many-body and non-perturbative methods, whereas simplified quantum-optical lattice models are tractable but typically rely on scalar and spatially independent light-matter couplings that miss essential features of these structured photonic environments. Here, we introduce a constructive framework to derive quantum-optical lattice descriptions that overcome this trade-off. Combining symmetry-constrained tight-binding constructions with numerically computed photonic band structures and field profiles, our method yields minimal, symmetry-enforced lattice Hamiltonians that reproduce the target photonic dispersion while retaining the mode-resolved (position- and polarization-dependent) structure of the light-matter coupling. We show that these models recover Green's-function-based emitter dynamics in the perturbative regime, while providing access to non-perturbative quantum dynamical simulations beyond emitter-only descriptions. As a proof of principle, we apply the framework to a two-dimensional photonic crystal and show that it captures polarization-dependent directional emission inaccessible to scalar models, while enabling the analysis of non-Markovian light-matter dynamics and entanglement. Our results provide a practical bridge between classical electromagnetic simulation tools and quantum-optical many-body and non-Markovian modeling in photonic crystal settings.
Engineering the on-site frequencies of a photonic lattice provides a powerful route to endow emitted photons with non-trivial dynamical and topological properties, reshaping the way a coupled qubit decays. This thesis investigates the emission dynamics of a qubit weakly coupled to photonic lattices hosting such synthetic potentials, showing how the resulting band structure dictates qualitatively distinct regimes of light-matter interaction.In the first part, we study a qubit coupled to a one-dimensional coupled-cavity array with a linear gradient in the cavity frequencies, which acts on photons as a synthetic force FFF. For strong FFF, emission becomes reversible and is captured by an effective Jaynes--Cummings model, producing a chiral, time-periodic excitation of an extended region of the array, either to the right or to the left of the qubit depending on its frequency. For weak FFF, the decay is non-Markovian and exhibits revivals reminiscent of atoms between mirrors, even though no mirrors are present: the finite bandwidth confines the emitted photon, and the dynamics is well described by a delay differential equation in which the amplitude and period of Bloch oscillations play the role of cavity length and round-trip time.In the second part, we move to two dimensions and couple a giant atom, a qubit with multiple, spatially separated coupling points, non-locally to a honeycomb lattice of resonators with detuned sublattice frequencies. By suitably arranging the coupling points, the giant atom selectively addresses a single valley, a capability unattainable with a local emitter. This valley-selective coupling endows the emitted photons with an effective valley-polarized Berry curvature, giving rise to valley-polarized edge modes at domain walls between regions of opposite sublattice detuning. As a consequence, a giant atom placed near such a domain wall exhibits chiral emission of valley-polarized photons without breaking time-reversal symmetry, suggesting a natural implementation in circuit QED.Together, these results establish synthetic potentials in photonic lattices as a versatile tool for controlling qubit emission, linking waveguide QED to Bloch-oscillation physics and to valleytronics.
Abstract Flat-band systems offer a uniquely powerful tool for quantum control in dynamics due to their characteristic feature of having a dispersionless energy band. Simulating such highly sensitive systems on current digital quantum computers is a challenging task, due to the intrinsic limitations of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. Here we present high-fidelity digital quantum simulations of flat-band (FB) and all-bands-flat (ABF) lattices, using an advanced tensor network based variational optimization approach to compress the circuit depth. With the compressed quantum circuits, we first explore single-particle dynamics and observe two distinct behaviours: strong localization in ABF lattices and delocalization in FB lattices. By integrating FB and ABF lattices into a one-dimensional hybrid structure, we achieve controllable quantum transport, where the ABF lattice acts as a quantum switch. Extending to two-particle dynamics, we show that transport remains controllable by tuning the hopping amplitude alone, even in the presence of interactions. These results establish FB engineered systems as a promising pathway for scalable control of quantum transport in emerging quantum technologies, with potential applications in qubit isolation, particle trapping, and state transfer.
Recent experiments on spontaneous emission of atomic matter waves [Krinner et al., Nature (London) 559, 589 (2018); Stewart et al., Phys. Rev. Research 2, 043307 (2020)] open a window into the behavior of quantum emitters coupled to a waveguide. Here we develop an approach based on infinite products to study this system theoretically, without the need to approximate the band dispersion relation of the waveguide. We solve the system for a one-dimensional array of one, multiple, and an infinite number of quantum emitters and compare with the experiments. This leads to a detailed characterization of the decay spectrum, with a family of in-gap bound states, mechanisms for enhanced Markovian emission different from superradiance, and the emergence of matter-wave polaritons.