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Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

A hybrid quantum system of atoms trapped on ultrathin optical fibers coupled to superconductors

S. L. Rolston, J. R. Anderson, U. Chukwu, Jeffrey A. Grover, Jared Hertzberg, Jennifer E. Hoffman, Peter Kordell, Jongmin Lee, Christopher J. Lobb, Luis A. Orozco, Sylvain Ravets, Pablo Solano, Kristen Voigt, F. C. Wellstood, J. David Wong-Campos, Guy Beadie, Fredrik K. Fatemi

Published Sep 26, 2013• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Hybrid quantum systems can be formed that combine the strengths of multiple platforms while avoiding the weaknesses. Here we report on progress toward a hybrid quantum system of neutral atom spins coupled to superconducting qubits. We trap laser-cooled rubidium atoms in the evanescent field of an ultrathin optical fiber, which will be suspended a few microns above a superconducting circuit that resonates at the hyperfine frequency of the Rb atoms, allowing magnetic coupling between the atoms and superconductor. As this will be done in a dilution refrigerator environment, the technical demands on the optical fiber is severe. We have developed and optimized a tapered fiber fabrication system, achieving optical transmission in excess of 99.95% , and fibers that can sustain 400 mW of optical power in a UHV environment. We have also optimized tapered fibers that can support higher order optical modes with high transmission (> 97%), which may be useful for different optical potential geometries. We have developed an in-situ tunable high-Q superconducting microwave resonator that can be tuned to within the resonator linewidth of the 6.8 GHz frequency of the Rb hyperfine transition.

DOI
10.1117/12.2024362

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Hybrid quantum systems can be formed that combine the strengths of multiple platforms while avoiding the weaknesses. Here we report on progress toward a hybrid quantum system of neutral atom spins coupled to superconducting qubits. We trap laser-cooled rubidium atoms in the evanescent field of an ultrathin optical fiber, which will be suspended a few microns above a superconducting circuit that resonates at the hyperfine frequency of the Rb atoms, allowing magnetic coupling between the atoms and superconductor. As this will be done in a dilution refrigerator environment, the technical demands on the optical fiber is severe. We have developed and optimized a tapered fiber fabrication system, achieving optical transmission in excess of 99.95% , and fibers that can sustain 400 mW of optical power in a UHV environment. We have also optimized tapered fibers that can support higher order optical modes with high transmission (> 97%), which may be useful for different optical potential geometries. We have developed an in-situ tunable high-Q superconducting microwave resonator that can be tuned to within the resonator linewidth of the 6.8 GHz frequency of the Rb hyperfine transition.
We present a scheme to couple trapped 87^{87}87Rb atoms to a superconducting flux qubit through a magnetic dipole transition. We plan to trap atoms on the evanescent wave outside an ultrathin fiber to bring the atoms to less than 10 μμμm above the surface of the superconductor. This hybrid setup lends itself to probing sources of decoherence in superconducting qubits. Our current plan has the intermediate goal of coupling the atoms to a superconducting LC resonator.
We describe advancements towards coupling superconducting qubits to neutral atoms. To produce a measurably large coupling, the atoms will need to be on the order of a few micrometers away from the qubit. A consequence of combining superconducting qubits and atoms is addressing their operational constraints, such as the deleterious light effects on superconducting systems and the magnetic field sensitivity of superconducting qubits. Our group proposes the use of optical-nanofiber-based optical dipole traps to confine atoms near the superconductor. Optical nanofibers (ONFs) have high-intensity evanescent waves that require less power than equivalent standard dipole traps. This thesis focuses on the fabrication and analysis of the behavior of ONFs. First we present the construction of the pulling apparatus. We outline the necessary steps for a typical pull, detailing the cleaning and alignment process. Then we examine the quality of the fibers by measuring their transmission and comparing our results to other reported measurements, demonstrating a two-order of magnitude decrease in loss. Next we present the modal evolution in ONFs using simulations and spectrogram analysis. We identify crucial elements to improve the transmission and demonstrate understanding of the modal dynamics during the pull. Then we study higher-order modes (HOMs) with ONFs using the first excited TE01, TM01, and HE21 modes. We demonstrate transmissions greater than 97% for 780 nm light when we launch the first excited LP11 family of modes through fibers with a 350 nm waist. This setup enables us to launch these three modes with high purity at the output, where less than 1% of the light is coupled to the fundamental mode. We then focus on the identification of modes on the ONF waist. First we use Rayleigh scattering to identify the modal content of an ONF. Bulk optics can convert the modes in the ONF, and we observe the controllable conversion of superpositions of modes. Finally, we use an evanescently-coupled tapered optical fiber probe that allows for the identification of the fundamental mode beating with HOMs and compare the results to simulations.
Hybrid quantum systems have the potential of mitigating current challenges in developing a scalable quantum computer. Of particular interest is the hybridization between atomic and superconducting qubits. We demonstrate a novel experimental setup for transferring and trapping ultracold atoms inside a millikelvin cryogenic environment, where interactions between atomic and superconducting qubits can be established, paving the way for hybrid quantum systems. 87Rb^{87}\text{Rb}87Rb atoms are prepared in a conventional magneto-optical trap and transported via a magnetic conveyor belt into a UHV compatible dilution refrigerator with optical access. We store 5×1085\times10^{8}5×108 atoms with a lifetime of 794 seconds in the vicinity of the millikelvin stage.
This project aims to develop scientific as well as technical foundations towards realization of a novel platform for light-matter interaction based on tapered optical nanofibers that enable to interface neutral atoms in their vicinity. A setup for magneto-optical trap (MOT) has been built. Tapered nanofibers (TNFs) of sub-wavelength diameter, with transmission of 95 percent have been fabricated and characterized. Next, a nanofiber is transferred into the MOT setup and installed inside the vacuum chamber. The MOT cloud and nanofiber are made to spatially overlap inside ultra-high vacuum (UHV). Coupling of fluorescence of MOT into the guided mode of TNF has been observed. This clearly shows the coupling of atoms with the fiber-guided mode and that our interface works. In addition, 65-70 percent absorption of a free space beam by the atomic cloud has been observed and the relevant MOT parameters are obtained from it. Our efforts are directed towards observing interaction of atoms with the fiber-guided light via evanescent field. Attempts have been made to observe absorption of a probe beam through the nanofiber by the MOT cloud and techniques for switching on-off the MOT beams, the probe beam and the magnetic field are developed for that purpose. Ultimately, the goal will be to trap atoms in the vicinity of a nanofiber enabling to reach a large optical depth accompanied by the ability to reach high intensities for low optical power. I will present my work on the development of this MOT-nanofiber interface - a new promising platform for research in nonlinear quantum optics, quantum information science and technology, quantum communication and hybrid quantum system.
Hybrid quantum systems have the potential of mitigating current challenges in developing a scalable quantum computer. Of particular interest is the hybridization between atomic and superconducting qubits. We demonstrate an experimental setup for transferring and trapping ultracold atoms inside a millikelvin cryogenic environment, where interactions between atomic and superconducting qubits may be established, paving the way for hybrid quantum systems. We prepare 87Rb^{87}\mathrm{Rb}87Rb atoms in a conventional magneto-optical trap and transport them via a magnetic conveyor belt into a UHV compatible dilution refrigerator with optical access. We store $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ atoms with a lifetime of 794 s in the vicinity of the millikelvin stage.
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.