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Nonlinear spectroscopy of superconducting anharmonic resonators

David Peter Divincenzo, John A. Smolin

Published Jan 1, 2012• 6 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We formulate a model for the steady state response of a nonlinear quantum oscillator structure, such as those used in a variety of superconducting qubit experiments, when excited by a steady, but not necessarily small, ac tone. We show that this model can be derived directly from a circuit description of some recent qubit experiments in which the state of the qubit is read out directly, without a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The excitation profile has a rich structure depending on the detuning of the tone from the small-signal resonant frequency, on the degree of damping and on the excitation amplitude. We explore two regions in detail. Firstly, at high damping there is a trough in the excitation response as a function of detuning, near where the classical Duffing bifurcation occurs. This trough has been understood as a classical interference between two metastable responses with opposite phase. We use Wigner function studies to show that while this picture is roughly correct, there are also more quantum mechanical aspects to this feature. Secondly, at low damping we study the emergence of sharp, discrete spectral features from a continuum response. We show that these the structures, associated with discrete transitions between different excited-state eigenstates of the oscillator, provide an interesting example of a quantum Fano resonance. The trough in the Fano response evolves continuously from the 'classical' trough at high damping.

Related papers

Nonlinear spectroscopy of superconducting anharmonic resonators

David Peter Divincenzo, John A Smolin

We formulate a model for the steady state response of a nonlinear quantum oscillator structure, such as those used in a variety of superconducting qubit experiments, when excited by a steady, but not necessarily small, ac tone. We show that this model can be derived directly from a circuit description of some recent qubit experiments in which the state of the qubit is read out directly, without a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The excitation profile has a rich structure depending on the detuning of the tone from the small-signal resonant frequency, on the degree of damping and on the excitation amplitude. We explore two regions in detail. Firstly, at high damping there is a trough in the excitation response as a function of detuning, near where the classical Duffing bifurcation occurs. This trough has been understood as a classical interference between two metastable responses with opposite phase. We use Wigner function studies to show that while this picture is roughly correct, there are also more quantum mechanical aspects to this feature. Secondly, at low damping we study the emergence of sharp, discrete spectral features from a continuum response. We show that these the structures, associated with discrete transitions between different excited-state eigenstates of the oscillator, provide an interesting example of a quantum Fano resonance. The trough in the Fano response evolves continuously from the 'classical' trough at high damping.

arXiv:1109.2490•New Journal of Physics•Jan 24, 2012•8 citations

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We discuss the theory of linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of an rf superconducting quantum interference device (rf-SQUID) coupled to a Josephson spectrometer. Recent experimental measurements on this system have shown a strongly nonlinear absorption line shape, whose current peak maximum undergoes a forward-backward bending transition depending on the value of the rf-SQUID phase. We show that this transition can be qualitatively understood by mapping the dynamics of the driven rf-SQUID onto a generalized Duffing oscillator, with tunable drive and nonlinearity, undergoing a bifurcation. Finally we show that in order to quantitatively reproduce the experimental data reported by Griesmar et al. [Phys. Rev. Research 3, 043078 (2021)], it is crucial to include the feedback from the load line, leading to an additional source of nonlinearity.

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We investigate nondegenerate parametric oscillations in a superconducting microwave multimode resonator that is terminated by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The parametric effect is achieved by modulating magnetic flux through the SQUID at a frequency close to the sum of two resonator-mode frequencies. For modulation amplitudes exceeding an instability threshold, self-sustained oscillations are observed in both modes. The amplitudes of these oscillations show good quantitative agreement with a theoretical model. The oscillation phases are found to be correlated and exhibit strong fluctuations which broaden the oscillation spectral linewidths. These linewidths are significantly reduced by applying a weak on-resonant tone, which also suppresses the phase fluctuations. When the weak tone is detuned, we observe synchronization of the oscillation frequency with the frequency of the input. For the detuned input, we also observe an emergence of three idlers in the output. This observation is in agreement with theory indicating four-mode amplification and squeezing of a coherent input.

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Patrick Navez, Valentina Di Meo, Berardo Ruggiero +12 more

Superconducting qubit networks (SQNs) embedded in a low-dissipative resonator is a promising device allowing one not only to establish the collective quantum dynamics on a macroscopic scale but also to greatly enhance the sensitivity of detectors of microwave photons. A quantum ac Stark effect provided by coupling between an SQN and microwave photons of a resonator, leads to a strong nonlinear interaction between photons. Here, we present a two-tone spectroscopy experiment in which a set of 10 superconducting flux qubits is coupled to the input R- resonator and the output T- transmission line. An external microwave pump field close to the resonance frequency populates macroscopically the resonator mode as a Bose-Einstein condensate, while a second probe beam scans the resonances referred also as Bogoliubov-like excitations. The corresponding excitation frequency measured from the transmission coefficient, |S21(f)| displays an abrupt change of the resonant dip position once the power of the pump field overcomes a critical value Pcr. This sharp shift occurs in a narrow region of pump frequencies, and can be tuned by an applied magnetic field. It is a signature of bistability of the photon number inside the resonator, in agreement with theory.

quant-pharXiv:2601.15101•Jan 22, 2026•0 citations
We formulate a model for the steady state response of a nonlinear quantum oscillator structure, such as those used in a variety of superconducting qubit experiments, when excited by a steady, but not necessarily small, ac tone. We show that this model can be derived directly from a circuit description of some recent qubit experiments in which the state of the qubit is read out directly, without a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The excitation profile has a rich structure depending on the detuning of the tone from the small-signal resonant frequency, on the degree of damping and on the excitation amplitude. We explore two regions in detail. Firstly, at high damping there is a trough in the excitation response as a function of detuning, near where the classical Duffing bifurcation occurs. This trough has been understood as a classical interference between two metastable responses with opposite phase. We use Wigner function studies to show that while this picture is roughly correct, there are also more quantum mechanical aspects to this feature. Secondly, at low damping we study the emergence of sharp, discrete spectral features from a continuum response. We show that these the structures, associated with discrete transitions between different excited-state eigenstates of the oscillator, provide an interesting example of a quantum Fano resonance. The trough in the Fano response evolves continuously from the 'classical' trough at high damping.
We formulate a model for the steady state response of a nonlinear quantum oscillator structure, such as those used in a variety of superconducting qubit experiments, when excited by a steady, but not necessarily small, ac tone. We show that this model can be derived directly from a circuit description of some recent qubit experiments in which the state of the qubit is read out directly, without a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The excitation profile has a rich structure depending on the detuning of the tone from the small-signal resonant frequency, on the degree of damping and on the excitation amplitude. We explore two regions in detail. Firstly, at high damping there is a trough in the excitation response as a function of detuning, near where the classical Duffing bifurcation occurs. This trough has been understood as a classical interference between two metastable responses with opposite phase. We use Wigner function studies to show that while this picture is roughly correct, there are also more quantum mechanical aspects to this feature. Secondly, at low damping we study the emergence of sharp, discrete spectral features from a continuum response. We show that these the structures, associated with discrete transitions between different excited-state eigenstates of the oscillator, provide an interesting example of a quantum Fano resonance. The trough in the Fano response evolves continuously from the 'classical' trough at high damping.
Superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) are used across physics and engineering, from amplification to detecting tiny magnetic fields to quantum computing. In many applications the SQUID's steady-state response is of interest, but here the authors measure and model the $t\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}r\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}a\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}s\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}i\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}e\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}n\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}t$ response to short bursts of radiation. The resulting ringdown oscillations in voltage decay over time, with a rich structure that may be particularly useful in discriminating weak magnetic fluxes---in qubits, for example.
We develop a theory of parametric resonance in tunable superconducting cavities. The nonlinearity introduced by the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) attached to the cavity and damping due to connection of the cavity to a transmission line are taken into consideration. We study in detail the nonlinear classical dynamics of the cavity field below and above the parametric threshold for the degenerate parametric resonance, featuring regimes of multistability and parametric radiation. We investigate the phase-sensitive amplification of external signals on resonance, as well as amplification of detuned signals, and relate the amplifier performance to that of linear parametric amplifiers. We also discuss applications of the device for dispersive qubit readout. Beyond the classical response of the cavity, we investigate small quantum fluctuations around the amplified classical signals. We evaluate the noise power spectrum both for the internal field in the cavity and the output field. Other quantum-statistical properties of the noise are addressed such as squeezing spectra, second-order coherence, and two-mode entanglement.
We discuss the theory of linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of an rf superconducting quantum interference device (rf-SQUID) coupled to a Josephson spectrometer. Recent experimental measurements on this system have shown a strongly nonlinear absorption line shape, whose current peak maximum undergoes a forward-backward bending transition depending on the value of the rf-SQUID phase. We show that this transition can be qualitatively understood by mapping the dynamics of the driven rf-SQUID onto a generalized Duffing oscillator, with tunable drive and nonlinearity, undergoing a bifurcation. Finally we show that in order to quantitatively reproduce the experimental data reported by Griesmar et al. [Phys. Rev. Research 3, 043078 (2021)], it is crucial to include the feedback from the load line, leading to an additional source of nonlinearity.
We investigate nondegenerate parametric oscillations in a superconducting microwave multimode resonator that is terminated by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The parametric effect is achieved by modulating magnetic flux through the SQUID at a frequency close to the sum of two resonator-mode frequencies. For modulation amplitudes exceeding an instability threshold, self-sustained oscillations are observed in both modes. The amplitudes of these oscillations show good quantitative agreement with a theoretical model. The oscillation phases are found to be correlated and exhibit strong fluctuations which broaden the oscillation spectral linewidths. These linewidths are significantly reduced by applying a weak on-resonant tone, which also suppresses the phase fluctuations. When the weak tone is detuned, we observe synchronization of the oscillation frequency with the frequency of the input. For the detuned input, we also observe an emergence of three idlers in the output. This observation is in agreement with theory indicating four-mode amplification and squeezing of a coherent input.
Superconducting qubit networks (SQNs) embedded in a low-dissipative resonator is a promising device allowing one not only to establish the collective quantum dynamics on a macroscopic scale but also to greatly enhance the sensitivity of detectors of microwave photons. A quantum ac Stark effect provided by coupling between an SQN and microwave photons of a resonator, leads to a strong nonlinear interaction between photons. Here, we present a two-tone spectroscopy experiment in which a set of 10 superconducting flux qubits is coupled to the input R- resonator and the output T- transmission line. An external microwave pump field close to the resonance frequency populates macroscopically the resonator mode as a Bose-Einstein condensate, while a second probe beam scans the resonances referred also as Bogoliubov-like excitations. The corresponding excitation frequency measured from the transmission coefficient, |S21(f)| displays an abrupt change of the resonant dip position once the power of the pump field overcomes a critical value Pcr. This sharp shift occurs in a narrow region of pump frequencies, and can be tuned by an applied magnetic field. It is a signature of bistability of the photon number inside the resonator, in agreement with theory.