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Multiphoton transitions in Josephson-junction qubits (Review Article)

Sergey N Shevchenko, A. N. Omelyanchouk, E. V. Il’ichev

Published Jan 1, 2012• 41 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Two basic physical models, a two-level system and a harmonic oscillator, are realized on the mesoscopic \nscale as coupled qubit and resonator. The realistic system includes moreover the electronics for controlling the \ndistance between the qubit energy levels and their populations and to read out the resonator's state, as well as the \nunavoidable dissipative environment. Such rich system is interesting both for the study of fundamental quantum \nphenomena on the mesoscopic scale and as a promising system for future electronic devices. We present recent \nresults for the driven superconducting qubit–resonator system, where the resonator can be realized as an LC \ncircuit or a nanomechanical resonator. Most of the results can be described by the semiclassical theory, where a \nqubit is treated as a quantum two-level system coupled to the classical driving field and the classical resonator. \nApplication of this theory allows to describe many phenomena for the single and two coupled superconducting \nqubits, among which are the following: the equilibrium-state and weak-driving spectroscopy, Sisyphus damping \nand amplification, Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry, the multiphoton transitions of both direct and ladder-type \ncharacter, and creation of the inverse population for lasing.

Related papers

Multiphoton transitions in Josephson-junction qubits (Review Article)

S. N. Shevchenko, A. N. Omelyanchouk, E. Il’ichev

Two basic physical models, a two-level system and a harmonic oscillator, are realized on the mesoscopic scale as coupled qubit and resonator. The realistic system includes moreover the electronics for controlling the distance between the qubit energy levels and their populations and to read out the resonator’s state, as well as the unavoidable dissipative environment. Such rich system is interesting both for the study of fundamental quantum phenomena on the mesoscopic scale and as a promising system for future electronic devices. We present recent results for the driven superconducting qubit–resonator system, where the resonator can be realized as an LC circuit or a nanomechanical resonator. Most of the results can be described by the semiclassical theory, where a qubit is treated as a quantum two-level system coupled to the classical driving field and the classical resonator. Application of this theory allows to describe many phenomena for the single and two coupled superconducting qubits, among which are the following: the equilibrium-state and weak-driving spectroscopy, Sisyphus damping and amplification, Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry, the multiphoton transitions of both direct and ladder-type character, and creation of the inverse population for lasing.

arXiv:1205.0696•Low Temperature Physics•Apr 1, 2012•41 citations

Dissipation in circuit quantum electrodynamics: lasing and cooling of a low-frequency oscillator

Julian Hauss, Arkady Fedorov, Stephan André +6 more

Superconducting qubits coupled to electric or nanomechanical resonators display effects previously studied in quantum electrodynamics (QED) as well as extensions thereof. Here, we consider a driven qubit coupled to a low-frequency oscillator and study the influence of dissipation. When the qubit is driven to perform Rabi oscillations, with Rabi frequency in resonance with the oscillator, the latter can be driven far from equilibrium. Blue detuned driving leads to a population inversion in the qubit and lasing behavior of the oscillator ('single-atom laser'). For red detuning, the qubit cools the oscillator. This behavior persists at the symmetry point where the qubit–oscillator coupling is quadratic and decoherence effects are minimized. Here, the system realizes a 'single-atom-two-photon laser'.

arXiv:0806.1298•New Journal of Physics•Sep 30, 2008•49 citations

Landau-Zener-Stückelberg-Majorana lasing in circuit quantum electrodynamics

P. Neilinger, Sergey N Shevchenko, J. Bogár +7 more

We demonstrate amplification (and attenuation) of a probe signal by a driven two-level quantum system in the Landau-Zener-St\"uckelberg-Majorana regime by means of an experiment, in which a superconducting qubit was strongly coupled to a microwave cavity, in a conventional arrangement of circuit quantum electrodynamics. Two different types of flux qubit, specifically a conventional Josephson junctions qubit and a phase-slip qubit, show similar results, namely, lasing at the working points where amplification takes place. The experimental data are explained by the interaction of the probe signal with Rabi-like oscillations. The latter are created by constructive interference of Landau-Zener-St\"uckelberg-Majorana (LZSM) transitions during the driving period of the qubit. A detailed description of the occurrence of these oscillations and a comparison of obtained data with both analytic and numerical calculations are given.

arXiv:1603.00245•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Sep 22, 2016•32 citations

Coupled Dynamics of a Nanomechanical Resonator and Superconducting Quantum Circuits

Junho Suh

The coupled dynamics of a nanomechanical resonator and superconducting quantum circuits are studied in three experiments, in the context of studying the quantum limit for force detection and quantum physics of macroscopic objects. In the first experiment, the dispersive mechanical resonance shift from the interaction with a Cooper-pair box qubit is studied. The measured coupling strength is large enough to satisfy one of the conditions required to perform many of the proposed quantum nanomechanical measurements. The resonance shift also probes the microwave-driven response of the qubit, showing Rabi oscillation and Landau-Zener tunneling, proving the coherent dynamics of the qubit. Second, the parametric excitation of nanomechanical motion is studied via experiments with a driven qubit. Degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation are demonstrated, with a new observation of nonlinear dissipation. The squeezing of the back-action noise from the detection amplifier is also observed, up to 4dB. It is the first demonstration using a qubit as an auxiliary system to modify the nanomechanical dynamics, showing a possible route for generation of nanomechanical quantum states. Finally, back-action cooling of nanomechanical motion has been investigated, which is implemented by capacitively coupling a high-Q coplanar waveguide microwave resonator to a nanomechanical resonator. The thermal state with 7.5 mechanical quanta on average is reached, a result that is ultimately limited due to increased bath heating with microwave power. The heating is consistent with a model based on two-level systems resonantly coupled to the nanomechanical mode. This additional heating suggests future efforts to improve coupling and for reducing two-level system density in materials employed to reach the motional ground state via back-action cooling.

•May 17, 2011•1 citation

Dissipative dynamics of a qubit-oscillator system in the ultrastrong coupling and driving regimes

Johannes Hausinger

The model of a two-level system (TLS) coupled to a harmonic oscillator has found a widespread application in physics and chemistry. In this thesis we focus on the field of circuit quantum electrodynamics where the TLS stands for a quantum bit (qubit), which is the basic building unit of a potential quantum computer, and the oscillator represents a transmission-line resonator, which can be used, e.g., to store information contained on the qubit or for communication between several qubits. Furthermore, the oscillator can model a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) determining the state of the qubit. In first experimental realizations the coupling between the qubit and the oscillator was small compared to characteristic frequencies of the two devices. In such a situation the Jaynes-Cummings model provides a realistic and completely analytical description of the energy spectrum and the dynamics of the setup. However, it relies on a rotating-wave approximation (RWA) which neglects counter-rotating terms in the full qubit-oscillator Hamiltonian. These counter-rotating terms become important under increase of the coupling strength, as it has been achieved in recent experiments. We present two analytical approaches to take these additional contributions into account: The first one treats the qubit-oscillator Hamiltonian perturbatively in the coupling strength and predicts a frequency shift in its energy spectrum, the Bloch-Siegert shift. The second one considers the qubit's tunneling splitting as small parameter and thus treats the problem to all orders in the coupling allowing to enter the ultrastrong coupling regime, where the coupling strength becomes comparable to the qubit's and/or oscillator's frequency. For both cases we give a thorough analysis of the qubit's dynamics. In order to perform operations the qubit is usually probed by an external driving force. We model this situation by coupling the TLS to a classical oscillator and examine the resulting time dependent Hamiltonian using a combination of Floquet theory and Van Vleck perturbation theory. Thus, we provide an analysis of the qubit's energy spectrum and dynamics which is nonperturbative in the driving amplitude. We investigate effects like coherent destruction of tunneling and driving-inducing tunneling oscillations. By coupling the driven TLS to a quantized oscillator we give for the first time an analytical treatment of the qubit-oscillator system being simultaneously exposed to both ultrastrong coupling and extreme driving. We observe interesting phenomena in the dynamics like the suppression of specific frequencies under a variation of the coupling strength. To mimic environmental influences on the qubit we apply the Caldeira-Leggett master equation approach to the driven TLS and to the qubit-oscillator system and provide for both cases analytical expressions for the relaxation and dephasing rates.

•Jan 1, 2010•0 citations

Decoherence and Relaxation in Driven Circuit QED Systems

Stephan André, Valentina Brosco, Arkady Fedorov +4 more

Recent experiments on quantum state engineering with superconducting circuits realized concepts originally introduced in the field of quantum optics. Motivated by one such experiment we investigate a Josephson qubit coupled to a slow LC oscillator with frequency much lower than the qubit’s energy splitting. The qubit is ac‐driven to perform Rabi oscillations, and the Rabi frequency is tuned to resonance with the oscillator. The properties of this driven circuit QED system depend strongly on relaxation and decoherence effects in the qubit. We investigate both one‐photon and two‐photon qubit‐oscillator coupling, the latter being dominant at the symmetry point of the qubit. When the qubit driving frequency is blue detuned, we find that the system exhibits lasing behavior; for red detuning the qubit cools the oscillator. Similar behavior is expected in an accessible range of parameters for a Josephson qubit coupled to a nano‐mechanical oscillator. In a different parameter regime, furthering the analogies between superconducting and quantum optical systems, we investigate Sisyphus damping, which is the key element of the Sisyphus cooling protocol, as well as its exact opposite, Sisyphus amplification.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2008•1 citation
Two basic physical models, a two-level system and a harmonic oscillator, are realized on the mesoscopic \nscale as coupled qubit and resonator. The realistic system includes moreover the electronics for controlling the \ndistance between the qubit energy levels and their populations and to read out the resonator's state, as well as the \nunavoidable dissipative environment. Such rich system is interesting both for the study of fundamental quantum \nphenomena on the mesoscopic scale and as a promising system for future electronic devices. We present recent \nresults for the driven superconducting qubit–resonator system, where the resonator can be realized as an LC \ncircuit or a nanomechanical resonator. Most of the results can be described by the semiclassical theory, where a \nqubit is treated as a quantum two-level system coupled to the classical driving field and the classical resonator. \nApplication of this theory allows to describe many phenomena for the single and two coupled superconducting \nqubits, among which are the following: the equilibrium-state and weak-driving spectroscopy, Sisyphus damping \nand amplification, Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry, the multiphoton transitions of both direct and ladder-type \ncharacter, and creation of the inverse population for lasing.
Two basic physical models, a two-level system and a harmonic oscillator, are realized on the mesoscopic scale as coupled qubit and resonator. The realistic system includes moreover the electronics for controlling the distance between the qubit energy levels and their populations and to read out the resonator’s state, as well as the unavoidable dissipative environment. Such rich system is interesting both for the study of fundamental quantum phenomena on the mesoscopic scale and as a promising system for future electronic devices. We present recent results for the driven superconducting qubit–resonator system, where the resonator can be realized as an LC circuit or a nanomechanical resonator. Most of the results can be described by the semiclassical theory, where a qubit is treated as a quantum two-level system coupled to the classical driving field and the classical resonator. Application of this theory allows to describe many phenomena for the single and two coupled superconducting qubits, among which are the following: the equilibrium-state and weak-driving spectroscopy, Sisyphus damping and amplification, Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry, the multiphoton transitions of both direct and ladder-type character, and creation of the inverse population for lasing.
Superconducting qubits coupled to electric or nanomechanical resonators display effects previously studied in quantum electrodynamics (QED) as well as extensions thereof. Here, we consider a driven qubit coupled to a low-frequency oscillator and study the influence of dissipation. When the qubit is driven to perform Rabi oscillations, with Rabi frequency in resonance with the oscillator, the latter can be driven far from equilibrium. Blue detuned driving leads to a population inversion in the qubit and lasing behavior of the oscillator ('single-atom laser'). For red detuning, the qubit cools the oscillator. This behavior persists at the symmetry point where the qubit–oscillator coupling is quadratic and decoherence effects are minimized. Here, the system realizes a 'single-atom-two-photon laser'.
We demonstrate amplification (and attenuation) of a probe signal by a driven two-level quantum system in the Landau-Zener-St\"uckelberg-Majorana regime by means of an experiment, in which a superconducting qubit was strongly coupled to a microwave cavity, in a conventional arrangement of circuit quantum electrodynamics. Two different types of flux qubit, specifically a conventional Josephson junctions qubit and a phase-slip qubit, show similar results, namely, lasing at the working points where amplification takes place. The experimental data are explained by the interaction of the probe signal with Rabi-like oscillations. The latter are created by constructive interference of Landau-Zener-St\"uckelberg-Majorana (LZSM) transitions during the driving period of the qubit. A detailed description of the occurrence of these oscillations and a comparison of obtained data with both analytic and numerical calculations are given.
The coupled dynamics of a nanomechanical resonator and superconducting quantum circuits are studied in three experiments, in the context of studying the quantum limit for force detection and quantum physics of macroscopic objects. In the first experiment, the dispersive mechanical resonance shift from the interaction with a Cooper-pair box qubit is studied. The measured coupling strength is large enough to satisfy one of the conditions required to perform many of the proposed quantum nanomechanical measurements. The resonance shift also probes the microwave-driven response of the qubit, showing Rabi oscillation and Landau-Zener tunneling, proving the coherent dynamics of the qubit. Second, the parametric excitation of nanomechanical motion is studied via experiments with a driven qubit. Degenerate parametric amplification and oscillation are demonstrated, with a new observation of nonlinear dissipation. The squeezing of the back-action noise from the detection amplifier is also observed, up to 4dB. It is the first demonstration using a qubit as an auxiliary system to modify the nanomechanical dynamics, showing a possible route for generation of nanomechanical quantum states. Finally, back-action cooling of nanomechanical motion has been investigated, which is implemented by capacitively coupling a high-Q coplanar waveguide microwave resonator to a nanomechanical resonator. The thermal state with 7.5 mechanical quanta on average is reached, a result that is ultimately limited due to increased bath heating with microwave power. The heating is consistent with a model based on two-level systems resonantly coupled to the nanomechanical mode. This additional heating suggests future efforts to improve coupling and for reducing two-level system density in materials employed to reach the motional ground state via back-action cooling.
The model of a two-level system (TLS) coupled to a harmonic oscillator has found a widespread application in physics and chemistry. In this thesis we focus on the field of circuit quantum electrodynamics where the TLS stands for a quantum bit (qubit), which is the basic building unit of a potential quantum computer, and the oscillator represents a transmission-line resonator, which can be used, e.g., to store information contained on the qubit or for communication between several qubits. Furthermore, the oscillator can model a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) determining the state of the qubit. In first experimental realizations the coupling between the qubit and the oscillator was small compared to characteristic frequencies of the two devices. In such a situation the Jaynes-Cummings model provides a realistic and completely analytical description of the energy spectrum and the dynamics of the setup. However, it relies on a rotating-wave approximation (RWA) which neglects counter-rotating terms in the full qubit-oscillator Hamiltonian. These counter-rotating terms become important under increase of the coupling strength, as it has been achieved in recent experiments. We present two analytical approaches to take these additional contributions into account: The first one treats the qubit-oscillator Hamiltonian perturbatively in the coupling strength and predicts a frequency shift in its energy spectrum, the Bloch-Siegert shift. The second one considers the qubit's tunneling splitting as small parameter and thus treats the problem to all orders in the coupling allowing to enter the ultrastrong coupling regime, where the coupling strength becomes comparable to the qubit's and/or oscillator's frequency. For both cases we give a thorough analysis of the qubit's dynamics. In order to perform operations the qubit is usually probed by an external driving force. We model this situation by coupling the TLS to a classical oscillator and examine the resulting time dependent Hamiltonian using a combination of Floquet theory and Van Vleck perturbation theory. Thus, we provide an analysis of the qubit's energy spectrum and dynamics which is nonperturbative in the driving amplitude. We investigate effects like coherent destruction of tunneling and driving-inducing tunneling oscillations. By coupling the driven TLS to a quantized oscillator we give for the first time an analytical treatment of the qubit-oscillator system being simultaneously exposed to both ultrastrong coupling and extreme driving. We observe interesting phenomena in the dynamics like the suppression of specific frequencies under a variation of the coupling strength. To mimic environmental influences on the qubit we apply the Caldeira-Leggett master equation approach to the driven TLS and to the qubit-oscillator system and provide for both cases analytical expressions for the relaxation and dephasing rates.
Recent experiments on quantum state engineering with superconducting circuits realized concepts originally introduced in the field of quantum optics. Motivated by one such experiment we investigate a Josephson qubit coupled to a slow LC oscillator with frequency much lower than the qubit’s energy splitting. The qubit is ac‐driven to perform Rabi oscillations, and the Rabi frequency is tuned to resonance with the oscillator. The properties of this driven circuit QED system depend strongly on relaxation and decoherence effects in the qubit. We investigate both one‐photon and two‐photon qubit‐oscillator coupling, the latter being dominant at the symmetry point of the qubit. When the qubit driving frequency is blue detuned, we find that the system exhibits lasing behavior; for red detuning the qubit cools the oscillator. Similar behavior is expected in an accessible range of parameters for a Josephson qubit coupled to a nano‐mechanical oscillator. In a different parameter regime, furthering the analogies between superconducting and quantum optical systems, we investigate Sisyphus damping, which is the key element of the Sisyphus cooling protocol, as well as its exact opposite, Sisyphus amplification.