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

Physics

Multiphoton Generator on a Chip

Philip Ball

Published Apr 8, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Multiphoton Generator on a ChipA device for producing up to six photons in a single event could open new doors to quantum technologies.By Philip Ball P roducing entangled photons, whose properties are interdependent, is key to several quantum communication technologies.Most techniques for generating these photons make them exclusively in pairs, and those that can produce more than two photons are difficult to implement.But researchers have now made a chip-sized device that can generate bunches of up to six microwave photons at once [1].The device may be useful for quantum technologies such as extremely secure quantum communication.Pairs of entangled photons are often made in a process known Making light of Cooper pairs.In the circuit used to make photon multiplets, a voltage (battery) enables superconducting Cooper pairs of electrons (S) to tunnel across an insulating gap in a Josephson junction (green) and to enter a resonating LC circuit made from a pair of capacitor plates and an inductor coil.The number of microwave photons emitted from the circuit depends on the energy imparted to the Cooper pair by the applied voltage.

DOI
10.1103/physics.15.52

Related papers

Generating entangled quantum microwaves in a Josephson-photonics device

Simon Dambach, Björn Kubala, Joachim Ankerhold

When connecting a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series to several microwave cavities, a Cooper-pair current across the junction gives rise to a continuous emission of strongly correlated photons into the cavity modes. Tuning the bias voltage to the resonance where a single Cooper pair provides the energy to create an additional photon in each of the cavities, we demonstrate the entangling nature of these creation processes by simple witnesses in terms of experimentally accessible observables. To characterize the entanglement properties of the such created quantum states of light to the fullest possible extent, we then proceed to more elaborate entanglement criteria based on the knowledge of the full density matrix and provide a detailed study of bi- and multipartite entanglement. In particular, we illustrate how due to the relatively simple design of these circuits changes of experimental parameters allow one to access a wide variety of entangled states differing, e.g., in the number of entangled parties or the dimension of state space. Such devices, besides their promising potential to act as a highly versatile source of entangled quantum microwaves, may thus represent an excellent natural testbed for classification and quantification schemes developed in quantum information theory.

arXiv:1609.08990•New Journal of Physics•Jan 31, 2017•24 citations

Generating entangled quantum microwaves in a Josephson-photonics device

Simon Dambach, Björn Kubala, Joachim Ankerhold

Abstract When connecting a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series to several microwave cavities, a Cooper-pair current across the junction gives rise to a continuous emission of strongly correlated photons into the cavity modes. Tuning the bias voltage to the resonance where a single Cooper pair provides the energy to create an additional photon in each of the cavities, we demonstrate the entangling nature of these creation processes by simple witnesses in terms of experimentally accessible observables. To characterize the entanglement properties of the such created quantum states of light to the fullest possible extent, we then proceed to more elaborate entanglement criteria based on the knowledge of the full density matrix and provide a detailed study of bi- and multipartite entanglement. In particular, we illustrate how due to the relatively simple design of these circuits changes of experimental parameters allow one to access a wide variety of entangled states differing, e.g., in the number of entangled parties or the dimension of state space. Such devices, besides their promising potential to act as a highly versatile source of entangled quantum microwaves, may thus represent an excellent natural testbed for classification and quantification schemes developed in quantum information theory.

•Feb 13, 2017•17 citations

Josephson photonics with simultaneous resonances

Kieran Wood, Andrew D. Armour, Ben Lang

Inelastic Cooper pair tunneling across a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series with one or more microwave cavities can generate photons via resonant processes in which the energy lost by the Cooper pair matches that of the photon(s) produced. We generalize previous theoretical treatments of such systems to analyze cases where two or more different photon generation processes are resonant simultaneously. We also explore in detail a specific case where the generation of a single photon in one cavity mode is simultaneously resonant with the generation of two photons in a second mode. We find that the coexistence of the two resonances leads to effective couplings between the modes which in turn generate entanglement.

arXiv:2106.15243•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Oct 18, 2021•3 citations

Generation of photon pairs at different frequencies: route to- ward quantum microwave source DANIEL ESTEVE, OLIVIER PARLAVEC-

Carles Altimiras, P. Joyez, D. Vion +2 more

generates photons in the electromagnetic modes. We coupled a Josephson junction to two resonators at frequencies 1 2; when voltage-biased at 2eV = h 1 + h 2, Cooper pairs can tunnel only if two photons, one at each frequency, are simultaneously emitted. We measured the cross-correlations between the emission rates and showed that a Cauchy-Schwarz inequality is violated. This result, in agreement with theoretical prediction made by Leppakangas and coworkers 1 , reveals the amplitude two-mode squeezing. Our setup is a easy way to produce non-classical microwave radiation from a battery. We believe that this source is a good candidate for producing pairs of entangled photons with high rate (few hundreds of MHz).

•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations

Multiplying and detecting propagating microwave photons using inelastic Cooper-pair tunneling

Juha Leppäkangas, Michael Marthaler, Dibyendu Hazra +5 more

The interaction between propagating microwave fields and Cooper-pair tunneling across a DC-voltage-biased Josephson junction can be highly nonlinear. We show theoretically that this nonlinearity can be used to convert an incoming single microwave photon into an outgoing $n$-photon Fock state in a different mode. In this process, the electrostatic energy released in a Cooper-pair tunneling event is transferred to the outgoing Fock state, providing energy gain. The created multiphoton Fock state is frequency entangled and highly bunched. The conversion can be made reflectionless (impedance matched) so that all incoming photons are converted to $n$-photon states. With realistic parameters, multiplication ratios $n>2$ can be reached. By two consecutive multiplications, the outgoing Fock-state number can get sufficiently large to accurately discriminate it from vacuum with linear postamplification and power measurement. Therefore, this amplification scheme can be used as a single-photon detector without dead time.

arXiv:1612.07098•Physical Review A•Jan 31, 2018•26 citations

Semiconductor devices for entangled photon pair generation: a review

Adeline Orieux, Marijn A. M. Versteegh, Klaus D. Jöns +1 more

Entanglement is one of the most fascinating properties of quantum mechanical systems; when two particles are entangled the measurement of the properties of one of the two allows the properties of the other to be instantaneously known, whatever the distance separating them. In parallel with fundamental research on the foundations of quantum mechanics performed on complex experimental set-ups, we assist today with bourgeoning of quantum information technologies bound to exploit entanglement for a large variety of applications such as secure communications, metrology and computation. Among the different physical systems under investigation, those involving photonic components are likely to play a central role and in this context semiconductor materials exhibit a huge potential in terms of integration of several quantum components in miniature chips. In this article we review the recent progress in the development of semiconductor devices emitting entangled photons. We will present the physical processes allowing the generation of entanglement and the tools to characterize it; we will give an overview of major recent results of the last few years and highlight perspectives for future developments.

arXiv:1702.08823•Reports on Progress in Physics•Mar 27, 2017•166 citations
Multiphoton Generator on a ChipA device for producing up to six photons in a single event could open new doors to quantum technologies.By Philip Ball P roducing entangled photons, whose properties are interdependent, is key to several quantum communication technologies.Most techniques for generating these photons make them exclusively in pairs, and those that can produce more than two photons are difficult to implement.But researchers have now made a chip-sized device that can generate bunches of up to six microwave photons at once [1].The device may be useful for quantum technologies such as extremely secure quantum communication.Pairs of entangled photons are often made in a process known Making light of Cooper pairs.In the circuit used to make photon multiplets, a voltage (battery) enables superconducting Cooper pairs of electrons (S) to tunnel across an insulating gap in a Josephson junction (green) and to enter a resonating LC circuit made from a pair of capacitor plates and an inductor coil.The number of microwave photons emitted from the circuit depends on the energy imparted to the Cooper pair by the applied voltage.
When connecting a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series to several microwave cavities, a Cooper-pair current across the junction gives rise to a continuous emission of strongly correlated photons into the cavity modes. Tuning the bias voltage to the resonance where a single Cooper pair provides the energy to create an additional photon in each of the cavities, we demonstrate the entangling nature of these creation processes by simple witnesses in terms of experimentally accessible observables. To characterize the entanglement properties of the such created quantum states of light to the fullest possible extent, we then proceed to more elaborate entanglement criteria based on the knowledge of the full density matrix and provide a detailed study of bi- and multipartite entanglement. In particular, we illustrate how due to the relatively simple design of these circuits changes of experimental parameters allow one to access a wide variety of entangled states differing, e.g., in the number of entangled parties or the dimension of state space. Such devices, besides their promising potential to act as a highly versatile source of entangled quantum microwaves, may thus represent an excellent natural testbed for classification and quantification schemes developed in quantum information theory.
Abstract When connecting a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series to several microwave cavities, a Cooper-pair current across the junction gives rise to a continuous emission of strongly correlated photons into the cavity modes. Tuning the bias voltage to the resonance where a single Cooper pair provides the energy to create an additional photon in each of the cavities, we demonstrate the entangling nature of these creation processes by simple witnesses in terms of experimentally accessible observables. To characterize the entanglement properties of the such created quantum states of light to the fullest possible extent, we then proceed to more elaborate entanglement criteria based on the knowledge of the full density matrix and provide a detailed study of bi- and multipartite entanglement. In particular, we illustrate how due to the relatively simple design of these circuits changes of experimental parameters allow one to access a wide variety of entangled states differing, e.g., in the number of entangled parties or the dimension of state space. Such devices, besides their promising potential to act as a highly versatile source of entangled quantum microwaves, may thus represent an excellent natural testbed for classification and quantification schemes developed in quantum information theory.
Inelastic Cooper pair tunneling across a voltage-biased Josephson junction in series with one or more microwave cavities can generate photons via resonant processes in which the energy lost by the Cooper pair matches that of the photon(s) produced. We generalize previous theoretical treatments of such systems to analyze cases where two or more different photon generation processes are resonant simultaneously. We also explore in detail a specific case where the generation of a single photon in one cavity mode is simultaneously resonant with the generation of two photons in a second mode. We find that the coexistence of the two resonances leads to effective couplings between the modes which in turn generate entanglement.
generates photons in the electromagnetic modes. We coupled a Josephson junction to two resonators at frequencies 1 2; when voltage-biased at 2eV = h 1 + h 2, Cooper pairs can tunnel only if two photons, one at each frequency, are simultaneously emitted. We measured the cross-correlations between the emission rates and showed that a Cauchy-Schwarz inequality is violated. This result, in agreement with theoretical prediction made by Leppakangas and coworkers 1 , reveals the amplitude two-mode squeezing. Our setup is a easy way to produce non-classical microwave radiation from a battery. We believe that this source is a good candidate for producing pairs of entangled photons with high rate (few hundreds of MHz).
The interaction between propagating microwave fields and Cooper-pair tunneling across a DC-voltage-biased Josephson junction can be highly nonlinear. We show theoretically that this nonlinearity can be used to convert an incoming single microwave photon into an outgoing nnn-photon Fock state in a different mode. In this process, the electrostatic energy released in a Cooper-pair tunneling event is transferred to the outgoing Fock state, providing energy gain. The created multiphoton Fock state is frequency entangled and highly bunched. The conversion can be made reflectionless (impedance matched) so that all incoming photons are converted to nnn-photon states. With realistic parameters, multiplication ratios n>2n>2n>2 can be reached. By two consecutive multiplications, the outgoing Fock-state number can get sufficiently large to accurately discriminate it from vacuum with linear postamplification and power measurement. Therefore, this amplification scheme can be used as a single-photon detector without dead time.
Entanglement is one of the most fascinating properties of quantum mechanical systems; when two particles are entangled the measurement of the properties of one of the two allows the properties of the other to be instantaneously known, whatever the distance separating them. In parallel with fundamental research on the foundations of quantum mechanics performed on complex experimental set-ups, we assist today with bourgeoning of quantum information technologies bound to exploit entanglement for a large variety of applications such as secure communications, metrology and computation. Among the different physical systems under investigation, those involving photonic components are likely to play a central role and in this context semiconductor materials exhibit a huge potential in terms of integration of several quantum components in miniature chips. In this article we review the recent progress in the development of semiconductor devices emitting entangled photons. We will present the physical processes allowing the generation of entanglement and the tools to characterize it; we will give an overview of major recent results of the last few years and highlight perspectives for future developments.