Tunable coherent microwave beam splitter and combiner at the single-photon level
Journal article, 2025
A beam splitter is a key component used to direct and combine light paths in various optical and microwave systems. It plays a crucial role in devices like interferometers, such as the Mach-Zehnder and Hong-Ou-Mandel setups, where it splits light into different paths for interference measurements. These measurements are vital for precise phase and coherence testing in both classical and quantum optical experiments. In this work, we present a nonlinear beam splitter and beam combiner utilizing a frequency-tunable superconducting artificial atom in a one-dimensional open waveguide. Probed with coherent states at the single-photon level (average photon number ⟨ N ⟩ ≪ 1 ), this device demonstrates highly tunable transparency, ranging from near unity to complete reflection. Additionally, the beam combiner can merge two coherent beams, generating interference fringes as the relative phase between them varies.
Beam splitter
Interferometry
Superconducting devices
Microwave frequencies
Superconducting quantum computing
Author
Y. H. Huang
National Tsing Hua University
K. M. Hsieh
City University of Hong Kong
F. Aziz
National Tsing Hua University
Z. Q. Niu
Chinese Academy of Sciences
ShanghaiTech University
P. Y. Wen
National Chung Cheng University
Yu Ting Cheng
City University of Hong Kong
Y. S. Tsai
National Tsing Hua University
J. C. Chen
National Tsing Hua University
Xin Wang
City University of Hong Kong
Anton Frisk Kockum
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Applied Quantum Physics
Z. R. Lin
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yen Hsiang Lin
National Tsing Hua University
Io Chun Hoi
City University of Hong Kong
National Tsing Hua University
Applied Physics Letters
0003-6951 (ISSN) 1077-3118 (eISSN)
Vol. 127 1 014002Quantum simulation and communication with giant atoms
Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (FFL21-0279), 2022-08-01 -- 2027-12-31.
Open Superconducting Quantum Computers (OpenSuperQPlus)
European Commission (EC) (EC/HE/101113946), 2023-03-01 -- 2026-08-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Condensed Matter Physics
Other Physics Topics
DOI
10.1063/5.0272687