Kouichi Semba

Vacuum Rabi Oscillations in a Macroscopic Superconducting Qubit LC Oscillator System

We have observed the coherent exchange of a single energy quantum between a flux qubit and a superconducting LC circuit acting as a quantum harmonic oscillator. The exchange of an energy quantum is known as the vacuum Rabi oscillation: the qubit is oscillating between the excited state and the ground state and the oscillator between the vacuum state and the first excited state. We also show that we can detect the state of the oscillator with the qubit and thereby obtained evidence of level quantization of the LC circuit. Our results support the idea of using oscillators as couplers of solid-state qubits.

Superconducting qubit–oscillator circuit beyond the ultrastrong-coupling regime

A circuit that pairs a flux qubit with an LC oscillator via Josephson junctions pushes the coupling between light to matter to uncharted territory, with the potential for new applications in quantum technologies. The interaction between an atom and the electromagnetic field inside a cavity1,2,3,4,5,6 has played a crucial role in developing our understanding of light–matter interaction, and is central to various quantum technologies, including lasers and many quantum computing architectures. Superconducting qubits7,8 have allowed the realization of strong9,10 and ultrastrong11,12,13 coupling between artificial atoms and cavities. If the coupling strength g becomes as large as the atomic and cavity frequencies (Δ and ωo, respectively), the energy eigenstates including the ground state are predicted to be highly entangled14. There has been an ongoing debate15,16,17 over whether it is fundamentally possible to realize this regime in realistic physical systems. By inductively coupling a flux qubit and an LC oscillator via Josephson junctions, we have realized circuits with g/ωo ranging from 0.72 to 1.34 and g/Δ ≫ 1. Using spectroscopy measurements, we have observed unconventional transition spectra that are characteristic of this new regime. Our results provide a basis for ground-state-based entangled pair generation and open a new direction of research on strongly correlated light–matter states in circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Dephasing of a superconducting qubit induced by photon noise

We have studied the dephasing of a superconducting flux qubit coupled to a dc-SQUID based oscillator. By varying the bias conditions of both circuits we were able to tune their effective coupling strength. This allowed us to measure the effect of such a controllable and well-characterized environment on the qubit coherence. We can quantitatively account for our data with a simple model in which thermal fluctuations of the photon number in the oscillator are the limiting factor. In particular, we observe a strong reduction of the dephasing rate whenever the coupling is tuned to zero. At the optimal point we find a large spin-echo decay time of .

All-MgB2 Josephson tunnel junctions

Sandwich-type all-MgB2 Josephson tunnel junctions (MgB2∕AlOx∕MgB2) have been fabricated with as-grown MgB2 films formed by molecular-beam epitaxy. The junctions exhibit substantial superconducting current (IcRN product ∼0.8mV at 4.2 K), a well-defined superconducting gap (Δ=2.2–2.3mV), and clear Fraunhofer patterns. The superconducting gap voltage of Δ agrees well with the smaller gap in the multigap scenario. The results demonstrate that MgB2 has great promise for superconducting electronics that can be operated at T∼20K.

Two-photon probe of the Jaynes-Cummings model and symmetry breaking in circuit QED

Superconducting qubits behave as artificial two-level atoms and are used to investigate fundamental quantum phenomena. In this context, the study of multi-photon excitations occupies a central role. Moreover, coupling superconducting qubits to on-chip microwave resonators has given rise to the field of circuit QED. In contrast to quantum-optical cavity QED, circuit QED offers the tunability inherent to solid-state circuits. In this work, we report on the observation of key signatures of a two-photon driven Jaynes-Cummings model, which unveils the upconversion dynamics of a superconducting flux qubit coupled to an on-chip resonator. Our experiment and theoretical analysis show clear evidence for the coexistence of one- and two-photon driven level anticrossings of the qubit-resonator system. This results from the symmetry breaking of the system Hamiltonian, when parity becomes a not well-defined property. Our study provides deep insight into the interplay of multiphoton processes and symmetries in a qubit-resonator system.

Multiphoton transitions in a macroscopic quantum two-state system.

We have observed multiphoton transitions between two macroscopic quantum-mechanical superposition states formed by two opposite circulating currents in a superconducting loop with three Josephson junctions. Resonant peaks and dips of up to three-photon transitions were observed in spectroscopic measurements when the system was irradiated with a strong rf-photon field. The widths of the multiphoton absorption dips are shown to scale with the Bessel functions in agreement with theoretical predictions derived from the Bloch equation or from a spin-boson model.

Parametric control of a superconducting flux qubit.

Parametric control of a superconducting flux qubit has been achieved by using two-frequency microwave pulses. We have observed Rabi oscillations stemming from parametric transitions between the qubit states when the sum of the two microwave frequencies or the difference between them matches the qubit Larmor frequency. We have also observed multiphoton Rabi oscillations corresponding to one- to four-photon resonances by applying single-frequency microwave pulses. The parametric control demonstrated in this work widens the frequency range of microwaves for controlling the qubit and offers a high quality testing ground for exploring nonlinear quantum phenomena of macroscopically distinct states.

Oxygen-Defect Perovskite Structure with Superconducting Tc above 50 K in La-Ba-Cu-O Compound System

It is shown experimentally that the La-Ba-Cu-O system has a new high-Tc phase La2Ba4Cu6O14+y with oxygen-defect perovskite structure, other than the well-known La2-xBaxCuO4 with K2NiF4 structure. The new phase shows a superconducting transition at much higher temperatures (Tc onset>55 K, Tc endpoint>42 K) as compared with the K2NiF4 type phase.

High Tc superconductivities of A2Ba4Cu6O14−y

Superconductivities of A22Ba44Cu6O14+y (0<y<2.5, A = lanthanides except for Pm) compounds are studied through X-ray powder diffraction pattern analysis and electrical resistance measurement. Resultant compounds in case of A = La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb except for Ce, Pr, Tb and Lu exhibit both characteristic diffraction patterns for A2Ba4Cu6O14+y, i.e., oxygen defect perovskite (GDP) and superconducting state. Key structure for realizing high Tc more than 90 K and narrow transition width is confirmed to be related with the GDP phase.

Observation of dark states in a superconductor diamond quantum hybrid system.

The hybridization of distinct quantum systems has opened new avenues to exploit the best properties of these individual systems. Superconducting circuits and electron spin ensembles are one such example. Strong coupling and the coherent transfer and storage of quantum information has been achieved with nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond. Recently, we have observed a remarkably sharp resonance (~1 MHz) at 2.878 GHz in the spectrum of flux qubit negatively charged nitrogen vacancy diamond hybrid quantum system under zero external magnetic field. This width is much narrower than that of both the flux qubit and spin ensemble. Here we show that this resonance is evidence of a collective dark state in the ensemble, which is coherently driven by the superposition of clockwise and counter-clockwise macroscopic persistent supercurrents flowing in the flux qubit. The collective dark state is a unique physical system and could provide a long-lived quantum memory.