Tuning a 3D Microwave Cavity via Superfluid Helium at MilliKelvin Temperatures

Frequency tunability of 3D microwave cavities opens up numerous possibilities for their use in hybrid quantum systems and related technologies. For many applications it is desirable to tune the resonance at cryogenic temperatures without mechanical actuation. We show that a superconducting 3D microwave cavity can be tuned at the percent level by taking advantage of the dielectric properties of superfluid 4He at milliKelvin temperatures, without affecting its intrinsic quality factor — reaching 3×105 in the present experiment.