Demonstration of efficient nonreciprocity in a microwave optomechanical circuit

  1. G. A. Peterson,
  2. F. Lecocq,
  3. K. Cicak,
  4. R. W. Simmonds,
  5. J. Aumentado,
  6. and J. D. Teufel
The ability to engineer nonreciprocal interactions is an essential tool in modern communication technology as well as a powerful resource for building quantum networks. Aside from large
reverse isolation, a nonreciprocal device suitable for applications must also have high efficiency (low insertion loss) and low output noise. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown that nonreciprocal behavior can be achieved in optomechanical systems, but performance in these last two attributes has been limited. Here we demonstrate an efficient, frequency-converting microwave isolator based on the optomechanical interactions between electromagnetic fields and a mechanically compliant vacuum gap capacitor. We achieve simultaneous reverse isolation of more than 20 dB and insertion loss less than 1.5 dB over a bandwidth of 5 kHz. We characterize the nonreciprocal noise performance of the device, observing that the residual thermal noise from the mechanical environments is routed solely to the input of the isolator. Our measurements show quantitative agreement with a general coupled-mode theory. Unlike conventional isolators and circulators, these compact nonreciprocal devices do not require a static magnetic field, and they allow for dynamic control of the direction of isolation. With these advantages, similar devices could enable programmable, high-efficiency connections between disparate nodes of quantum networks, even efficiently bridging the microwave and optical domains.

Nonreciprocal microwave signal processing with a Field-Programmable Josephson Amplifier

  1. F. Lecocq,
  2. L. Ranzani,
  3. G. A. Peterson,
  4. K. Cicak,
  5. R. W. Simmonds,
  6. J. D. Teufel,
  7. and J. Aumentado
We report on the design and implementation of a Field Programmable Josephson Amplifier (FPJA) – a compact and lossless superconducting circuit that can be programmed extit{in
situ} by a set of microwave drives to perform reciprocal and nonreciprocal frequency conversion and amplification. In this work we demonstrate four modes of operation: frequency conversion (−0.5 dB transmission, −30 dB reflection), circulation (−0.5 dB transmission, −30 dB reflection, 30 dB isolation), phase-preserving amplification (gain >20 dB, 1 photon of added noise) and directional phase-preserving amplification (−10 dB reflection, 18 dB forward gain, 8 dB reverse isolation, 1 photon of added noise). The system exhibits quantitative agreement with theoretical prediction. Based on a gradiometric Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) with Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb Josephson junctions, the FPJA is first-order insensitive to flux noise and can be operated without magnetic shielding at low temperature. Due to its flexible design and compatibility with existing superconducting fabrication techniques, the FPJA offers a straightforward route toward on-chip integration with superconducting quantum circuits such as qubits or microwave optomechanical systems.

Broadband parametric amplification with impedance engineering: Beyond the gain-bandwidth product

  1. Tanay Roy,
  2. Suman Kundu,
  3. Madhavi Chand,
  4. Vadiraj A. M.,
  5. A. Ranadive,
  6. N. Nehra,
  7. Meghan P. Patankar,
  8. J. Aumentado,
  9. A. A. Clerk,
  10. and R. Vijay
We present an impedance engineered Josephson parametric amplifier capable of providing bandwidth beyond the traditional gain-bandwidth product. We achieve this by introducing a positive
linear slope in the imaginary component of the input impedance seen by the Josephson oscillator using a λ/2 transformer. Our theoretical model predicts an extremely flat gain profile with a bandwidth enhancement proportional to the square root of amplitude gain. We experimentally demonstrate a nearly flat 20 dB gain over a 640 MHz band, along with a mean 1-dB compression point of -110 dBm and near quantum-limited noise. The results are in good agreement with our theoretical model.

Tunable-Cavity QED with Phase Qubits

  1. J. D. Whittaker,
  2. F. C. S. da Silva,
  3. M. S. Allman,
  4. F. Lecocq,
  5. K. Cicak,
  6. A. J. Sirois,
  7. J. D. Teufel,
  8. J. Aumentado,
  9. and R. W. Simmonds
We describe a tunable-cavity QED architecture with an rf SQUID phase qubit inductively coupled to a single-mode, resonant cavity with a tunable frequency that allows for both microwave
readout of tunneling and dispersive measurements of the qubit. Dispersive measurement is well characterized by a three-level model, strongly dependent on qubit anharmonicity, qubit-cavity coupling and detuning. A tunable cavity frequency provides a way to strongly vary both the qubit-cavity detuning and coupling strength, which can reduce Purcell losses, cavity-induced dephasing of the qubit, and residual bus coupling for a system with multiple qubits. With our qubit-cavity system, we show that dynamic control over the cavity frequency enables one to avoid Purcell losses during coherent qubit evolutions and optimize state readout during qubit measurements. The maximum qubit decay time T1 = 1.5 μs is found to be limited by surface dielectric losses from a design geometry similar to planar transmon qubits.