A Superconducting Single-Atom Phonon Laser

  1. C.A. Potts,
  2. W.J.M. Franse,
  3. V.A.S.V. Bittencourt,
  4. A. Metelmann,
  5. and G. A. Steele
The development of quantum acoustics has enabled the cooling of mechanical objects to their quantum ground state, generation of mechanical Fock-states, and Schrodinger cat states. Such
demonstrations have made mechanical resonators attractive candidates for quantum information processing, metrology, and tests of quantum gravity theories. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a direct quantum-acoustic equivalent of a single-atom laser. A single superconducting qubit coupled to a high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator is used to drive the onset of phonon lasing. We observe the absence of a sharp lower lasing threshold and characteristic upper lasing threshold, unique predictions of single-atom lasing. Lasing of an object with an unprecedented 25 ug mass represents a new regime of laser physics and provides a foundation for integrating phonon lasers with on-chip devices.