Quantum superposition of a single microwave photon in two different colour states

Published

July 3, 2011

Author(s)

Eva A. Zakka-Bajjani, Francois E. Nguyen, Minhyea Lee, Leila R. Vale, Raymond Simmonds, Joe Aumentado

Abstract

The ability to manipulate photonic states is an important tool for quantum information processing. In cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED), coupling between bosonic modes has, until now, required a qubit to mediate the interaction. As an alternative, it is also possible to generate this coupling using parametric frequency conversion. In this work, we accomplish this in a superconducting microwave circuit by parametrically coupling resonator harmonics, realizing a generalized beam- splitter interaction between cavity modes. We demonstrate this by coherently manipulating a single photon Fock state in a strongly-coupled mode basis. This introduces a new tool for circuit-based QED, creating a linear optical element that had previously been confined to propagating waves and extends the possibilities for the developing field of quantum microwave photonics.

Citation

Science/AAAS

Volume

7

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

DOI Link

Citation

Zakka-Bajjani, E. , Nguyen, F. , Lee, M. , Vale, L. , Simmonds, R. and Aumentado, J. (2011), Quantum superposition of a single microwave photon in two different colour states, Science/AAAS, [online], https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS2035 (Accessed October 14, 2025)