cross-Kerr Effect Research Articles

Polarization entanglement purification of nonlocal microwave photons based on the cross-Kerr effect in circuit QED

Microwave photons have become very important qubits in quantum communication as the first quantum satellite has been launched successfully. Therefore, it is a necessary and meaningful task for ensuring the high security and efficiency of microwave-based quantum communication in practice. Here, we present an original polarization entanglement purification protocol for nonlocal microwave photons based on the cross-Kerr effect in circuit quantum electrodynamics (QED). Our protocol can solve the problem that the purity of maximally entangled states used for constructing quantum channels will decrease due to decoherence from environment noise. This task is accomplished by means of the polarization parity-check quantum nondemolition (QND) detector, the bit-flipping operation, and the linear microwave elements. The QND detector is composed of several cross-Kerr effect systems which can be realized by coupling two superconducting transmission line resonators to a superconducting molecule with the N-type level structure. We give the applicable experimental parameters of QND measurement system in circuit QED and analyze the fidelities. Our protocol has good applications in long-distance quantum communication assisted by microwave photons in the future, such as satellite quantum communication.

Period-tripling subharmonic oscillations in a driven superconducting resonator

We have observed period-tripling subharmonic oscillations in a driven superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator operated in the quantum regime, ${k}_{B}T\ensuremath{\ll}\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$. The resonator is terminated by a tunable inductance that provides a Kerr-type nonlinearity. We detected the output field quadratures at frequencies near the fundamental mode, $\ensuremath{\omega}/2\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\sim}5\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GHz}$, when driving the resonator with a current at $3\ensuremath{\omega}$, with amplitude exceeding an instability threshold. We observed three stable radiative states with equal amplitudes, phase shifted by $2\ensuremath{\pi}/3$ rad, red detuned from the fundamental mode. The down-conversion from $3\ensuremath{\omega}$ to $\ensuremath{\omega}$ is strongly enhanced by near-resonant excitation of the second mode of the resonator and the cross-Kerr effect. Our experimental results are in quantitative agreement with a model for the driven dynamics of two coupled modes.

Circuit QED: cross-Kerr effect induced by a superconducting qutrit without classical pulses

The realization of cross-Kerr nonlinearity is an important task for many applications in quantum information processing. In this work, we propose a method for realizing cross-Kerr nonlinearity interaction between two superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators coupled by a three-level superconducting flux qutrit (coupler). By employing the qutrit-resonator dispersive interaction, we derive an effective Hamiltonian involving two-photon number operators and a coupler operator. This Hamiltonian can be used to describe a cross-Kerr nonlinearity interaction between two resonators when the coupler is in the ground state. Because the coupler is unexcited during the entire process, the effect of coupler decoherence can be greatly minimized. More importantly, compared with the previous proposals, our proposal does not require classical pulses. Furthermore, due to use of only a three-level qutrit, the experimental setup is much simplified when compared with previous proposals requiring a four-level artificial atomic systems. Based on our Hamiltonian, we implement a two-resonator qubits controlled-phase gate and generate a two-resonator entangled coherent state. Numerical simulation shows that the high-fidelity implementation of the phase gate and creation of the entangled coherent state are feasible with current circuit QED technology.

Hybrid Three-Mode Correlation and Squeezing in a Pr3+:YSO Crystal

We report the generation of three-mode hybrid intensity-noise correlation and intensity-difference squeezing of spontaneous parametric four-wave mixing (SP-FWM) and fourth-order fluorescence (FL) signals in the heteronuclear-like (three-level Λ-type) molecular structure of a Pr3+:Y2SiO5 (Pr3+:YSO) crystal using the nonlinear cross-Kerr effect under a polarized dressing effect. In the semi-classical view of a Kerr nonlinear medium, the amplitude of two-mode hybrid correlations of this kind is subject to a limit determined by the hybrid maximally entangled state. Whereas the degree of correlation and squeezing is determined by the dressing effects of the input laser fields participating in the SP-FWM process. We also find that the variations in magnitude of three-mode hybrid intensity-noise correlation and intensity-difference squeezing are consistent with nonlinear cross-Kerr processes. Such a three-mode hybrid signal may have potential applications in long-distance communication, dense coding, all-optical communication and quantum storage on photonic chips.

Entanglement concentration of microwave photons based on the Kerr effect in circuit QED

In recent years, superconducting qubits show great potential in quantum computation. Hence, microwave photons become very interesting qubits for quantum information processing assisted by superconducting quantum computation. Here, we present the first protocol for the entanglement concentration on microwave photons, resorting to the cross-Kerr effect in circuit quantum electrodynamics (QED). Two superconducting transmission line resonators (TLRs) coupled to superconducting molecule with the N-type level structure induce the effective cross-Kerr effect for realizing the quantum nondemolition (QND) measurement on microwave photons. With this device, we present a two-qubit polarization parity QND detector on the photon states of the superconducting TLRs, which can be used to concentrate efficiently the nonlocal non-maximally entangled states of microwave photons assisted by several linear microwave elements. This protocol has a high efficiency and it may be useful for solid-state quantum information processing assisted by microwave photons.

Cross-Kerr effect on an optomechanical system

We study cross-Kerr (CK) effect on an optomechanical system driven by two-tone fields. We show that in the presence of the CK effect, a bistable behavior of the mean photon number in the cavity becomes more robust against the fluctuations of the frequency detuning between the cavity mode and the control field. The bistability can also be turned into a tri-stability within the experimentally accessible range of the system parameters. Also, we find that the symmetric profile of the optomechanically induced transparency is broken and the zero-absorption point is shifted in the presence of the CK effect. This shift can be used to measure the strength of the CK effect, and the asymmetric absorption profiles can be employed to engineer a high quality factor of the cavity.

Enhanced cross-Kerr effect for probing tunnelling in coupled quantum dots

An efficient scheme for probing electron tunnelling is proposed based on the enhanced cross-Kerr nonlinearity in a double–dot system. Due to resonant tunnelling, the cross-Kerr nonlinearity arises in a transparency window. Its intensity is nearly two orders of magnitude greater than that of the self-Kerr effect under any given conditions, where residual absorption is suppressed due to the competition of nonlinear gain and absorption. The enhanced cross-Kerr effect is sensitive to the tunnelling, so the probe spectrum can detect subtle tunnelling changes. The simulation results show that the probe sensitivity of the nonlinear phase shift is about 0.28 rad/μeV.

Single-Photon-Resolved Cross-Kerr Interaction for Autonomous Stabilization of Photon-Number States.

Quantum states can be stabilized in the presence of intrinsic and environmental losses by either applying an active feedback condition on an ancillary system or through reservoir engineering. Reservoir engineering maintains a desired quantum state through a combination of drives and designed entropy evacuation. We propose and implement a quantum-reservoir engineering protocol that stabilizes Fock states in a microwave cavity. This protocol is realized with a circuit quantum electrodynamics platform where a Josephson junction provides direct, nonlinear coupling between two superconducting waveguide cavities. The nonlinear coupling results in a single-photon-resolved cross-Kerr effect between the two cavities enabling a photon-number-dependent coupling to a lossy environment. The quantum state of the microwave cavity is discussed in terms of a net polarization and is analyzed by a measurement of its steady state Wigner function.

Kerr coefficients of plasma resonances in Josephson junction chains

We present an experimental and theoretical analysis of the self- and cross-Kerr effect of extended plasma resonances in Josephson junction chains. We calculate the Kerr coefficients by deriving and diagonalizing the Hamiltonian of a linear circuit model for the chain and then adding the Josephson non-linearity as a perturbation. The calculated Kerr-coefficients are compared with the measurement data of a chain of 200 junctions. The Kerr effect manifests itself as a frequency shift that depends linearly on the number of photons in a resonant mode. By changing the input power on a low signal level, we are able to measure this shift. The photon number is calibrated using the self-Kerr shift calculated from the sample parameters. We then compare the measured cross-Kerr shift with the theoretical prediction, using the calibrated photon number.

Atom–atom entanglement dynamics enhancement via classically driven atoms coupled to a non-resonance single mode cavity field filled with nonlinear Kerr media

Entanglement dynamics of two identical non-interacting atoms (qubits) coupled individually with simultaneous classical and quantum fields are studied. The cavity field is filled with a nonlinear Kerr medium and initially prepared in a coherent state. The atoms are initially set up as a Bell-like pure state (BS). We present an approach for diagonalization of time-dependent nonlinear Hamiltonian of the system exactly. Connection between the change in the degree of entanglement and tomography of field state in phase space are also illustrated and interpreted. We demonstrate the possibility of atom–atom (qubit–qubit) entanglement optimization by suitably choosing initial interaction settings. Overall, we show that both classical driving amplitude and detuning as well as Kerr media and initial atomic states acts as the control parameters for the qubit–qubit entanglement. By adjusting of these parameters, accurately, entanglement can be enhanced noticeably and high degree of steady periodical entanglement can be generated. Moreover, starting with initial atomic BSs in presence of classical driving suppresses coherences randomness and considerably accompanied with (for specific values of detuning) slight decrease in their amplitudes. Furthermore, the addition of cross Kerr term suppresses degree of entanglement noticeably, where entanglement creation and enhancement could just be possible if cross Kerr effect is moved out from interaction. Our present approach promises the great advantage of being suitable for large quantum systems of various kinds of nonlinearities.

Cross-Kerr nonlinearity in optomechanical systems

We consider the response of a nanomechanical resonator interacting with an electromagnetic cavity via a radiation pressure coupling and a cross-Kerr coupling. Using a mean field approach we solve the dynamics of the system, and show the different corrections coming from the radiation pressure and the cross-Kerr effect to the usually considered linearized dynamics.

Phase grating in a doubly degenerate four-level system

In this paper, we suggest a doubly degenerate four-level system, in which the transition takes place between the hyperfine energy 52S1/2 F = 1 and 52P3/2 F = 2 in rubidium 87 D2 line, for studying atomic phase grating based on the cross-Kerr and phase conjugation effects. The phase grating with high efficiency can be obtained by tuning phase shift Φ between the coupling and probe field, when the coupling intensity is much stronger than the strength of probe field. Under different coupling intensities, a high diffraction efficiency can be maintained. A new and simple way of implementing phase grating is presented. However, in such an atomic system, two main limitations must be taken into account. First, the independence between steady state probe susceptibility and the coupling intensity, when the population decay rate is larger than the Rabi frequency of the coupling field, cannot result in diffraction grating; second, the sample to be prepared should not be too long.

Giant Cross–Kerr Effect for Propagating Microwaves Induced by an Artificial Atom

We investigate the effective interaction between two microwave fields, mediated by a transmon-type superconducting artificial atom which is strongly coupled to a coplanar transmission line. The interaction between the fields and atom produces an effective cross-Kerr coupling. We demonstrate average cross-Kerr phase shifts of up to 20 degrees per photon with both coherent microwave fields at the single-photon level. Our results provide an important step toward quantum applications with propagating microwave photons.

Nonlinear cross-Kerr quasiclassical dynamics

We study the quasiclassical dynamics of the cross-Kerr effect. In this approximation, the typical periodical revivals of the decorrelation between the two polarization modes disappear and remain entangled. By mapping the dynamics onto the Poincaré space, we find simple conditions for polarization squeezing. When dissipation is taken into account, the shape of the states in such a space is not considerably modified, but their size is reduced.

Breakdown of the Cross-Kerr Scheme for Photon Counting

We show, in the context of single-photon detection, that an atomic three-level model for a transmon in a transmission line does not support the predictions of the nonlinear polarizability model known as the cross-Kerr effect. We show that the induced displacement of a probe in the presence or absence of a single photon in the signal field, cannot be resolved above the quantum noise in the probe. This strongly suggests that cross-Kerr media are not suitable for photon counting or related single-photon applications. Our results are presented in the context of a transmon in a one-dimensional microwave waveguide, but the conclusions also apply to optical systems.

Josephson-junction-embedded transmission-line resonators: From Kerr medium to in-line transmon

We provide a general method to find the Hamiltonian of a linear circuit in the presence of a nonlinearity. Focussing on the case of a Josephson junction embedded in a transmission-line resonator, we solve for the normal modes of the system by taking into account exactly the effect of the quadratic (i.e. inductive) part of the Josephson potential. The nonlinearity is then found to lead to self and cross-Kerr effect, as well as beam-splitter type interactions between modes. By adjusting the parameters of the circuit, the Kerr coefficient K can be made to reach values that are weak (K < \kappa), strong (K > \kappa) or even very strong (K >> \kappa) with respect to the photon-loss rate \kappa. In the latter case, the resonator+junction circuit corresponds to an in-line version of the transmon. By replacing the single junction by a SQUID, the Kerr coefficient can be tuned in-situ, allowing for example the fast generation of Schr\"odinger cat states of microwave light. Finally, we explore the maximal strength of qubit-resonator coupling that can be reached in this setting.

Stability and time-domain analysis of the dispersive tristability in microresonators under modal coupling

Coupled nonlinear resonators have potential applications for the integration of multistable photonic devices. The dynamic properties of two coupled-mode nonlinear microcavities made of Kerr material are studied by linear stability analysis. Using a suitable combination of the modal coupling rate and the frequency detuning, it is possible to obtain configurations where a hysteresis loop is included inside other bistable cycles. We show that a single resonator with two modes both linearly and nonlinearly coupled via the cross-Kerr effect can have a multistable behavior. This could be implemented in semiconductor nonlinear whispering-gallery-mode microresonators under modal coupling for all optical signal processing or ternary optical logic applications.

Cross-phase modulation and population redistribution in a periodic tripod medium

The cross-Kerr effect is studied for two weak beams, probe and trigger, propagating in an atomic medium in a tripod configuration, dressed by a strong standing wave coupling beam in a regime of electromagnetically induced transparency. The nonlinear phase shifts for both transmitted and reflected probe beams induced by the trigger's presence are found to depend on the probe detuning, the control beam's intensity, the relaxation rates and, in particular, on the redistribution of the population among the atomic levels. Such a quantitative analysis indicates that the transmitted and reflected probe beam components and their respective phase shifts can be easily controlled and optimized.

Cross-Kerr nonlinearities in an optically dressed periodic medium

Cross-Kerr nonlinearities are analyzed for two light beams propagating in an atomic medium in the tripod configuration, dressed by a strong standing-wave laser field that induces periodic optical properties. The reflection and transmission spectra as well as the phases of both the reflected and transmitted components of the two beams are analyzed theoretically with nonlinearities up to third order being taken into account. Ranges of parameters are sought in which the cross-Kerr effect can be used as the basis of the phase gate.

EIT-assisted large cross-Kerr nonlinearity in a four-level inverted-Y atomic system

A four-level inverted-Y scheme with an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) core is investigated for the enhancement of cross-Kerr effect in rubidium atoms. When detunings of the coupling and control fields are appropriately set, an enhanced EIT window is observed, and the induced phase shift of the probe field due to cross-phase modulation (XPM) is obtained by measuring the dispersive property of the probe transition. The maximal XPM phase shift is about 12° under the current experimental conditions. The experimental measurements agree well with the theoretical calculations. The enhanced XPM phase shift in such an atomic system has applications in quantum nonlinear optics and quantum information science.