Tunable coherent microwave beam splitter and combiner at the single-photon level
Abstract
A beam splitter is a key component used to direct and combine light paths in various optical and microwave systems. It plays a crucial role in devices like interferometers, such as the Mach–Zehnder and Hong–Ou–Mandel setups, where it splits light into different paths for interference measurements. These measurements are vital for precise phase and coherence testing in both classical and quantum optical experiments. In this work, we present a nonlinear beam splitter and beam combiner utilizing a frequency-tunable superconducting artificial atom in a one-dimensional open waveguide. Probed with coherent states at the single-photon level (average photon number ⟨N⟩ ≪1), this device demonstrates highly tunable transparency, ranging from near unity to complete reflection. Additionally, the beam combiner can merge two coherent beams, generating interference fringes as the relative phase between them varies.
Article Details
Journal Info
Applied Physics Letters
American Institute of Physics
Authors (13)
Y.-H. Huang
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,
K.-M. Hsieh
Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong 2 , Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077,
F. Aziz
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,
Z. Q. Niu
State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 3 , Shanghai 200050,
P. Y. Wen
Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University 5 , Chiayi 621301,
Y.-T. Cheng
Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong 2 , Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077,
Y.-S. Tsai
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,
J. C. Chen
Xin Wang
A. F. Kockum
Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology 7 , 412 96 Gothenburg,
Z.-R. Lin
State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences 3 , Shanghai 200050,
Y.-H. Lin
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,
I.-C. Hoi
Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,