Tunable frequency conversion and comb generation with a superconducting artificial atom

F Fahad Aziz (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,) Z Zhengqi Niu (State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), Chinese Academy of Science 3 , Shanghai 200050,) T Tzu-Yen Hsieh (Department of Physics and CQSE, National Taiwan University 4 , Taipei 10617,) K Kuan Ting Lin (Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing Laboratory, Hon Hai Research Institute 5 , Taipei 11492,) Y Yu-Huan Huang (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,) Y Yen-Hsiang Lin (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,) C Ching-Yeh Chen (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,) Y Yu-Ting Cheng K Kai-Min Hsieh (Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong 2 , Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077,) J Jeng-Chung Chen (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,) A Anton Frisk Kockum G Guin-Dar Lin (Department of Physics and CQSE, National Taiwan University 4 , Taipei 10617,) Z Zhi-Rong Lin (State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), Chinese Academy of Science 3 , Shanghai 200050,) P Ping-Yi Wen (Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University 9 , Chiayi 621301,) I Io-Chun Hoi (Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,)

Abstract

We investigate the power spectral density emitted by a superconducting artificial atom coupled to the end of a semi-infinite transmission line and driven by two continuous radio frequency fields. In this setup, we observe the generation of multiple frequency peaks and the formation of frequency combs with equal detuning between those peaks. The frequency peaks originate from wave mixing of the drive fields, mediated by the artificial atom, highlighting the potential of this system as both a frequency converter and a frequency-comb generator. We demonstrate precise control and tunability in generating these frequency features, aligning well with theoretical predictions, across a relatively wide frequency range (tens of MHz, exceeding the linewidth of the artificial atom). The extensive and simple tunability of this frequency converter and comb generator, combined with its small physical footprint, makes it promising for quantum optics on chips and other applications in quantum technology.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 129, Issue 1
Published July 06, 2026
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

F

Fahad Aziz

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,

Z

Zhengqi Niu

State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), Chinese Academy of Science 3 , Shanghai 200050,

T

Tzu-Yen Hsieh

Department of Physics and CQSE, National Taiwan University 4 , Taipei 10617,

K

Kuan Ting Lin

Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing Laboratory, Hon Hai Research Institute 5 , Taipei 11492,

Y

Yu-Huan Huang

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,

Y

Yen-Hsiang Lin

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,

C

Ching-Yeh Chen

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,

Y

Yu-Ting Cheng

K

Kai-Min Hsieh

Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong 2 , Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077,

J

Jeng-Chung Chen

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,

A

Anton Frisk Kockum

G

Guin-Dar Lin

Department of Physics and CQSE, National Taiwan University 4 , Taipei 10617,

Z

Zhi-Rong Lin

State Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuits, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), Chinese Academy of Science 3 , Shanghai 200050,

P

Ping-Yi Wen

Department of Physics, National Chung Cheng University 9 , Chiayi 621301,

I

Io-Chun Hoi

Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua University 1 , Hsinchu 30013,