A new class of dynamic quantum metamaterials (original) (raw)

Reconfigurable quantum metamaterials

Opt. Express, 2011

By coupling controllable quantum systems into larger structures we introduce the concept of a quantum metamaterial. Conventional metamaterials represent one of the most important frontiers in optical design, with applications in diverse fields ranging from medicine to aerospace. Up until now however, metamaterials have themselves been classical structures and interact only with the classical properties of light. Here we describe a class of dynamic metamaterials, based on the quantum properties of coupled atom-cavity arrays, which are intrinsically lossless, reconfigurable, and operate fundamentally at the quantum level. We show how this new class of metamaterial could be used to create a reconfigurable quantum superlens possessing a negative index gradient for single photon imaging. With the inherent features of quantum superposition and entanglement of metamaterial properties, this new class of dynamic quantum metamaterial, opens a new vista for quantum science and technology.

Quantum Metamaterials: Applications in quantum information science

2020

Metamaterials are artificially engineered periodic structures with exceptional optical properties that are not found in conventional materials. However, this definition of metamaterials can be extended if we introduce a quantum degree of freedom by adding some quantum elements (e.g quantum dots, cold atoms, Josephson junctions, molecules). Quantum metamaterials can then be defined as artificially engineered nanostructures made up of quantum elements. Furthermore, they exhibit controllable quantum states, maintain quantum coherence for times much higher than the transversal time of the electromagnetic signal. Metamaterials have been used to realised invisibility cloaking, super-resolution, energy harvesting, and sensing. Most of these applications are performed in the classical regime. Of recent, metamaterials have gradually found their way into the quantum regime, particularly to quantum sensing and quantum information processing. The use of quantum metamaterials for quantum informa...

Tunable refraction in a two dimensional quantum metamaterial

2012

In this paper we consider a two-dimensional metamaterial comprising an array of qubits (two level quantum objects). Here we show that a two-dimensional quantum metamaterial may be controlled, e.g. via the application of a magnetic flux, so as to provide controllable refraction of an input signal. Our results are consistent with a material that could be quantum birefringent (beam splitter) or not dependent on the application of this control parameter. We note that quantum metamaterials as proposed here may be fabricated from a variety of current candidate technologies from superconducting qubits to quantum dots. Thus the ideas proposed in this work would be readily testable in existing state of the art laboratories. 78.67.Pt,81.05.Xj,03.65.Yz, Quantum metamaterials, i.e., artificial optical media, which maintain quantum coherence over the signal traversal time, hold promise of becoming a testing ground for the investigation of the quantum-classical transition, interesting new phenomena in wave propagation, and unusual technological applications . With strong analogies existing between atomic physics, quantum optics and superconducting systems it is natural to seek technologies that span these fields . Solid state quantum metamaterials is one such class of devices where such parallels can be leveraged to great utility. Indeed, emphasising such a synergy, the implementation of a quantum metamaterial in the optical range is feasible . In our view, the experimental realisation of the concept is likely to be achieved first in the microwave range, as was the case with conventional metamaterials . We believe that the best candidate system system would comprise superconducting qubits playing the role of controllable artificial atoms. This view is supported by the ability of superconducting flux qubits to play the role of quantum scatterers -a phenomena that has been both theoretically modelled and experimentally observed [8-10].

Quantum metamaterial without local control

Physical Review B, 2013

A quantum metamaterial can be implemented as a quantum coherent 1D array of qubits placed in a transmission line. The properties of quantum metamaterials are determined by the local quantum state of the system. Here we show that a spatially-periodic quantum state of such a system can be realized without direct control of the constituent qubits, by their interaction with the initializing ("priming") pulses sent through the system in opposite directions. The properties of the resulting quantum photonic crystal are determined by the choice of the priming pulses. This proposal can be readily generalized to other implementations of quantum metamaterials.

Implementation of a quantum metamaterial using superconducting qubits

Nature communications, 2014

The key issue for the implementation of a metamaterial is to demonstrate the existence of collective modes corresponding to coherent oscillations of the meta-atoms. Atoms of natural materials interact with electromagnetic fields as quantum two-level systems. Artificial quantum two-level systems can be made, for example, using superconducting nonlinear resonators cooled down to their ground state. Here we perform an experiment in which 20 of these quantum meta-atoms, so-called flux qubits, are embedded into a microwave resonator. We observe the dispersive shift of the resonator frequency imposed by the qubit metamaterial and the collective resonant coupling of eight qubits. The realized prototype represents a mesoscopic limit of naturally occurring spin ensembles and as such we demonstrate the AC-Zeeman shift of a resonant qubit ensemble. The studied system constitutes the implementation of a basic quantum metamaterial in the sense that many artificial atoms are coupled collectively ...

Quantum metamaterials in the microwave and optical ranges

EPJ Quantum Technology, 2016

Quantum metamaterials generalize the concept of metamaterials (artificial optical media) to the case when their optical properties are determined by the interplay of quantum effects in the constituent 'artificial atoms' with the electromagnetic field modes in the system. The theoretical investigation of these structures demonstrated that a number of new effects (such as quantum birefringence, strongly nonclassical states of light, etc) are to be expected, prompting the efforts on their fabrication and experimental investigation. Here we provide a summary of the principal features of quantum metamaterials and review the current state of research in this quickly developing field, which bridges quantum optics, quantum condensed matter theory and quantum information processing. Contents

Subwavelength imaging with quantum metamaterials

Physical Review B, 2012

We study the potential of a novel "quantum metamaterial" for subwavelength imaging applications in the midinfrared. Because the layers that comprise the metamaterial have in-plane and out-of-plane dielectric responses that are determined by different physical mechanisms (Drude free electron response and quantized electronic transitions, respectively), their resonances are polarization sensitive and can be designed independently. The result is a negatively refracting anisotropic effective medium with losses, described by the figure of merit, FOM = Re(k ⊥)/Im(k ⊥) ∼ 200 (k ⊥ is the wave vector), that are significantly lower than metamaterials based on classical layered systems. We find that, with sample design parameters that are realistically achievable with conventional epitaxy technologies, it is possible to obtain negative refraction for all incident angles, and finite element modeling studies indicate that these structures can function as so-called "hyperlenses," offering low-loss ∼λ/13 spatial resolution at mid-IR wavelengths of λ ∼ 10 μm.

Light Manipulation by Quantum Metamaterials

We propose a novel mechanism of light manipulation by using the quantum metamaterial which consists of a large number of linearly arranged superconduc-ting charge qubits. The experimental confirmation of this idea may open up a new way to potentially powerful quantum computing. Keywords: light slowing down, superconducting quantum metamaterials, quantum information and computing.

A quantum way for metamaterials

2011

A new future for metamaterials is suggested, involving the insertion of quantum degrees of freedom, under the guise of quantum dots or cold atoms, in an photonic matrix. It is argued that new emergent, quantum, properties could be obtained.