Towards a lossless and integrable circulator for quantum superconducting microwave systems: Theory of operation

ORAL

Abstract

Lossless and integrable microwave circulators operating in the 4-8 GHz band are a critical, missing component in superconducting microwave quantum technology. Circulators are non-reciprocal devices used to impose a unidirectional flow of microwave signals. We report on progress towards an all-superconducting microwave circuit potentially capable of integrating with other quantum technologies and replacing many instances of the lossy and non-integrable ferrite circulators used in all contemporary quantum microwave experiments. Non-reciprocity is achieved through relatively weak (sub-Gauss) and slow ($\sim$ 100 MHz) dynamically-modulated magnetic fields that tune the linear susceptibility of SQUID arrays in a four-port, resonant circuit. Our design's basic theory of operation will be covered in this presentation.

*This work is supported by the ARO under the contract W911NF-14-1-0079

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Authors

  • Joseph Kerckhoff

    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
    • JILA, University of Colorado Boulder
    • JILA, University of Colorado

  • Benjamin J. Chapman

    • JILA, University of Colorado Boulder
    • JILA, University of Colorado

  • Kevin Lalumi\`ere

    • D\'epartement de Physique, Universit\'e de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu\'ebec, Canada J1K 2R1
    • Sherbrooke University
    • Universit\'e de Sherbrooke

  • Alexandre Blais

    • D\'{e}partment de Physique, Universit\'{e} de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu\'{e}bec, Canada
    • D\'epartement de Physique, Universit\'e de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu\'ebec, Canada J1K 2R1
    • Sherbrooke University
    • Universit\'e de Sherbrooke
    • D\'epartement de Physique, Universit\'e de Sherbrooke

  • K.W. Lehnert

    • JILA
    • JILA, National Institute of Standards, Boulder, CO, University of Colorado Boulder
    • JILA, University of Colorado and NIST