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Rabi oscillations in a Josephson-junction charge two-level system
Y Nakamura1, Y A Pashkin, J S Tsai
1NEC Fundamental Research Laboratories, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8501, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|December 12, 2001
Summary
We observed quantum-state evolution in a Josephson-junction circuit driven by microwaves. Rabi oscillations revealed photon resonances, with frequencies matching Bessel functions related to photon count.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Circuit quantum electrodynamics
Background:
- Josephson-junction circuits are artificial two-level systems.
- Understanding quantum-state dynamics is crucial for quantum technologies.
- Microwave irradiation provides a controllable external field.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the temporal behavior of a driven two-level system.
- Analyze quantum-state evolution in a Josephson-junction circuit.
- Characterize the relationship between driving field amplitude and observed phenomena.
Main Methods:
- Studied an artificial two-level system using a small Josephson-junction circuit.
- Irradiated the circuit with a strong oscillating microwave field.
- Observed quantum-state evolution between two charge states.
Main Results:
- Observed Rabi oscillations corresponding to 0-, 1-, and 2-photon resonances.
- Rabi frequencies followed a first-kind Bessel function.
- The order of the Bessel function correlated with the number of photons involved in the resonance.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates controllable quantum dynamics in Josephson-junction circuits.
- Rabi oscillations provide insights into photon-assisted transitions.
- The observed Bessel function dependence offers a quantitative model for driven quantum systems.