Parity-Engineered Light-Matter Interaction

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics and superconducting circuits
• Quantum information processing and field theory

Background:

• Parity, or inversion symmetry, is crucial in fundamental physics, including the standard model and quantum electrodynamics.
• Controlling parity in light-matter interactions typically requires large field gradients, posing engineering challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer an artificial atom with controllable wave function parity.
• To demonstrate in-situ selection of light-matter interaction parity using tailored microwave fields.
• To explore applications in quantum simulations using superconducting circuits.

Main Methods:

• Designed a potassium-like artificial atom using a superconducting flux qubit.
• Utilized a resonator to provide effective orbital momentum for parity control.
• Employed spatially shaped microwave fields to irradiate the artificial atom and select interaction parity.

Main Results:

• Successfully controlled the wave function parity of the artificial atom.
• Observed dipole and quadrupole selection rules for single state transitions.
• Induced transparency in the system via longitudinal coupling.

Conclusions:

• The work demonstrates a novel method for engineering tunable artificial multilevel atoms.
• This advancement is promising for near-term superconducting circuits, particularly for quantum chemistry simulations.
• Precise control over parity opens new avenues in quantum control and simulation.