Tunable superconducting resonators via on-chip control of local magnetic field

Superconducting microwave resonators play a pivotal role in superconducting quantum circuits.The ability to finetune their resonant frequencies provides enhanced control and flexibility.Here,we introduce a frequency-tunable superconducting coplanar waveguide resonator.By applying electrical currents through specifically designed ground wires,we achieve the generation and control of a localized magnetic field on the central line of the resonator,enabling continuous tuning of its resonant frequency.We demonstrate a frequency tuning range of 54.85 MHz in a 6.21-GHz resonator.This integrated and tunable resonator holds great potential as a dynamically tunable filter and as a key component of communication buses and memory elements in superconducting quantum computing.

Observation of a Ubiquitous(π,π)-Type Nematic Superconducting Order in the Whole Superconducting Dome of Ultra-Thin BaFe_(2-x)Ni_(x)As_(2) Single Crystals

In iron-based superconductors,the(0,π) or(π,0) nematicity,which describes an electronic anisotropy with a fourfold symmetry breaking,is well established and believed to be important for understanding the superconducting mechanism.However,how exactly such a nematic order observed in the normal state can be related to the superconducting pairing is still elusive.Here,by performing angular-dependent in-plane magnetoresistivity using ultra-thin flakes in the steep superconducting transition region,we unveil a nematic superconducting order along the(π,π) direction in electron-doped BaFe_(2-x)Ni_(x)As_(2) from under-doped to heavily overdoped regimes with x=0.065- 0.18.It shows superconducting gap maxima along the(π,π) direction rotated by 45° from the nematicity along(0, π) or(π,0) direction observed in the normal state.A similar(π,π)-type nematicity is also observed in the under-doped and optimally doped hole-type Ba1-yKyFe2 As_(2),with y=0.2-0.5.These results suggest that the(π,π) nematic superconducting order is a universal feature that needs to be taken into account in the superconducting pairing mechanism in iron-based superconductors.

Mid-infrared superconducting nanowire single photon detector enhanced by overcoupled metasurfaces

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs)with low energy gaps exhibit superior single-photon sensitivity at infrared wavelengths[1],and state-of-the-art SNSPDs have the potential to meet the stringent demands of mid-IR(MIR)detection[2].However,the nanowire thickness(~λ/1000-λ/600)and width(~λ/166-λ/60)are much smaller than those at MIR wavelengths,which results in weak absorption with a low detection efficiency[3].

Mid-infrared single photon detector with superconductor Mo_(0.8)Si_(0.2) nanowire

Mid-infrared(mid-IR)single photon detectors have broad applications in science and technology,such as biomolecular spectrum analysis[1]and astronomical observations[2].Unfortunately,it is much more difficult than detecting near-infrared photons due to the significantly reduced energy of mid-IR single photon.

Dual-lens beam compression for optical coupling in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

The optical coupling of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors （SNSPDs） has always been restricted to a single-mode fiber for a limited detection area. In this study, for enhancing photon coupling, a dual-lens system operating at 2.2 K was used to compress the beam size on the basis of the Gaussian beam theory and geometric approximation. A magnification of approximately 0.3 was obtained, and a focused spot with diameter of approximately 10 ~m was measured from a multimode fiber. Assisted with the compressed beam, a system efficiency of 55 % （1550 nm） was achieved for a SNSPD with a detection area of 10 μm × 10 μm and 62.5 pm multimode fiber coupling. At the same time, a high speed of 106 MHz was measured with the proposed system. The realization of a highly compressed optical beam reduced the optical coupling requirement and helped maintain a high speed for the SNSPD.

Temperature dependence of niobium superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors in He-3 cryocooler

Performances of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs) based on low TCmaterials strongly depend on the operating temperatures. We have fabricated infrared-sensitive niobium SNSPDs based on doped niobium(Nb*) films and measured them in He-3cryocooler. The critical current approaches to the de-pairing current at 0.3 K. Therefore, with the decrease in temperatures, we have observed a monotonous increase of count rate at the wavelength of 1,521 nm and exponential decrease of dark count rate at all bias currents. The possible origin of dark counts for doped Nb devices is also discussed.

Heterogeneously integrated,superconducting silicon-photonic platform for measurementdevice-independent quantum key distribution

Integrated photonics provides a route to both miniaturization of quantum key distribution(QKD)devices and enhancing their performance.A key element for achieving discrete-variable QKD is a singlephoton detector.It is highly desirable to integrate detectors onto a photonic chip to enable the realization of practical and scalable quantum networks.We realize a heterogeneously integrated,superconducting silicon-photonic chip.Harnessing the unique high-speed feature of our optical waveguide-integrated superconducting detector,we perform the first optimal Bell-state measurement(BSM)of time-bin encoded qubits generated from two independent lasers.The optimal BSM enables an increased key rate of measurement-device-independent QKD(MDI-QKD),which is immune to all attacks against the detection system and hence provides the basis for a QKD network with untrusted relays.Together with the timemultiplexed technique,we have enhanced the sifted key rate by almost one order of magnitude.With a 125-MHz clock rate,we obtain a secure key rate of 6.166 kbps over 24.0 dB loss,which is comparable to the state-of-the-art MDI-QKD experimental results with a GHz clock rate.Combined with integrated QKD transmitters,a scalable,chip-based,and cost-effective QKD network should become realizable in the near future.

Wideband cryogenic amplifier for a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector

We present a low-power inductorless wideband differential cryogenic amplifier using a 0.13-μm Si Ge Bi CMOS process for a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD).With a shunt-shunt feedback and capacitive coupling structure,theoretical analysis and simulations were undertaken,highlighting the relationship of the amplifier gain with the tunable design parameters of the circuit.In this way,the design and optimization flexibility can be increased,and a required gain can be achieved even without an accurate cryogenic device model.To realize a flat terminal impedance over the frequency of interest,an RC shunt compensation structure was employed,improving the amplifier’s closed-loop stability and suppressing the amplifier overshoot.The S-parameters and transient performance were measured at room temperature(300 K)and cryogenic temperature(4.2 K).With good input and output matching,the measurement results showed that the amplifier achieved a 21-d B gain with a 3-d B bandwidth of 1.13 GHz at 300 K.At 4.2 K,the gain of the amplifier can be tuned from 15 to 24 d B,achieving a 3-d B bandwidth spanning from 120 k Hz to 1.3 GHz and consuming only 3.1 m W.Excluding the chip pads,the amplifier chip core area was only about 0.073 mm^(2).

Enhanced photon communication through Bayesian estimation with an SNSPD array

Laser communication using photons should consider not only the transmission environment’s effects,but also the performance of the single-photon detector used and the photon number distribution.Photon communication based on the superconducting nanowire single-photon detector(SNSPD)is a new technology that addresses the current sensitivity limitations at the level of single photons in deep space communication.The communication’s bit error rate(BER)is limited by dark noise in the space environment and the photon number distribution with a traditional single-pixel SNSPD,which is unable to resolve the photon number distribution.In this work,an enhanced photon communication method was proposed based on the photon number resolving function of four-pixel array SNSPDs.A simulated picture transmission was carried out,and the error rate in this counting mode can be reduced by 2 orders of magnitude when compared with classical optical communication.However,in the communication mode using photon-enhanced counting,the four-pixel response amplitude for counting was found to restrain the communication rate,and this counting mode is extremely dependent on the incident light intensity through experiments,which limits the sensitivity and speed of the SNSPD array’s performance advantage.Therefore,a BER theoretical calculation model for laser communication was presented using the Bayesian estimation algorithm in order to analyze the selection of counting methods for information acquisition under different light intensities and to make better use of the SNSPD array’s high sensitivity and speed and thus to obtain a lower BER.The counting method and theoretical model proposed in this work refer to array SNSPDs in the deep space field.

Soft and transient magnesium plasmonics for environmental and biomedical sensing

Due to its controlled reaction with water and biofluids, Mg as a dissolvable conductor has enabled the development of many transient electronic devices. In addition, Mg is a novel plasmonic material with high extinction efficiency but its transient optical properties have not been explored thoroughly. In this study for the first time, we exploit the transient and tunable plasmonic properties of Mg in environmental and biomedical sensor applications. We used soft nanoimprint lithography to fabricate flexible and large-area Mg plasmonic structures that can be applied on the human skin. Their resonance （or color） can be tuned in the visible range by gradual Mg dissolution in a water fluid or vapor-rich environment; these structures can be easily implemented as passive optical sensors without the need for complex electronic circuits or a power supply. We demonstrate the applications of our optical sensors in the accurate monitoring of environmental humidity and physiological detection of sweat loss on the human skin during exercise. Our devices could be used as decomposable/resorbable optical sensors and can help minimize long-term health effects and environmental risks associated with consumer device waste, which will lead to many new possibilities in transient photonic device applications.

Saturation efficiency for detecting 1550 nm photons with a 2×2 array of Mo0.8Si0.2 nanowires at 2.2 K

Amorphous materials are attractive candidates for fabricating the superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors(SNSPDs) due to their superior tolerance and scalability over crystalline niobium nitride. However, the reduced superconducting transition temperature degenerates both operating temperature and saturation efficiency. Herein, the SNSPD(6.5 nm thickness and 50 nm width) based on the amorphous Mo0.8Si0.2 film with a high optical absorption coefficient demonstrates close-to-unity intrinsic detection efficiency for 1550 nm photons from 75 m K to 2.2 K. Further, a high-performance array SNSPD with optimized 90 nm-width wires is also demonstrated. As-fabricated uniform 4-pixel SNSPD exhibits a saturation plateau for the photon counts at 2.2 K,which overcomes the limitation of operation at low temperature(< 1 K) for traditional amorphous SNSPDs.Coupled with superior intrinsic quantum efficiency, highly efficient photon counts, and low dark count ratio, this detector paves a way for achieving high efficiency and superior yield for large array systems.