arXiv subjects

Witlef Wieczorek

Publications and source records attributed to Witlef Wieczorek.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

High-Q magnetic levitation and control of superconducting microspheres at millikelvin temperatures

We report the levitation of a superconducting lead-tin sphere with 100 micrometer diameter (corresponding to a mass of 5.6 micrograms) in a static magnetic trap formed by two coils in an anti-Helmholtz configuration, with adjustable resonance frequencies up to 240 hertz. The center-of-mass motion of the sphere is monitored magnetically using a dc superconducting quantum interference device as well as optically and exhibits quality factors of up to 2.6e7. We also demonstrate 3D magnetic feedback control of the sphere's motion. The setup is housed in a dilution refrigerator operating at 15 millikelvin. By implementing a cryogenic vibration isolation system we can attenuate environmental vibrations at 200 hertz by approximately seven orders of magnitude. The combination of low temperature, large mass and high quality factor as well as adjustable resonance frequencies provides a promising platform for testing quantum physics in previously unexplored regimes with high mass and long coherence times.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Localization and interaction of interlayer excitons in MoSe$_2$/WSe$_2$ heterobilayers

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterobilayers provide a versatile platform to explore unique excitonic physics via properties of the constituent TMDs and external stimuli. Interlayer excitons (IXs) can form in TMD heterobilayers as delocalized or localized states. However, the localization of IX in different types of potential traps, the emergence of biexcitons in the high-excitation regime, and the impact of potential traps on biexciton formation have remained elusive. In our work, we observe two types of potential traps in a MoSe$_2$/WSe$_2$ heterobilayer, which result in significantly different emission behavior of IXs at different temperatures. We identify the origin of these traps as localized defect states and the moir{é} potential of the TMD heterobilayer. Furthermore, with strong excitation intensity, a superlinear emission behavior indicates the emergence of interlayer biexcitons, whose formation peaks at a specific temperature. Our work elucidates the different excitation and temperature regimes required for the formation of both localized and delocalized IX and biexcitons, and, thus, contributes to a better understanding and application of the rich exciton physics in TMD heterostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

High-Q trampoline resonators from strained crystalline InGaP for integrated free-space optomechanics

Tensile-strained materials have been used to fabricate nano- and micromechanical resonators with ultra-low mechanical dissipation in the kHz to MHz frequency range. These mechanical resonators are of particular interest for force sensing applications and quantum optomechanics at room temperature. Tensile-strained crystalline materials that are compatible with epitaxial growth of heterostructures would thereby allow realizing monolithic free-space optomechanical devices, which benefit from stability, ultra-small mode volumes, and scalability. In our work, we demonstrate string- and trampoline resonators made from tensile-strained InGaP, which is a crystalline material that can be epitaxially grown on an AlGaAs heterostructure. The strain of the InGaP layer is defined via its Ga content when grown on (Al,Ga)As. In our case, we realize devices with a stress of up to 470\,MPa along the $[1\,1\,0]$ crystal direction. We characterize the mechanical properties of the suspended InGaP devices, such as anisotropic stress, yield strength, and intrinsic quality factor. We find that the latter degrades over time. We reach mechanical quality factors surpassing $10^7$ at room temperature with a $Q\cdot f$-product as high as $7\cdot10^{11}\,$Hz with trampoline-shaped micromechanical resonators, which exploit strain engineering to dilute mechanical dissipation. The large area of the suspended trampoline resonator allows us to pattern a photonic crystal to engineer its out-of-plane reflectivity in the telecom band, which is desired for efficient signal transduction of mechanical motion to light. Stabilization of the intrinsic quality factor together with a further reduction of mechanical dissipation through hierarchical clamping or machine learning-based optimization methods paves the way for integrated free-space quantum optomechanics at room temperature in a crystalline material platform.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Superconducting microsphere magnetically levitated in an anharmonic potential with integrated magnetic readout

Magnetically levitated superconducting microparticles offer a promising path to quantum experiments with picogram to microgram objects. In this work, we levitate a 700ng $\sim 10^{17}$amu superconducting microsphere in a magnetic chip trap in which detection is integrated. We measure the particle's center-of-mass motion using a DC-SQUID magnetometer. The trap frequencies are continuously tunable between 30 and 160 Hz and the particle remains stably trapped over days in a dilution refrigerator environment. We characterize motional-amplitude-dependent frequency shifts, which arise from trap anharmonicities, namely Duffing nonlinearities and mode couplings. We explain this nonlinear behavior using finite element modelling of the chip-based trap potential. This work constitutes a first step towards quantum experiments and ultrasensitive inertial sensors with magnetically levitated superconducting microparticles.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Integrated microcavity optomechanics with a suspended photonic crystal mirror above a distributed Bragg reflector

Increasing the interaction between light and mechanical resonators is an ongoing endeavor in the field of cavity optomechanics. Optical microcavities allow for boosting the interaction strength through their strong spatial confinement of the optical field. In this work, we follow this approach by realizing a sub-wavelength-long, free-space optomechanical microcavity on-chip fabricated from an (Al,Ga)As heterostructure. A suspended GaAs photonic crystal mirror is acting as a highly reflective mechanical resonator, which together with a distributed Bragg reflector forms an optomechanical microcavity. We demonstrate precise control over the microcavity resonance by change of the photonic crystal parameters. The interplay between the microcavity mode and a guided resonance of the photonic crystal modifies the cavity response and results in a stronger dynamical backaction on the mechanical resonator compared to conventional optomechanical dynamics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

A chip-based superconducting magnetic trap for levitating superconducting microparticles

Magnetically-levitated superconducting microparticles have been recently proposed as a promising platform for performing quantum experiments with particles in the picogram regime. Here, we demonstrate the superconducting technology to achieve chip-based magnetic levitation of superconducting microparticles. We simulate and fabricate a chip-based magnetic trap capable of levitating superconducting particles with diameters from 0.5$\,μ$m to 200$\,μ$m. The trap consists of two stacked silicon chips, each patterned with a planar multi-winding superconducting coil made of niobium. The two coils generate a magnetic field resembling a quadrupole near the trap center, in which we demonstrate trapping of a spherical 50\,$μ$m diameter SnPb microparticle at temperatures of 4\,K and 40\,mK.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Valley-exchange coupling probed by angle-resolved photoluminescence

The optical properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are dominated by tightly-bound excitons. They form at distinct valleys in reciprocal space, and can interact via the valley-exchange coupling, modifying their dispersion considerably. Here, we predict that angle-resolved photoluminescence can be used to probe the changes of the excitonic dispersion. The exchange-coupling leads to a unique angle dependence of the emission intensity for both circularly and linearly-polarised light. We show that these emission characteristics can be strongly tuned by an external magnetic field due to the valley-specific Zeeman-shift. We propose that angle-dependent photoluminescence measurements involving both circular and linear optical polarisation as well as magnetic fields should act as strong verification of the role of valley-exchange coupling on excitonic dispersionand its signatures in optical spectra

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Optomechanical cooling with coherent and squeezed light: the thermodynamic cost of opening the heat valve

Ground-state cooling of mechanical motion by coupling to a driven optical cavity has been demonstrated in various optomechanical systems. In our work, we provide a so far missing thermodynamic performance analysis of optomechanical sideband cooling in terms of a heat valve. As performance quantifiers, we examine not only the lowest reachable effective temperature (phonon number) but also the evacuated-heat flow as an equivalent to the cooling power of a standard refrigerator, as well as appropriate thermodynamic efficiencies, which all can be experimentally inferred from measurements of the cavity output light field. Importantly, in addition to the standard optomechanical setup fed by coherent light, we investigate two recent alternative setups for achieving ground-state cooling: replacing the coherent laser drive by squeezed light or using a cavity with a frequency-dependent (Fano) mirror. We study the dynamics of these setups within and beyond the weak-coupling limit and give concrete examples based on parameters of existing experimental systems. By applying our thermodynamic framework, we gain detailed insights into these three different optomechanical cooling setups, allowing a comprehensive understanding of the thermodynamic mechanisms at play.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Vibrational signatures for the identification of single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride

Color centers in h-BN are among the brightest emission centers known yet the origins of these emission centers are not well understood. Here, using first-principles calculations in combination with the generating function method, we systematically elucidate the coupling of specific defects to the vibrational degrees of freedom. We show that the lineshape of many defects exhibits strong coupling to high frequency phonon modes and that C$_{\text{N}}$, C$_{\text{B}}$, C$_{\text{B}}$-C$_{\text{N}}$ dimer and V$_{\text{B}}$ can be associated with experimental lineshapes. Our detailed theoretical study serves as a guide to identify optically active defects in h-BN that can suit specific applications in photonic-based quantum technologies, such as single photon emitters, hybrid spin-photon interfaces, or spin-mechanics interfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Suspended photonic crystal membranes in AlGaAs heterostructures for integrated multi-element optomechanics

We present high-reflectivity mechanical resonators fabricated from AlGaAs heterostructures for use in free-space optical cavities operating in the telecom wavelength regime. The mechanical resonators are fabricated in slabs of GaAs and patterned with a photonic crystal to increase their out-of-plane reflectivity. Characterization of the mechanical modes reveals residual tensile stress in the GaAs device layer. This stress results in higher mechanical frequencies than in unstressed GaAs and can be used for strain engineering of mechanical dissipation. Simultaneously, we find that the finite waist of the incident optical beam leads to a dip in the reflectance spectrum. This feature originates from coupling to a guided resonance of the photonic crystal, an effect that must be taken into account when designing slabs of finite size. The single- and sub-$\upmu$m-spaced double-layer slabs demonstrated here can be directly fabricated on top of a distributed Bragg reflector mirror in the same material platform. Such a platform opens a route for realizing integrated multi-element cavity optomechanical devices and optomechanical microcavities on chip.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Chip-based superconducting traps for levitation of micrometer-sized particles in the Meissner state

We present a detailed analysis of two chip-based superconducting trap architectures capable of levitating micrometer-sized superconducting particles in the Meissner state. These architectures are suitable for performing novel quantum experiments with more massive particles or for force and acceleration sensors of unprecedented sensitivity. We focus in our work on a chip-based anti-Helmholtz coil-type trap (AHC) and a planar double-loop (DLP) trap. We demonstrate their fabrication from superconducting Nb films and the fabrication of superconducting particles from Nb or Pb. We apply finite element modeling (FEM) to analyze these two trap architectures in detail with respect to trap stability and frequency. Crucially, in FEM we account for the complete three-dimensional geometry of the traps, finite magnetic field penetration into the levitated superconducting particle, demagnetizing effects, and flux quantization. We can, thus, analyze trap properties beyond assumptions made in analytical models. We find that realistic AHC traps yield trap frequencies well above 10kHz for levitation of micrometer-sized particles and can be fabricated with a three-layer process, while DL traps enable trap frequencies below 1kHz and are simpler to fabricate in a single-layer process. Our numerical results guide future experiments aiming at levitating micrometer-sized particles in the Meissner state with chip-based superconducting traps. The modeling we use is also applicable in other scenarios using superconductors in the Meissner state, such as for designing superconducting magnetic shields or for calculating filling factors in superconducting resonators.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Criteria for deterministic single-photon emission in two-dimensional atomic crystals

The deterministic production of single-photons from two dimensional materials promises to usher in a new generation of photonic quantum devices. In this work, we outline criteria by which single-photon emission can be realised in two dimensional materials: spatial isolation, spectral filtering and low excitation of quantum emitters. We explore how these criteria can be fulfilled in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides, where excitonic physics dictates the observed photoemission. In particular, we model the effect of defects and localised strain, in accordance with the most common experimental realisations, on the photon statistics of emitted light. Moreover, we demonstrate that an optical cavity has a negative impact on the photon statistics, suppressing the single-photon character of the emission by diminishing the effect of spectral filtering on the emitted light. Our work provides a theoretical framework revealing criteria necessary to facilitate single-photon emission in two-dimensional materials and thus can guide future experimental studies in this field.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Cavity Optomechanics with Photonic Bound States in the Continuum

We propose a versatile, free-space cavity optomechanics platform built from two photonic crystal membranes, one of which is freely suspended, and designed to form a microcavity less than one wavelength long. This cavity features a series of photonic bound states in the continuum that, in principle, trap light forever and can be favorably used together with evanescent coupling for realizing various types of optomechanical couplings, such as linear or quadratic coupling of either dispersive or dissipative type, by tuning the photonic crystal patterning and cavity length. Crucially, this platform allows for a quantum cooperativity exceeding unity in the ultrastrong single-photon coupling regime, surpassing the performance of conventional Fabry-Perot-based cavity optomechanical devices in the non-resolved sideband regime. This conceptually novel platform allows for exploring new regimes of the optomechanical interaction, in particular in the framework of pulsed and single-photon optomechanics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Optimal Control of Hybrid Optomechanical Systems for Generating Non-Classical States of Mechanical Motion

Cavity optomechanical systems are one of the leading experimental platforms for controlling mechanical motion in the quantum regime. We exemplify that the control over cavity optomechanical systems greatly increases by coupling the cavity also to a two-level system, thereby creating a hybrid optomechanical system. If the two-level system can be driven largely independently of the cavity, we show that the non-linearity thus introduced enables us to steer the extended system to non-classical target states of the mechanical oscillator with Wigner functions exhibiting significant negative regions. We illustrate how to use optimal control techniques beyond the linear regime to drive the hybrid system from the near ground state into a Fock target state of the mechanical oscillator. We base our numerical optimization on realistic experimental parameters for exemplifying how optimal control enables the preparation of decidedly non-classical target states, where naive control schemes fail. Our results thus pave the way for applying the toolbox of optimal control in hybrid optomechanical systems for generating non-classical mechanical states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Electro-mechanical Casimir effect

The dynamical Casimir effect is an intriguing phenomenon in which photons are generated from vacuum due to a non-adiabatic change in some boundary conditions. In particular, it connects the motion of an accelerated mechanical mirror to the generation of photons. While pioneering experiments demonstrating this effect exist, a conclusive measurement involving a mechanical generation is still missing. We show that a hybrid system consisting of a piezoelectric mechanical resonator coupled to a superconducting cavity may allow to electro-mechanically generate measurable photons from vacuum, intrinsically associated to the dynamical Casimir effect. Such an experiment may be achieved with current technology, based on film bulk acoustic resonators directly coupled to a superconducting cavity. Our results predict a measurable photon generation rate, which can be further increased through additional improvements such as using superconducting metamaterials.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Interferometric autocorrelation in the ultra-violet utilizing spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Autocorrelation is a common method to estimate the duration of ultra-short laser pulses. In the ultra-violet (UV) regime it is increasingly challenging to employ the standard process of second harmonic generation, most prominently due to absorption in nonlinear crystals at very short wavelengths. Here we show how to utilize spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) to generate an autocorrelation signal for UV pulses in the infrared. Our method utilizes the $n^{\text{th}}$ order emission of the SPDC process, which occurs for low pumping powers proportional to the $n^{\text{th}}$ power of the UV intensity. Thus, counting $2n$ down-converted photons directly yields the $n^{\text{th}}$-order autocorrelation. The method, now with detection of near infrared photons with high efficiency, is applied here to the first direct measurement of ultra-short UV-pulses (approximately $176\, \text{fs}$, center wavelength $390\, \text{nm}$) inside a UV enhancement cavity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Optimal state estimation for cavity optomechanical systems

We demonstrate optimal state estimation for a cavity optomechanical system through Kalman filtering. By taking into account nontrivial experimental noise sources, such as colored laser noise and spurious mechanical modes, we implement a realistic state-space model. This allows us to obtain the conditional system state, i.e., conditioned on previous measurements, with minimal least-square estimation error. We apply this method for estimating the mechanical state, as well as optomechanical correlations both in the weak and strong coupling regime. The application of the Kalman filter is an important next step for achieving real-time optimal (classical and quantum) control of cavity optomechanical systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2012

Highly efficient heralding of entangled single photons

Single photons are an important prerequisite for a broad spectrum of quantum optical applications. We experimentally demonstrate a heralded single-photon source based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion in collinear bulk optics, and fiber-coupled bolometric transition-edge sensors. Without correcting for background, losses, or detection inefficiencies, we measure an overall heralding efficiency of 83 %. By violating a Bell inequality, we confirm the single-photon character and high-quality entanglement of our heralded single photons which, in combination with the high heralding efficiency, are a necessary ingredient for advanced quantum communication protocols such as one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution.

quant-ph↗