Ray Simmonds, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder
Abstract
Parametric processes are ubiquitous. At their heart is an interaction that involves a nonlinear relationship between changing quantities. These processes can lead to energy exchange in different forms. One form produces amplification, like the well -known example of a child on a swing who periodically changes her center of gravity causing the resonance frequency of the swing to oscillate, inducing more swing motion. This type of phenomenon can be mechanical (as with a swing) or electrical in nature, lending itself to useful technological applications. Parametric processes are paramount for new emerging quantum information technologies like laser cooled trapped ions, linear quantum optics, or opto-mechanics. Analogous physical systems can be created on a single chip using superconducting circuits. In this talk, I will discuss our experimental efforts to utilize parametric processes to help exchange single energy quanta between chip-based superconducting circuit components, including micro-drum mechanical resonators, superconducting quantum bits, and electromagnetic cavity modes.