Electromagnetically induced transparency on a single artificial atom

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental demonstration of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) on a single superconducting artificial atom in a 1D transmission line, enabling full control of microwave reflection and transmission for quantum information applications.

Contribution

It is the first observation of single-atom EIT in a 1D superconducting system, showing reflection suppression instead of absorption, and demonstrating controllability of artificial atoms for photonic quantum technologies.

Findings

Near 100% modulation of microwave reflection and transmission.

EIT observed on a single artificial atom in 1D space.

Potential for switchable microwave mirrors and quantum information processing.

Abstract

We present experimental observation of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) on a single macroscopic artificial "atom" (superconducting quantum system) coupled to open 1D space of a transmission line. Unlike in a optical media with many atoms, the single atom EIT in 1D space is revealed in suppression of reflection of electromagnetic waves, rather than absorption. The observed almost 100 % modulation of the reflection and transmission of propagating microwaves demonstrates full controllability of individual artificial atoms and a possibility to manipulate the atomic states. The system can be used as a switchable mirror of microwaves and opens a good perspective for its applications in photonic quantum information processing and other fields.