Light-induced dynamic frequency shifting of microwave photons in a superconducting electro-optic converter

TL;DR

This paper investigates how light-induced effects in a hybrid superconducting-photonic resonator cause dynamic shifts in microwave photon frequencies, impacting microwave-to-optical conversion efficiency and spectral properties.

Contribution

The study experimentally demonstrates adiabatic frequency shifting of microwave photons caused by superconducting photo-responses, providing a theoretical model for these dynamics.

Findings

Light-induced frequency shifts modify transduction responses.

Superconducting resonator responses are fast and photo-induced.

Theoretical model accurately describes the observed dynamics.

Abstract

Hybrid superconducting-photonic microresonators are a promising platform for realizing microwave-to-optical transduction. However, the absorption of scattered photons by the superconductors leads to unintended microwave resonance frequency variation and linewidth broadening. Here, we experimentally study the dynamics of this effect and its impact on microwave-to-optics conversion in an integrated lithium niobate-superconductor hybrid resonator platform. We unveiled an adiabatic frequency shifting of the intracavity microwave photons induced by the fast photo-responses of the thin-film superconducting resonator. As a result, the temporal and spectral responses of electro-optics transduction are modified and well described by our theoretical model. This work provides important insights on the light-induced conversion dynamics which must be considered in future designs of hybrid superconducting-photonic system.