A quantum ticking self-oscillator using delayed feedback

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum self-oscillator with delayed feedback that achieves perfect oscillation without phase diffusion, advancing the development of quantum clocks and addressing phase diffusion issues in quantum SSOs.

Contribution

It designs a linear quantum self-oscillator with perfect oscillation and investigates a nonlinear version, highlighting differences in phase stability and potential for quantum clock applications.

Findings

Linear quantum SSO exhibits perfect oscillation without phase diffusion.

Nonlinear delayed quantum SSO shows dephasing similar to non-delayed systems.

Potential for developing a ticking quantum clock.

Abstract

Self-sustained oscillators (SSOs) is a commonly used method to generate classical clock signals and SSOs using delayed feedback have been developed commercially which possess ultra-low phase noise and drift. Research into the development of quantum self-oscillation, where one can also have a periodic and regular output {\em tick}, that can be used to control quantum and classical devices has received much interest and quantum SSOs so far studied suffer from phase diffusion which leads to the smearing out of the quantum oscillator over the entire limit cycle in phase space seriously degrading the system's ability to perform as a self-oscillation. In this paper, we explore quantum versions of time-delayed SSOs, which has the potentials to develop a ticking quantum clock. We first design a linear quantum SSO which exhibits perfect oscillation without phase diffusion. We then explore a nonlinear delayed quantum SSO but find it exhibits dephasing similar to previously studied non-delayed systems.