title: Propagating phonons coupled to an artificial atom.
abstract: Quantum information can be stored in micromechanical resonators, encoded as quanta of vibration known as phonons. The vibrational motion is then restricted to the stationary eigenmodes of the resonator, which thus serves as local storage for phonons. In contrast, we couple propagating phonons to an artificial atom in the quantum regime and reproduce findings from quantum optics, with sound taking over the role of light. Our results highlight the similarities between phonons and photons but also point to new opportunities arising from the characteristic features of quantum mechanical sound. The low propagation speed of phonons should enable new dynamic schemes for processing quantum information, and the short wavelength allows regimes of atomic physics to be explored that cannot be reached in photonic systems.
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden. Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, NWC Building, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA. mg3465@columbia.edu per.delsing@chalmers.se.
authors.forename: Martin V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aref
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anton Frisk
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kockum
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-41296 Göteborg, Sweden. mg3465@columbia.edu per.delsing@chalmers.se.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delsing