Colloquium: Stimulating uncertainty: Amplifying the quantum vacuum with superconducting circuits

P. D. Nation, J. R. Johansson, M. P. Blencowe, Franco Nori

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    418 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The ability to generate particles from the quantum vacuum is one of the most profound consequences of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Although the significance of vacuum fluctuations can be seen throughout physics, the experimental realization of vacuum amplification effects has until now been limited to a few cases. Superconducting circuit devices, driven by the goal to achieve a viable quantum computer, have been used in the experimental demonstration of the dynamical Casimir effect, and may soon be able to realize the elusive verification of analog Hawking radiation. This Colloquium article describes several mechanisms for generating photons from the quantum vacuum and emphasizes their connection to the well-known parametric amplifier from quantum optics. Discussed in detail is the possible realization of each mechanism, or its analog, in superconducting circuit systems. The ability to selectively engineer these circuit devices highlights the relationship between the various amplification mechanisms.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-24
    Number of pages24
    JournalReviews of Modern Physics
    Volume84
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jan 11

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Physics and Astronomy

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