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Strong spin-photon coupling
Researchers from the SNI network have achieved strong coupling between an electron spin and a single photon. Normally, an electron spin couples only weakly to photons. To achieve strong coupling with a single photon, the researchers used a special indium arsenide crystal structure. This couples the electron spin naturally to its motional degree of freedom thereby making it open to interaction with a microwave photon.
The researchers trapped a single photon in a special microwave resonator, which promotes the interaction and thus ensures a strong coupling between spin and photon.
“Demonstrating strong coupling between an electron spin and a photon experimentally is a key step on the path to large-scale quantum networks,” says Dr. Jann H. Ungerer, former doctoral researcher at the SNI PhD School and first author of the publication, which recently appeared in Nature Communications.
Further information: Research group Prof. Christian Schönenberger