Discovery of a stable molecular state consisting of photons and an artificial atom

Abstract

In a joint study with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, we have conducted experiments to alter the strength of interactions between a superconducting artificial atom and microwave photons. We have confirmed the existence of a qualitatively new lowest energy ground state where an artificial atom is dressed with virtual photons to form a novel type of molecule. Our research makes it possible to control the interactions between matter and light over a range of energies orders of magnitude higher than has hitherto been possible. This is expected to have applications in quantum technologies including quantum communication, quantum computing, and next-generation ultraprecise atomic clocks.