Quantum Synchronization Blockade: Energy Quantization Hinders Synchronization of Identical Oscillators.
- Lörch N Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
- Nigg SE Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
- Nunnenkamp A Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.
- Tiwari RP Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
- Bruder C Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
- 2017-07-01
Published in:
- Physical review letters. - 2017
English
Classically, the tendency towards spontaneous synchronization is strongest if the natural frequencies of the self-oscillators are as close as possible. We show that this wisdom fails in the deep quantum regime, where the uncertainty of amplitude narrows down to the level of single quanta. Under these circumstances identical self-oscillators cannot synchronize and detuning their frequencies can actually help synchronization. The effect can be understood in a simple picture: Interaction requires an exchange of energy. In the quantum regime, the possible quanta of energy are discrete. If the extractable energy of one oscillator does not exactly match the amount the second oscillator may absorb, interaction, and thereby synchronization, is blocked. We demonstrate this effect, which we coin quantum synchronization blockade, in the minimal example of two Kerr-type self-oscillators and predict consequences for small oscillator networks, where synchronization between blocked oscillators can be mediated via a detuned oscillator. We also propose concrete implementations with superconducting circuits and trapped ions. This paves the way for investigations of new quantum synchronization phenomena in oscillator networks both theoretically and experimentally.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.243602
- PMID 28665640
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/160198
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