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DOE OSTI2026

A Compact Monolithic Electro-Optic Package for Quantum Microwave-to-Optical Transduction

We present a novel quantum transduction package that integrates a macroscopic electro-optic crystal into a compact, monolithic assembly designed for superconducting quantum processors. The device provides an efficient and scalable interface between microwave and optical domains while preserving cryogenic compatibility. We performed full-wave and quantum dynamical simulations to assess the performance of the hybrid system, focusing on the interaction between a transmon-based microwave cavity and the crystal’s and cavity low-frequency microwave mode. The transmon operates both as an ancilla for the QPU and as a nonlinear element enabling four-wave mixing between cavity and electro-optic crystal microwave fields. Our results indicate that this architecture can coherently mediate quantum information transfer from the cavity to the electro-optic mode, offering a promising platform for on-chip quantum transduction within superconducting quantum networks.

Reineri, Alessandro [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000016175↗

DOE OSTI2026

A Compact Monolithic Electro-Optic Package for Quantum Microwave-to-Optical Transduction

Reineri, Alessandro [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000016175↗

DOE OSTI2021

Coherent microwave scattering from resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (Radar REMPI): A review

Coherent microwave scattering from laser-induced plasmas, including weakly ionized plasma, laser sparks, Multiphoton Ionization (MPI), and Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionizations (Radar REMPI) has achieved much successes in plasma, reactive and nonreactive flow diagnostics. Under illumination of microwaves (Radar), electrons inside the laser-induced plasma oscillate with the electric field of the microwave and re-radiate from the electrons forming coherent scattering. In the far-field approximation, the microwave scattering from the small volume plasma reflects the generation and evolution of unbounded electrons inside the plasma, when the microwave wavelength is much greater than the size of the plasma and the skin layer depth at the microwave frequency is larger than the size of the plasma. Laser excitation schemes, microwave detection methods, calibration of microwave scattering, and the novel applications of the technique have been significantly expanded and improved. Furthermore, this review paper summarizes physical principles, various REMPI excitation schemes for atomic and molecular species, and temperature measurements in plasma and reactive flows. Discussions on new research directions and applications are given at the end.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2020

Microwave Microscopy and Its Applications

Understanding the nanoscale electrodynamic properties of a material at microwave frequencies is of great interest for materials science, condensed matter physics, device engineering, and biology. With specialized probes, sensitive detection electronics, and improved scanning platforms, microwave microscopy has become an important tool for cutting-edge materials research in the past decade. In this article, we review the basic components and data interpretation of microwave imaging and its broad range of applications. In addition to the general-purpose mapping of permittivity and conductivity, microwave microscopy is now exploited to perform quantitative measurements on semiconductor devices, photosensitive materials, ferroelectric domains and domain walls, and acoustic-wave systems. Implementation of the technique in low-temperature and high-magnetic-field chambers has also led to major discoveries in quantum materials with strong correlation and topological order. We conclude the review with an outlook of the ultimate resolution, operation frequency, and future industrial and academic applications of near-field microwave microscopy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2024

Entangling quantum logic gates in neutral atoms via the microwave-driven spin-flip blockade

The Rydberg dipole blockade has emerged as the standard mechanism to induce entanglement between neutral-atom qubits. In these protocols, laser fields that couple qubit states to Rydberg states are modulated to implement entangling gates. Here, in this study, we present an alternative protocol to implement entangling gates via Rydberg dressing and a microwave-field-driven spin-flip blockade. We consider the specific example of qubits encoded in the clock states of cesium. An auxiliary hyperfine state is optically dressed so that it acquires partial Rydberg character. It thus acts as a proxy Rydberg state, with a nonlinear light shift that plays the role of blockade strength. A microwave-frequency field coupling a qubit state to this dressed auxiliary state can be modulated to implement entangling gates. Logic gate protocols designed for the optical regime can be imported to this microwave regime, for which experimental control methods are more robust. We show that unlike the strong dipole-blockade regime usually employed in Rydberg experiments, going to a moderate-spin-flip-blockade regime results in faster gates and smaller Rydberg decay. We study various regimes of operations that can yield high-fidelity two-qubit entangling gates and characterize their analytical behavior. In addition to the inherent robustness of microwave control, we can design these gates to be more robust to laser amplitude and frequency noises at the cost of a small increase in Rydberg decay.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Microwave-Free Dynamic Nuclear Polarization via Sudden Thermal Jumps

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) presently stands as the preferred strategy to enhance the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, but its application relies on the use of high-frequency microwave to manipulate electron spins, an increasingly demanding task as the applied magnetic field grows. Here we investigate the dynamics of a system hosting a polarizing agent formed by two distinct paramagnetic centers near a level anticrossing. We theoretically show that nuclear spins polarize efficiently under a cyclic protocol that combines alternating thermal jumps and radio-frequency pulses connecting hybrid states with opposite nuclear and electronic spin alignment. Central to this process is the difference between the spin-lattice relaxation times of either electron spin species, transiently driving the electronic spin bath out of equilibrium after each thermal jump. Without the need for microwave excitation, this route to enhanced nuclear polarization may prove convenient, particularly if the polarizing agent is designed to feature electronic level anticrossings at high magnetic fields.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Stochastic Cooling with Strong Band Overlap

Up to present time the stochastic cooling was only tested and used at the microwave frequencies. Majority of these stochastic cooling systems operate without Schottky band overlap which greatly simplifies tuning of cooling systems and removes unwanted coupling between different cooling systems. A transition from the microwave stochastic cooling to the optical stochastic cooling or to the coherent electron cooling increases the central frequency of cooling systems by orders of magnitude and makes impossible a cooling system operation without overlap of Schottky bands. In this paper we consider how the band overlap affects the maximum cooling rate and the optimal gain.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

On-Chip Cavity Electroacoustics Using Lithium Niobate Phononic Crystal Resonators

Mechanical systems are pivotal in quantum technologies because of their long coherent time and versatile coupling to qubit systems. So far, the coherent and dynamic control of gigahertz-frequency mechanical modes mostly relies on optomechanical coupling and piezoelectric coupling to superconducting qubits. Here, we demonstrate on-chip cavity electroacoustic dynamics using our microwave-frequency electrically modulated phononic crystal resonators on lithium niobate. Leveraging the high dispersion of phononic crystal, our acoustic modes space unevenly in the frequency spectrum, emulating atomic energy levels. Atomiclike transitions between different acoustic modes are selectively achieved by applying electrical fields to modulate acoustic modes via the nonlinear piezoelectricity of lithium niobate. Among two modes, we demonstrate Autler-Townes splitting, ac Stark shift, and Rabi oscillation with a maximum cooperativity of 4.18. Extending to three modes, we achieve nonreciprocal frequency conversions with an isolation up to 20 dB. Nonreciprocity can be tuned by the time delay between the two modulating pulses. Finally, our cavity electroacoustic platform could find broad applications in sensing, microwave signal processing, acoustic computing, and quantum acoustics.

Rabi model↗

DOE OSTI2022

Surface Impedance of Nb$_3$Sn and YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\sigma}$ in High Magnetic Fields

New potential rf applications of superconductors emerged with the need to operate in high dc magnetic fields (up to 16 T) where vortex motion dictates the response: the beam screen coating of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) [1] and haloscopes, i.e. rf cavities for the axions detection [2]. However, very few data are available in the required regimes. We present in this work measurements of the surface impedance Z up to 12 T on bulk Nb₃Sn and YBCO thin films grown by different techniques. The measurements are performed with a dielectric loaded resonator operating at 15 GHz. We obtained the vortex motion resistivity and extracted the high frequency vortex motion parameters [3]: the depinning frequency, the flux-flow resistivity and the pinning constant, as well as their temperature and field dependences. Substantial differences are highlighted in the high frequency pinning properties of the studied materials, providing useful information on possible improvements in view of applications. A comparison with the results obtained in the microwave frequency range at lower fields (up to 1 T) is given.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Multiphysics and Multiscale Simulation Methods for Electromagnetic Energy Assisted Fossil Fuel to Hydrogen Conversion (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

This report summarizes the technical accomplishments of the four-year research project “Multiphysics and Multiscale Simulation Methods for Electromagnetic Energy Assisted Fossil Fuel to Hydrogen Conversion” (Award No. DE-FE0032092), conducted at Howard University and the University of Houston (subawardee) from September 2021 to August 2025. The project successfully achieved all four major objectives: 1. 3D Structural Characterization – Developed 3D optical imaging and mechanical sectioning methods to characterize catalyst distribution and support morphology in nickel foam substrates. Successfully reconstructed 3D geometries and imported them into COMSOL Multiphysics for electromagnetic simulations. 2. EM Hotspot Simulation – Created all-frequency stable electromagnetic formulations and 3D nodal discontinuous Galerkin (NDG) methods for coupled electromagnetic-thermal-fluid problems in multiscale catalytic media. Demonstrated stable solutions from DC to microwave frequencies. 3. Multiphysics Coupling – Developed multiscale simulation methods coupling FEM electromagnetic solvers with thermal transport equations. Reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF MD) simulations were performed to investigate catalytic reaction mechanisms at the atomistic level. Demonstrated electromagnetic-thermal co-simulation capabilities for porous catalyst structures. 4. System Optimization – Designed and optimized EM-assisted catalytic systems using nickel foam and carbon foam structures, demonstrating significant temperature increases due to microwave heating. Observed and characterized plasma generation in carbon fiber catalysts. Investigated multiple reaction chamber geometries for improved microwave energy deposition. The project produced significant scientific contributions including 15+ peer-reviewed publications, trained multiple Ph.D. students and undergraduate researchers, and advanced the understanding of microwave-assisted hydrogen production from fossil fuels.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

Observation of microwave shielding of ultracold molecules

Harnessing the potential wide-ranging quantum science applications of molecules will require control of their interactions. Here, we used microwave radiation to directly engineer and tune the interaction potentials between ultracold calcium monofluoride (CaF) molecules. By merging two optical tweezers, each containing a single molecule, we probed collisions in three dimensions. The correct combination of microwave frequency and power created an effective repulsive shield, which suppressed the inelastic loss rate by a factor of six, in agreement with theoretical calculations. The demonstrated microwave shielding shows a general route to the creation of long-lived, dense samples of ultracold polar molecules and evaporative cooling.

Anderegg, Loïc↗

DOE OSTI2021

Tunable Microwave Conductance of Nanodomains in Ferroelectric PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 Thin Film

Ferroelectric materials exhibit spontaneous polarization that can be switched by electric field. Beyond traditional applications as nonvolatile capacitive elements, the interplay between polarization and electronic transport in ferroelectric thin films has enabled a path to neuromorphic device applications involving resistive switching. A fundamental challenge, however, is that finite electronic conductivity may introduce considerable power dissipation and perhaps destabilize ferroelectricity itself. In this work, tunable microwave frequency electronic response of domain walls injected into ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PbZr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 ) on the level of a single nanodomain is revealed. Tunable microwave response is detected through first-order reversal curve spectroscopy combined with scanning microwave impedance microscopy measurements taken near 3 GHz. Contributions of film interfaces to the measured AC conduction through subtractive milling, where the film exhibited improved conduction properties after removal of surface layers, are investigated. Using statistical analysis and finite element modeling, we inferred that the mechanism of tunable microwave conductance is the variable area of the domain wall in the switching volume. These observations open the possibilities for ferroelectric memristors or volatile resistive switches, localized to several tens of nanometers and operating according to well-defined dynamics under an applied field.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Stimulated Emission of Signal Photons from Dark Matter Waves

The manipulation of quantum states of light has resulted in significant advancements in both dark matter searches and gravitational wave detectors. Current dark matter searches operating in the microwave frequency range use nearly quantum-limited amplifiers. Future high frequency searches will use photon counting techniques to evade the standard quantum limit. We present a signal enhancement technique that utilizes a superconducting qubit to prepare a superconducting microwave cavity in a nonclassical Fock state and stimulate the emission of a photon from a dark matter wave. By initializing the cavity in an | n = 4 ⟩ Fock state, we demonstrate a quantum enhancement technique that increases the signal photon rate and hence also the dark matter scan rate each by a factor of 2.78. Using this technique, we conduct a dark photon search in a band around 5.965 GHz ( 24.67 μ eV ), where the kinetic mixing angle ε ≥ 4.35 × 10 − 13 is excluded at the 90% confidence level. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Microwave resonance enhanced CO 2 reduction using biochar

The conventional process for CO 2 conversion requires high energy and expensive catalysts, and shows poor product selectivity. Here, in this study, we address these challenges by investigating an environmentally friendly method for CO production through the variable frequency microwave-driven CO 2 Boudouard reaction over biochar. We hypothesized that tuning the microwave frequency to align with the dielectric properties of biochar, and thereby induce a resonance effect, could significantly enhance reaction efficiency. Experiments were conducted to explore the effect of microwave frequency on CO 2 conversion efficiency in the variable frequency microwave reactor operating within a frequency range of 2430–6000 MHz. Results reveal a significant resonance effect at 4225 MHz resulting in an outstanding CO 2 conversion of 96.3%, in sharp contrast to the complete absence of conversion observed at the conventional 2450 MHz. The resonance frequency not only facilitated exceptional conversion but also remarkably improved energy efficiency, yielding a productivity of 1427.5 µmol/kJ of CO. This represents a remarkable 474-fold increase compared to electrical heating. Furthermore, continuous microwave irradiation at this optimized frequency demonstrated remarkable stability and induced substantial enhancements in the pore structure and surface area of biochar. This innovative approach provides promising insights into sustainable and efficient CO production processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Microwave-driven heterogeneous catalysis for activation of dinitrogen to ammonia under atmospheric pressure

This paper presents an innovative approach to producing energy-dense, carbon–neutral liquid ammonia as a means for carrying energy. This approach synergistically integrates microwave reaction chemistry with novel heterogeneous catalysis that decouples dinitrogen activation from high-temperature and high-pressure reactions, altering reaction pathways and increasing ammonia formation rate. Results presented here demonstrate that ammonia synthesis can be conducted at 280 ? and ambient pressure to achieve ~1 mmol ammonia/g cat/h over supported ruthenium catalyst systems utilizing microwave irradiation. It is further shown that adding promoter ions such as potassium, cerium, and barium significantly improves the ammonia production rate over undoped ruthenium-based catalysts. This effect could be attributed to enhanced dielectric loss processes that lead to stronger microwave absorption by the catalyst. Measurement of the equilibrium constant under microwave conditions showed a higher ammonia yield than under thermal equilibrium conditions for both the iron- and ruthenium-based catalysts. Finally, this study also illustrates the advantages of using a variable-frequency microwave reactor for ambient-pressure ammonia synthesis. Mechanistically, investigators believed that the oscillating electric fields of the radiation can couple with adsorbed nitrogen on the surface and accelerate its dissociation. Since dinitrogen dissociation on the surface is rate limiting, this effectively accelerates the reaction.

Hu, Jianli (John)↗

DOE OSTI2021

Loss channels affecting lithium niobate phononic crystal resonators at cryogenic temperature

Here, we investigate the performance of microwave-frequency phononic crystal resonators fabricated on thin-film lithium niobate for integration with superconducting quantum circuits. For different design geometries at millikelvin temperatures, we achieve mechanical internal quality factors Qi above 10 5 –10 6 at high microwave drive power, corresponding to 5×10 6 phonons inside the resonator. By sweeping the defect size of resonators with identical mirror cell designs, we are able to indirectly observe signatures of the complete phononic bandgap via the resonators' internal quality factors. Examination of quality factors' temperature dependence shows how superconducting and two-level system (TLS) loss channels impact device performance. Finally, we observe an anomalous low-temperature frequency shift consistent with resonant TLS decay and find that the material choice can help to mitigate these losses.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2021

Probing phonon softening in ferroelectrics by scanning probe microwave spectroscopy

Microwave measurements have recently been successfully applied to measure ferroelectric materials on the nanoscale, including detection of polarization switching and ferroelectric domain walls. In this study we discuss the question of whether scanning probe microscopy operating at microwave frequency can identify the changes associated with the soft phonon dynamics in a ferroic. The analytical expressions for the electric potential, complex impedance, and dielectric losses are derived and analyzed, since these physical quantities are linked to experimentally measurable properties of the ferroic. As a ferroic we consider virtual or proper ferroelectric with an optic phonon mode that softens at a Curie point. We also consider a decay mechanism linked to the conductance of the ferroic, thus manifesting itself as the dielectric loss in the material. Our key finding is that the influence of the soft phonon dispersion on the surface potential distribution, complex impedance, and dielectric losses are evidently strong in the vicinity (~10–30 K) of the Curie temperature. Additionally, we quantified how the spatial distribution and frequency spectra of the complex impedance and the dielectric losses react on the dynamics of the soft phonons near the Curie point. These results set the stage for characterization of polar phase transitions with nanoscale microwave measurements, providing a complementary approach to well established electromechanical measurements for fundamental understanding of ferroelectric properties as well as their applications in telecommunication and computing.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2025

Correlated spin-wave generation and domain-wall oscillation in a topologically textured magnetic film

Spin waves, or magnons, are essential for next-generation energy-efficient spintronics and magnonics. Yet, visualizing spin-wave dynamics at nanoscale and microwave frequencies remains a formidable challenge due to the lack of spin-sensitive, time-resolved microscopy. Here, in this study, we report a breakthrough in imaging dipole-exchange spin waves in a ferromagnetic film owing to the development of laser-free ultrafast Lorentz electron microscopy, which is equipped with a microwave-mediated electron pulser for high spatiotemporal resolution. Using topological spin textures, we captured the emission, propagation, reflection and interference of spin waves from spin anti-vortices under radio-frequency excitations. Remarkably, we show that spin-wave generation is closely tied to the oscillatory motion of specific magnetic domain walls, providing the missing link between wave emission and wall dynamics near magnetic singularities. This work opens new possibilities in magnonics, offering a nanoscopic view of spin dynamics via transmission electron microscopy and enabling controlled excitation via radio-frequency fields for exploring non-equilibrium states in magnetic and multiferroic systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗