Quantum behavior of the Duffing oscillator at the dissipative phase transition

Qi-Ming Chen (), Michael Fischer, Yuki Nojiri, Michael Renger, Edwar Xie, Matti Partanen, Stefan Pogorzalek, Kirill G. Fedorov, Achim Marx, Frank Deppe () and Rudolf Gross ()
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Qi-Ming Chen: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Michael Fischer: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Yuki Nojiri: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Michael Renger: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Edwar Xie: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Matti Partanen: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Stefan Pogorzalek: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Kirill G. Fedorov: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Achim Marx: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Frank Deppe: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Rudolf Gross: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The non-deterministic behavior of the Duffing oscillator is classically attributed to the coexistence of two steady states in a double-well potential. However, this interpretation fails in the quantum-mechanical perspective which predicts a single unique steady state. Here, we measure the non-equilibrium dynamics of a superconducting Duffing oscillator and experimentally reconcile the classical and quantum descriptions as indicated by the Liouvillian spectral theory. We demonstrate that the two classically regarded steady states are in fact quantum metastable states. They have a remarkably long lifetime but must eventually relax into the single unique steady state allowed by quantum mechanics. By engineering their lifetime, we observe a first-order dissipative phase transition and reveal the two distinct phases by quantum state tomography. Our results reveal a smooth quantum state evolution behind a sudden dissipative phase transition and form an essential step towards understanding the intriguing phenomena in driven-dissipative systems.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38217-x

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