Superconducting quantum metamaterial as photonic crystal

Abstract

We study quantum features of electromagnetic radiation propagating in a waveguide built of an infinite array of super-conducting qubits (SCQ) placed within a resonator comprised of two massive superconductors. Such engineered media, so-called superconducting quantum metamaterials (SCQMM), have a great potential for quantum information processing and communications and devise a comprehensive study of the nature of the “light”-matter interaction. We predict the emergence of novel in-terference effects with possible practical applications. For exam-ple, photons may exhibit a nontrivial dispersion relation such as band edges and band gaps. In this way, QMMs may be viewed as photonic crystals. This, in turn, enriches their potential for practi-cal applications and provides novel means for devising compre-hensive studies of both practical and fundamental aspects of the interaction of artificial atoms and the EM field.