Experiments on Superconducting

Metamaterial-Induced Transparency
Cihan Kurter, John Abrahams, Chris Bennett, Tian Lan, Steven M. Anlage,
L. Zhang, T. Koschny, C. Soukoulis (Ames/Iowa State)
Alexander Zhuravel (Kharkov, Ukraine),
Alexey Ustinov (KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany),

Work Funded by NSF and ONR

Metamaterials 2010, Karlsruhe, Germany

14 September, 2010
1

Metamaterial-Induced Transparency
Inspired by:
Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency (EIT)

Probe Absorption

Strong dispersion
with little loss

Probe Frequency

Probe Field
Pump Field

Classical Analog of EIT

Garrido Alzar, et al.,
Am J Phys (2002)

Dissipation 2 << 1
to coherently drive
particle 1

Probe Frequency

N. Papasimakis, et al.
Optics and Photonics
News, Oct. 2009

Atom

Light can be slowed, or even stopped at the EIT frequency

L. V. Hau, Nature (1999)
Fleischhauer, PRL (2000)
2

Classical Analog of EIT

The Importance of Strong Loss Contrast

2
Pump Field

Re[x1(t)]

Atom

The atom has zero displacement

at the EIT frequency, but large
displacement for small de-tuning

Absorbed Power

Probe Field

2 << 1
1 = 4.0 x 10-2
2 = 1.0 x 10-7

Metamaterial-Induced Transparency
Work with L. Zhang, T. Koschny, and C. Soukoulis (Iowa State Univ.)

Normal metal metamaterials:

Papasimakis, PRL 2008
Tassin, PRL 2009

Superconducting Metamaterials
MIT @ 10 GHz
Nb

Normal metal

Nb (dark)

Superconducting

Nb

X-band waveguide

Cu (radiative)

Cu

Simulation Results
Metamaterial-Induced Transparency
L. Zhang, T. Koschny, and C. Soukoulis (Iowa State Univ.)

1
0.1

0.01

2
0
9.5

T(n)
R(n)

6
T,R

Transmission
n and Reflection

Index of Refraction

10

EIT Frequency

10
11
Frequency (GHz)

10
10.5
Frequency (GHz)

12

11
Adjust coupling to dark resonators
and frequencies of dark resonators
to modify n() dispersion

Experimental Setup
Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

Network
Analyzer

2
Coaxial
Cable

Cryogenic
Dewar

Sample

X-band
Waveguide

Superconductor Electrodynamics

1( )

1 .0

J E

2( ) ~ 1/

0 .8

T=0
ideal s-wave
ns(T)
Normal State
(T > Tc)

2( )

0 .6

nsem

(Drude Model)

0 .4

1 ( )

0 .2

Superfluid density

2 ~ m/ns

0 .0

0 .5

1 .0

1/2 /

1 .5

2 .0

2 .5

3 .0

3 .5

1(T)

binding energy of
Cooper pair (100 GHz ~ few THz)

Tc

Tc

Surface Impedance (> 0) Z s Rs iX s i 0 /

Normal State

Rs X s

0
1

2 1 1

Superconducting State ( < 2)

Rs ~ 1 0

Finite-temperature: Xs(T) = L = (T) as T Tc

7

X s 0
Penetration depth
(0) ~ 20 200 nm

Narrow wire or thin film of thickness t : L(T) = (T) coth(t/(T)) 0 2(T)/t

Kinetic Inductance

Experimental Results

Tranmsission |S21|/|S21|

max

50
40

30
-5

20

-10

10
0

-15

-10

-20
-25
9.70

-20
-30

Pin = -30 dBm

T = 4.6 K

9.75

9.80

9.85

Uncalibrated Group Delay (ns)

(dB)

Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

d12
d

-40
9.90

Frequency (GHz)
8

Nb / Cu MM-EIT sample (first generation) in Cu waveguide

EIT bandwidth (3 dB) = 7.5 MHz (~ 0.1%)

Superconducting Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

Effect of Temperature on Transmission
4.9 K
5K
6K
7K
7.5 K
7.8 K
8K
8.2 K
8.4 K
8.5 K
8.6 K
8.7 K
8.75 K
8.8 K
8.83 K
8.86 K
8.89 K
8.92 K
8.95 K
8.98 K
9K
9.04 K
9.1 K
9.2 K
9.3 K

Transmission
|S2121||max
(dB)
Transmission
|S21|/|S
(dB)

-15

-5
-20

-10
-25

-15
-30

-20
-35

-25
-40
9.68

9.70

9.72

9.74

9.76

9.78

9.80

9.82

Frequency
f (GHz)(GHz)

9.84

9.86

9.88

9.78

9.77

70

50
40
70

30
20
10

Pin = -30 dBm

0
9.72

9.76

9.74

9.76

Temperature (K)

10

4.9 K_smt
7 K_smt
7.8 K_smt
8.2K_smt
8.4 K_smt
8.6 K_smt
8.7 K_smt
8.75 K_smt
8.8 K_smt
8.83 K_smt
8.86 K_smt
8.89 K_smt
8.92 K_smt
8.95 K_smt
8.98 K_smt
9 K_smt
9.1 K_smt
9.2 K_smt
9.3 K_smt

60

Peak Group delay (ns)

f0 (peak) (GHz)

9.79

Uncalibrated Group Delay (ns)

Superconducting Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

Effect of Temperature on Group Delay

9.78

9.80

65
60
55
50
45

9.82
40

Frequency (GHz)
35
9

9.84

9.86
6

Temperature (K)

Experimental Results
Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

Switching/Limiting Behavior at High Power

0

T= 4.24 K

Transmission |S21|/|S21|

max

(dB)

-5
-10
-15
P= -30 dBm
P= -10 dBm
P= 17dBm
P= 18dBm
P= 20dBm

-20 The transparency

window switches
-25 off between +17 and
+18 dBm

9.70

9.75

9.80

Frequency (GHz)
11

9.85

9.90

RF Power Dependence of Superconducting EIT Features

To investigate the RF power dependence, we examine the RF current
distributions in the superconducting parts of the sample using
Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM)

See A. P. Zhuravel, et al.,

J. Appl. Phys. 108, 033920 (2010)

12

LSM Image of Superconducting RF

Currents in EIT sample @ 10 GHz
Geometry

Nb split ring

2D LSM image

Focus on this corner

Upper Nb split ring

f = 9.63 GHz; P = 18 dBm; T = 7 K

Cu stripe

Bottom
Current flow numerical simulation,
L. Zhang, et al. (Ames)

13

C. Kurter, et al., arXiv:1008.2020

RF Power Dependence of LSM Photoresponse

in a Corner of the Nb Split Ring
2
~ J RF

Nb film
0
10
m

14

Quartz
substrate

100

15 dBm

20 dBm

20.6 dBm

20.8 dBm

21 dBm

22 dBm

Future Directions for

Superconducting EIT Metamaterials

Rounded-corner samples for better tunability at high power

Calibrated and de-embedded S21 and group delay measurements

15

Conclusions
Demonstrated Superconducting Metamaterial-Induced Transparency
Tunable with variable Kinetic Inductance and RF magnetic fields

Demonstrated Tunability of features:

Temperature tuning (kinetic inductance plasmonic regime)
RF Magnetic Field tuning (magnetic Abrikosov vortices, J RF peaks)
Superconducting Metamaterials Review Article (J. of Optics, in press):
arXiv:1004.3226

Work Funded by NSF, ONR.

16

CryoCoolers and CryoPackaging

Small, inexpensive and reliable cryocoolers are available

Stirling cycle cryocooler

+compressor!

MTBF > 106 hours

2.8 kg
92 mm OD x 300 mm
5W cooling power @ 77 K

STI AmpLink Filter

1850 1910 MHz
PCS band

17

Many companies build

cryo-cooled microwave
and high-speed digital
products

18

Outline
Losses in Metamaterials
Brief Review of Superconductor Electrodynamics
New Features Enabled by Superconductivity
Low loss (+ inductance) enables very compact atoms
New sources of inductance
New sources of nonlinearity and gain
New Atoms

Some Novel Applications of Superconducting Metamaterials

Future Prospects + Conclusions
Review article on Superconducting Metamaterials (J. of Optics) arXiv:1004.3226
19

Why Superconducting Metamaterials?

The exciting novel applications of metamaterials:
Flat-slab Imaging
Perfect Imaging
RHM
Cloaking Devices
Illusion Optics
Point
source
etc.

Cloaking
Devices
(Engheta, Leonhardt,
Pendry, Milton)

LHM

RHM

Illusion Optics (Lai)

perfect image

have strict REQUIREMENTS on the metamaterials:

Low Losses
Ultra-small size atoms (size << wavelength)
Tunability / Texturing of the index of refraction n
SUPERCONDUCTING METAMATERIALS:
Can achieve these requirements!
20

Flat Lens
Imaging

Outline
Losses in Metamaterials
Brief Review of Superconductor Electrodynamics
New Features Enabled by Superconductivity
Low loss (+ inductance) enables very compact atoms
New sources of inductance
New sources of nonlinearity and gain
New Atoms

Some Novel Applications of Superconducting Metamaterials

Future Prospects + Conclusions
21

1(T)
0

22

Tc

20 000

15 000

10 000

5000

5000

23

0 .9 9

1 .0 0

1 .0 1

1 .0 2

Absorption

150

2 = 1 x 10-2
100

2 = 1 x 10-3

50

1 = 4 x 10-2
0
0 .9 8

0 .9 9

2 = 1 x 10-7
1 .0 0

Frequency
24

1 .0 1

1 .0 2

10

(n)
(n)

6
4
2
0
9.5
25

10
10.5
Frequency (GHz)

11

Experimental Results
Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

-6
20.0n

Pinput= -30 dBm,T=4.6K

IFBW=300 Hz

-8
-10

10.0n

-12

Group Delay (sec)

-14
-16

-10.0n

-18
-20.0n

-20
-22

-30.0n

-24

-40.0n

-26
s21MAG
groupDelay

-50.0n

-30
-32

-60.0n
9.65

9.70

9.75

9.80

9.85

Frequency (GHz)
26

-28

Nb / Cu MM-EIT sample (first generation) in Cu waveguide

9.90

9.95

Transmission |S21| (dB)

0.0

This includes
transmission losses
in cold cables and
waveguide

Experimental Results
Metamaterial-Induced Transparency

Switching/Limiting Behavior at High Power

-5

Tbath= 4.24 K

21

|S|S21|| (dB)
(dB)

-10

-15

P= -30 dB
P= -10 dB
P= 17dB
P= 18dB
P= 20dB

-20

-25

-30

-35
9.60

The transparency
window switches
off between +17 and
+18 dBm
9.65

9.70

9.75

9.80

9.85

f(GHz)
Frequency
(GHz)
27

9.90

9.95

Laser Scanning Microscopy of RF Currents

Principle of the Measurement
Work with A. Zhuravel (Kharkov) and A. Ustinov (Karlsruhe)

modulated
laser

resonator transmission
laser OFF
|S21(f0)|2

laser ON

|S21(f0)|2

f0

Pin

|S12|2~[JRF(x,y)]2A

co-planar resonator f0 ~ 5.2 GHz

Local heating produces a change in

transmission coefficient proportional
to the local value of JRF2

J. C. Culbertson, et al. J.Appl.Phys. 84, 2768 (1998)

28

Pout

A. P. Zhuravel, et al., Appl.Phys.Lett. 81, 4979 (2002)

2-D Response Map for RF Current Distribution

of a Sample
Fundamental resonance mode (5.2 GHz)
8.5 mm
1 mm
10 V

RF photoresponse
~ Jrf2(x, y)
0 V
T = 79.5 K
f = 5.2133 GHz
P = - 6 dBm
29

YBCO Ground Plane

Scanned Area

STO
LAO Substrate
RF output

RF input

YBCO Ground Plane

240 nm thick film

30

Standing Wave JRF Pattern at Fundamental Frequency

22
20

P response, (a.u.)
a.u
Photoresponse

18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2

Fit:

31

PR ~ 16 cos 2 0.39 x 4.62

kfit = 0.39 mm-1

ktheory = 0.42 mm-1

T=79.5 K
with 8672 A Generator
P=-6 dBm in scale of 8672A
Fmod=99.99 kHz

f=5.2133 GHz

X, mm

2D image

Proof that measured PR ~ JRF2 to first order approx.