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  4. Compact Superconducting Vacuum-gap Capacitors with Low Microwave Loss and High Mechanical Coherence for Scalable Quantum Circuits
 
research article

Compact Superconducting Vacuum-gap Capacitors with Low Microwave Loss and High Mechanical Coherence for Scalable Quantum Circuits

Youssefi, Amir  
•
Chegnizadeh, Mahdi  
•
Scigliuzzo, Marco  
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June 30, 2025
Physical Review Applied

Vacuum-gap capacitors have recently attracted significant interest in superconducting circuit platforms due to their compact design and exceptionally low dielectric losses in the microwave regime. Their intrinsic ability to support mechanical vibrational modes makes them well suited for circuit optomechanics. However, precise control over the gap size and the realization of high-coherence mechanical modes remain longstanding challenges. Here, we present a detailed and scalable fabrication process for vacuum-gap capacitors that support ultrahigh-coherence mechanical motion, exhibit low microwave loss, and occupy a significantly smaller footprint compared to conventional planar geometries. By employing a planarized SiO2 sacrificial layer, we achieve vacuum gaps on the order of 150 nm. Using this platform, we have recently demonstrated ground-state cooling and motion squeezing of a mechanical oscillator with a quality factor of 40 million-a 100-fold improvement compared to prior works-as well as a single-photon optomechanical coupling rate of approximately 15 Hz [Youssefi et al., Nat. Phys. 19, 1697 (2023)]. Additional achievements include the realization of an optomechanical topological lattice with 24 sites [Youssefi et al., Nature 612, 666 (2022)] and the observation of quantum collective dynamics in a mechanical hexamer [Chegnizadeh et al., Science 386, 1383 (2024)]. Collectively, these results underscore the potential of vacuum-gap capacitors as a platform for coupling superconducting qubits to mechanical systems, enabling quantum storage, and probing gravitational effects in quantum mechanics.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1103/q5bc-y54w
Web of Science ID

WOS:001523659500001

Author(s)
Youssefi, Amir  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Chegnizadeh, Mahdi  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Scigliuzzo, Marco  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Kippenberg, T. J.  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Date Issued

2025-06-30

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)

Published in
Physical Review Applied
Volume

23

Issue

6

Article Number

064071

Subjects

GROUND-STATE

•

MOTION

•

OSCILLATOR

•

CONVERSION

•

Science & Technology

•

Physical Sciences

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LPQM1  
LPQM2  
FunderFunding(s)Grant NumberGrant URL

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

10002358

EPFL Center for Quantum Science and Engineering postdoctoral fellowship

Available on Infoscience
July 25, 2025
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/252496
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