近日，美国斯坦福大学Jelena Vuckovic团队研究了量子临界电光和压电非线性。2025年10月23日出版的《科学》杂志发表了这项最新研究成果。
虽然电光（EO）非线性对于许多量子和经典光子学应用是必不可少的，但低温环境下的低效调制是一个主要挑战。
根据相变和非线性之间的联系，研究组确定量子准电钙钛矿SrTiO3是一种强低温EO [>500皮米/伏（pm/V）]和压电材料（>90皮库仑/牛顿），在T = 5 K，频率至少为1兆赫兹。此外，通过将SrTiO3调谐到量子临界状态，研究组将EO和压电效应提高了一倍以上，并证明了线性波克尔斯系数高于1000 pm/V。该研究结果探索了量子相变、介电敏感性和非线性之间的联系，为低温光学和机械系统提供了机会，并为发现新的非线性材料提供了框架。
附：英文原文
Title: Quantum critical electro-optic and piezo-electric nonlinearities
Author: Christopher P. Anderson, Giovanni Scuri, Aaron Chan, Sungjun Eun, Alexander D. White, Geun Ho Ahn, Christine Jilly, Amir Safavi-Naeini, Kasper Van Gasse, Lu Li, Jelena Vukovi
Issue&Volume: 2025-10-23
Abstract: Although electro-optic (EO) nonlinearities are essential for many quantum and classical photonics applications, a major challenge is inefficient modulation in cryogenic environments. Guided by the connection between phase transitions and nonlinearity, we identify the quantum paraelectric perovskite SrTiO3 as a strong cryogenic EO [>500 picometers per volt (pm/V)] and piezo-electric material (>90 picocoulombs per newton) at T = 5 K, at frequencies to at least 1 megahertz. Furthermore, by tuning SrTiO3 toward quantum criticality, we more than double the EO and piezo-electric effects, demonstrating a linear Pockels coefficient above 1000 pm/V. Our results probe the link between quantum phase transitions, dielectric susceptibility, and nonlinearity, unlocking opportunities in cryogenic optical and mechanical systems and providing a framework for discovering new nonlinear materials.
DOI: adx8657
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx8657