NewsPhysics

Scientists have achieved strong coupling between radiofrequency (RF) photons and plasmons of electrons confined on the surface of liquid helium. This breakthrough represents a significant step towards developing new quantum devices and exploring condensed matter phenomena in a low-dissipation environment. The observed interaction is robust enough to allow coherent energy exchange between both systems, opening the door to quantum manipulation of these collective electron excitations.

Electrons on liquid helium form a nearly ideal two-dimensional system, characterized by extremely high mobility and long coherence times, making them a promising platform for quantum computing and simulation. However, the interaction of these electrons with external electromagnetic fields has traditionally been weak. The present work overcomes this limitation by designing a resonant cavity that drastically enhances the coupling between RF photons and plasmons, which are the collective oscillations of the electrons.

“Scientists have achieved strong coupling between radiofrequency (RF) photons and plasmons of electrons confined on the surface of liquid helium.”