Non-reciprocal scattering in a microwave frequency comb

Abstract

We investigate nonreciprocal scattering within the modes of a microwave frequency comb. Adjusting the pump frequencies, amplitudes, and phases of a Josephson parametric oscillator, we control constructive interference for the $m⟶\ell$ scattering processes, while concurrently achieving destructive interference for the inverse process $\ell ⟶m$. We outline the methodology for realizing nonreciprocity in the context of two-mode isolation and a three-mode circulation, which we extend to multiple modes. We find good agreement between the experiments and a linearized theoretical model. Nonreciprocal scattering expands the toolset for parametric control, with the potential to engineer alternative quantum correlations.

10 pages, 5 figures, Phys. Rev. Applied - Accepted 20 June, 2025