Quantum critical electro-optic and piezo-electric nonlinearities

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Anderson, Christopher P.; Scuri, Giovanni; Chan, Aaron; Eun, Sungjun; White, Alexander D.; Ahn, Geun Ho; Jilly, Christine; Safavi-Naeini, Amir; Van Gasse, Kasper; Li, Lu; Vuckovic, Jelena
• 署名单位: Stanford University; University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; University of Michigan System; University of Michigan; Stanford University; Ghent University
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adx8657
• 发表日期: 2025-10-23
• 页码: 394-399
• 关键词: STRONTIUM-TITANATE; temperature-dependence; REFRACTIVE-INDEXES; LITHIUM-NIOBATE; srtio3; ferroelectricity; BEHAVIOR; PERMITTIVITY; coefficients; TANTALATE

摘要

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.