Quantum Electrodynamics in Fibonacci Quasicrystals

Abstract

One dimensional photonic crystals have emerged as a useful tool in quantum optics to control the behavior of the photons propagating within them. Specifically, the structure of these crystals can be engineered to precisely control the photonic dispersion relation and density of states, which allows them to reach the strong-coupling regime of quantum electrodynamics (QED). Recently, specific experimental manifestations of periodic crystals using a coplanar waveguide (CPW) coupled directly to a two-level qubit have allowed for the observation of exponentially localized photonic bound states within the bandgap of the crystal. Here we investigate the rich optical physics of photonic quasicrystals and use them to further probe strong-coupling QED. By similarly coupling a qubit directly to a CPW, we are able to systematically characterize the compound system and demonstrate that it gives rise to a diverse set of photonic bound states in its bandgaps. This work poses interesting questions about the fundamental nature of photonic bound states within different optical environments and opens avenues for many experiments to further study these questions.