Electro-Optics with Quantum Paraelectric Materials

Tuning optical properties of materials with electric fields is key to many quantum and classical applications. In particular, photonic modulation in cryogenic environments is an outstanding challenge, as traditional tuning mechanisms degrade at low temperature. In this talk, I present SrTiO3 as an attractive cryogenic electro-optic photonic material. Displaying a quantum paraelectric phase at low temperature, this material on the verge of ferroelectric instability results in a massive but stable electric susceptibility and tunability. I will first discuss our measurements of the electro-optic effect in this material near a quantum critical point. I then describe the creation of thin films of patterned SrTiO3 for high quality photonics. Finally, I will review how this material can transform microwave-to-optical quantum transduction, photonic quantum computing, and light-based control of superconducting systems.