Quantum synchronization in presence of shot noise

Abstract Synchronization is a widespread phenomenon encountered in many natural and engineered systems with nonlinear classical dynamics. How synchronization concepts and mechanisms transfer to the quantum realm and whether features are universal or platform specific are timely questions of fundamental interest. They can be studied in superconducting electrical circuits which provide a well-established platform for nonlinear quantum dynamics. Here, we consider a Josephson-photonics device, where a dc-biased Josephson junction creates (non-classical) light in a microwave cavity. The combined quantum compound constitutes a self-sustained oscillator: a system susceptible to synchronization. This is due to the inherent effect of an in-series resistance, which realizes an autonomous feedback mechanism of the charge transport on the driving voltage. Accounting for the full counting statistics of transported charge not only yields phase diffusion, but allows us to describe phase locking to an ac-signal and the mutual synchronization of two such devices. Thereby one can observe phase stabilization leading to a sharp emission spectrum as well as unique charge transport statistics revealing shot noise induced phase slips. Two-time perturbation theory is used to obtain a reduced description of the oscillators phase dynamics in form of a Fokker–Planck equation in generalization of classical synchronization theories.