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Universal Quartic Scaling Law for Kerr-Type Interactions: Projection-Law Factorization Across Nonlinear Quantum Platforms

Quantum Physics 2026-05-06 v2 Optics

Abstract

We present a rigorous derivation and numerical validation of a universal projection-law factorization for quartic nonlinear coupling rates across physically distinct platforms. The central result is that observable Kerr-type interactions -- self-Kerr, cross-Kerr, and cross-phase modulation -- factorize into a dimensionless projection coefficient and an intrinsic quartic energy scale. This structure follows from canonical quantization of a quartic interaction projected onto a finite normal-mode basis. We state this result as a formal proposition with clearly enumerated assumptions, provide a proof sketch based on second quantization of the anharmonic potential, and enumerate the domain of validity. We then implement the scaling law as a lightweight computational toolkit (UEFT-Designer) with platform-specific kernels for superconducting circuits, photonic microcavities, and epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) structures. A complete, step-by-step worked example for a superconducting quarton device -- with full uncertainty propagation -- predicts a cross-Kerr rate χ/2π=361±13MHz\chi/2\pi = 361\pm 13\,\mathrm{MHz}, agreeing with the independently measured value of 366±0.5MHz366\pm 0.5\,\mathrm{MHz} \cite{Ye2025} to within 1.4\%. A formal error-propagation analysis establishes that the dominant uncertainty is the Josephson-energy extraction uncertainty ( ⁣2%\sim\!2\%), not the geometric projection factor. Cross-platform validation against five independent experiments spanning eight orders of magnitude in coupling strength confirms the universality of the factorization to within reported experimental uncertainties. The ghost-sector spectral correction introduced in earlier versions is reframed as an optional phenomenological self-energy model with no mandatory role in the validated scaling law.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.16816,
  title  = {Universal Quartic Scaling Law for Kerr-Type Interactions: Projection-Law Factorization Across Nonlinear Quantum Platforms},
  author = {Xiaochen Liu and Ken-Tye Yong},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.16816},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T12:15:42.829Z