Realization of a Λ System with Metastable States of a Capacitively Shunted Fluxonium

We realize a Lambda system in a superconducting circuit, with metastable states exhibiting lifetimes up to 8 ms. We exponentially suppress the tunneling matrix elements involved in spontaneous energy relaxation by creating a heavy fluxonium, realized by adding a capacitive shunt to the original circuit design. The device allows for both cavity-assisted and direct fluorescent readouts, as well as state preparation schemes akin to optical pumping. Since direct transitions between the metastable states are strongly suppressed, we utilize Raman transitions for coherent manipulation of the states.