Quantum interface between optics and microwaves with optomechanics (original) (raw)

Reversible Optical-to-Microwave Quantum Interface

We describe a reversible quantum interface between an optical and a microwave field using a hybrid device based on their common interaction with a micromechanical resonator in a superconducting circuit. We show that, by employing state-of-the-art optoelectromechanical devices, one can realize an effective source of (bright) two-mode squeezing with an optical idler (signal) and a microwave signal, which can be used for high-fidelity transfer of quantum states between optical and microwave fields by means of continuous variable teleportation.

Hybrid optomechanics for Quantum Technologies

Quantum Measurements and Quantum Metrology, 2014

We review the physics of hybrid optomechanical systems consisting of a mechanical oscillator interacting with both a radiation mode and an additional matterlike system. We concentrate on the cases embodied by either a single or a multi-atom system (a Bose-Einstein condensate, in particular) and discuss a wide range of physical effects, from passive mechanical cooling to the set-up of multipartite entanglement, from optomechanical non-locality to the achievement of non-classical states of a single mechanical mode. The reviewed material showcases the viability of hybridised cavity optomechanical systems as basic building blocks for quantum communication networks and quantum state-engineering devices, possibly empowered by the use of quantum and optimal control techniques. The results that we discuss are instrumental to the promotion of hybrid optomechanical devices as promising experimental platforms for the study of nonclassicality at the genuine mesoscopic level.

Converting microwave and telecom photons with a silicon photonic nanomechanical interface

Nature Communications

Practical quantum networks require low-loss and noise-resilient optical interconnects as well as non-Gaussian resources for entanglement distillation and distributed quantum computation. The latter could be provided by superconducting circuits but existing solutions to interface the microwave and optical domains lack either scalability or efficiency, and in most cases the conversion noise is not known. In this work we utilize the unique opportunities of silicon photonics, cavity optomechanics and superconducting circuits to demonstrate a fully integrated, coherent transducer interfacing the microwave X and the telecom S bands with a total (internal) bidirectional transduction efficiency of 1.2% (135%) at millikelvin temperatures. The coupling relies solely on the radiation pressure interaction mediated by the femtometer-scale motion of two silicon nanobeams reaching a Vπ as low as 16 μV for sub-nanowatt pump powers. Without the associated optomechanical gain, we achieve a total (int...

Hybrid two-mode squeezing of microwave and optical fields using optically pumped graphene layers

2020

A measurable quadrature of a squeezed quantum state manifests a small uncertainty below the Heisenberg limit. this phenomenon has the potential to enable several extraordinary applications in quantum information, metrology and sensing, and other fields. Several techniques have been implemented to realize squeezed electromagnetic states, including microwave fields and optical fields. However, hybrid squeezed modes (that incorporate both microwave and optical fields) have not yet been proposed despite their vital functionality to combine the two worlds of quantum superconducting systems and photonics systems. In this work, for the first time, we propose a novel approach to achieve two-mode squeezing of microwave and optical fields using graphene based structure. the proposed scheme includes a graphene layered structure that is driven by a quantum microwave voltage and subjected to two optical fields of distinct frequencies. By setting the optical frequency spacing equal to the microwave frequency, an interaction occurs between the optical and microwave fields through electrical modulation of the graphene conductivity. We show that significant hybrid two-mode squeezing, that includes one microwave field and one optical field, can be achieved. Furthermore, the microwave frequency can be tuned over a vast range by modifying the operation parameters. Microwave fields with squeezed states hold promises for realizing quantum communication systems 1 and fault-tolerant quantum computation 2 and for connecting quantum computers 3. Additionally, such fields can enable many unprecedented applications, including quantum radar and navigation 4-6 , quantum metrology 7 , and weak classical signal detection 8. Moreover, squeezed optical fields, which are equally functional to all above applications , are also used in gravitational wave detection 9 , laser system stabilization 10 , achieving accurate gyroscope systems 11 , detecting single-molecule 12 , and to realize quantum memory 13 , just to mention few. Mainly three configurations have been successfully implemented to achieved squeezed microwave fields. These are Josephson parametric amplifiers (JPAs) 14 , superconductor resonators 15 , and electromechanical resonators 16. Microwave squeezing with JPAs is based on using the JPA nonlinear response to form nonlinear resonators 17. A typical squeezing gain of approximately 10 dB over a few MHz bandwidth is achieved 18. Extended designs including Josephson traveling wave amplifiers with a squeezing gain of 20 dB and a bandwidth up to a few GHz have also been reported 19. However, phase matching is required 20. In contrast, microwave squeezing with gain up to 8 dB is achieved using superconductor resonators by implementing dissipation engineering to a coupled microwave field 21,22. Squeezing with electromechanical resonators has been reported by using the radiation pressure force of the interacting field 23. Squeezing gains up to 8 dB over a few tens of MHz are typically achieved 24. However, the operation is temperature dependent, and the performance degrades for higher microwave frequencies. Similarly, squeezed optical fields have been achieved with gain of more than 15 dB either by implementing optical nonlinear materials 25 or by incorporating optomechanical systems 26. Optical squeezing utilizing nonlinear optical materials are conducted by means of wave mixing or parametric down-conversion 27 , while optical squeezing utilizing optomechanical systems is realized by coupling the light photons to mechanical motion via incorporating mechanical resonator in an optical cavity 28 .

Quantum-enabled operation of a microwave-optical interface

Nature Communications, 2022

Solid-state microwave systems offer strong interactions for fast quantum logic and sensing but photons at telecom wavelength are the ideal choice for high-density low-loss quantum interconnects. A general-purpose interface that can make use of single photon effects requires < 1 input noise quanta, which has remained elusive due to either low efficiency or pump induced heating. Here we demonstrate coherent electro-optic modulation on nanosecond-timescales with only 0.1{6}_{-0.01}^{+0.02}0.16−0.01+0.02microwaveinputnoisephotonswithatotalbidirectionaltransductionefficiencyof8.70.1 6 − 0.01 + 0.02 microwave input noise photons with a total bidirectional transduction efficiency of 8.7% (or up to 15% with0.160.01+0.02microwaveinputnoisephotonswithatotalbidirectionaltransductionefficiencyof8.70.4{1}_{-0.02}^{+0.02}$$ 0.4 1 − 0.02 + 0.02 ), as required for near-term heralded quantum network protocols. The use of short and high-power optical pump pulses also enables near-unity cooperativity of the electro-optic interaction leading to an internal pure conversion efficiency of up to 99.5%. Together with the low mode occupancy this provides evidence for elect...

Quantum-enabled interface between microwave and telecom light

2021

Photons at telecom wavelength are the ideal choice for high density interconnects while solid state qubits in the microwave domain offer strong interactions for fast quantum logic. Here we present a general purpose, quantum-enabled interface between itinerant microwave and optical light. We use a pulsed electro-optic transducer at millikelvin temperatures to demonstrate nanosecond timescale control of the converted complex mode amplitude with an input added noise of N in = 0.16 +0.02 −0.01 (N in = 1.11 +0.15 −0.07) quanta for the microwave-to-optics (reverse) direction. Operating with up to unity cooperativity, this work enters the regime of strong coupling cavity quantum electro-optics characterized by unity internal efficiency and nonlinear effects such as the observed laser cooling of a superconducting cavity mode. The high quantum cooperativity of Cq > 10 forms the basis for deterministic entanglement generation between superconducting circuits and light.

Quantum Effects in Optomechanical Systems

Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Vol 57, 2009

The search for experimental demonstrations of the quantum behavior of macroscopic mechanical resonators is a fastly growing field of investigation and recent results suggest that the generation of quantum states of resonators with a mass at the microgram scale is within reach. In this chapter we give an overview of two important topics within this research field: cooling to the motional ground state, and the generation of entanglement involving mechanical, optical and atomic degrees of freedom. We focus on optomechanical systems where the resonator is coupled to one or more driven cavity modes by the radiation pressure interaction. We show that robust stationary entanglement between the mechanical resonator and the output fields of the cavity can be generated, and that this entanglement can be transferred to atomic ensembles placed within the cavity. These results show that optomechanical devices are interesting candidates for the realization of quantum memories and interfaces for continuous variable quantum communication networks.

Entangling optical and microwave cavity modes by means of a nanomechanical resonator

We propose a scheme that is able to generate stationary continuous-variable entanglement between an optical and a microwave cavity mode by means of their common interaction with a nanomechanical resonator. We show that when both cavities are intensely driven, one can generate bipartite entanglement between any pair of the tripartite system, and that, due to entanglement sharing, optical-microwave entanglement is efficiently generated at the expense of microwave-mechanical and optomechanical entanglement.

Coherent optical control of a superconducting microwave cavity via electro-optical dynamical back-action

arXiv (Cornell University), 2022

Recent quantum technologies have established precise quantum control of various microscopic systems using electromagnetic waves. Interfaces based on cryogenic cavity electro-optic systems are particularly promising, due to the direct interaction between microwave and optical fields in the quantum regime. Quantum optical control of superconducting microwave circuits has been precluded so far due to the weak electro-optical coupling as well as quasi-particles induced by the pump laser. Here we report the coherent control of a superconducting microwave cavity using laser pulses in a multimode electro-optical device at millikelvin temperature with near-unity cooperativity. Both the stationary and instantaneous responses of the microwave and optical modes comply with the coherent electro-optical interaction, and reveal only minuscule amount of excess back-action with an unanticipated time delay. Our demonstration enables wide ranges of applications beyond quantum transductions, from squeezing and quantum non-demolition measurements of microwave fields, to entanglement generation and hybrid quantum networks.