Continuous and Time-Domain Coherent Signal Conversion between Optical and Microwave Frequencies

Peairs, G. A.; Chou, M. -H.; Bienfait, A.; Chang, H. -S.; Conner, C. R.; Dumur, É.; Grebel, J.; Povey, R. G.; Şahin, E.; Satzinger, K. J.; Zhong, Y. P.; Cleland, A. N.

doi:10.1103/physrevapplied.14.061001

DOE OSTI · 1777363

Continuous and Time-Domain Coherent Signal Conversion between Optical and Microwave Frequencies

Peairs, G. A.·Chou, M. -H.·Bienfait, A.·Chang, H. -S.·Conner, C. R.·Dumur, É.·Grebel, J.·Povey, R. G.·Şahin, E.·Satzinger, K. J.·Zhong, Y. P.·Cleland, A. N.

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Abstract

A quantum network consisting of computational nodes connected by high-fidelity communication channels could expand information-processing capabilities significantly beyond those of classical networks. Superconducting qubits hold promise for scalable and high-fidelity quantum computation at microwave frequencies but must operate in an isolated cryogenic environment, obviating the potential for practical long-range communication. Quantum communication has, however, been demonstrated with optical photons. A fast efficient quantum-coherent interface between superconducting qubits and optical photons would provide a key resource for a large-scale quantum network or distributed quantum computer. Here, we describe the design and experimental operation of a device incorporating a silicon optomechanical nanobeam combined with an aluminum-nitride-based electromechanical transducer. We experimentally demonstrate classical continuous-wave operation of this device at room temperature with external conversion efficiencies of (2.5 +/- 0.4) x 10 -5 (microwave to optical) and (3.8 +/- 0.4) x 10 -5 (optical to microwave), corresponding to internal efficiencies of 2.4% and 3.7%, respectively. Finally, this device also has a larger bandwidth than previous efficient microwave-optical transducers, allowing us to operate in the time domain with 20-ns pulses.

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74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS acoustic phonons mechanical effects of light on material media microwave techniques nanomechanical devices optical techniques optomechanics quantum information with hybrid systems quantum networks

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Peairs, G. A., Chou, M. -H., Bienfait, A., Chang, H. -S., Conner, C. R., Dumur, É., Grebel, J., Povey, R. G., Şahin, E., Satzinger, K. J., Zhong, Y. P., Cleland, A. N.. 2020-12-04. Continuous and Time-Domain Coherent Signal Conversion between Optical and Microwave Frequencies. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.14.061001

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