Converting microwave and telecom photons with a silicon photonic nanomechanical interface

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Integrated Photonics
• Quantum Computing

Background:

• Quantum networks demand efficient, low-noise interfaces between microwave and optical domains.
• Existing superconducting circuit interfaces lack scalability, efficiency, and noise characterization.
• Silicon photonics, cavity optomechanics, and superconducting circuits offer a promising integrated solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a fully integrated, coherent transducer for quantum network applications.
• To achieve high transduction efficiency between microwave X and telecom S bands.
• To characterize the performance of the integrated transducer at millikelvin temperatures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized silicon photonics, cavity optomechanics, and superconducting circuits.
• Leveraged radiation pressure interaction mediated by silicon nanobeam motion.
• Operated the transducer at millikelvin temperatures for optimal performance.

Main Results:

• Achieved a total (internal) bidirectional transduction efficiency of 1.2% (135%).
• Demonstrated a low V_π of 16 μV with sub-nanowatt pump powers.
• Obtained a total (internal) pure conversion efficiency of up to 0.019% (1.6%) without optomechanical gain.

Conclusions:

• The integrated transducer shows significant potential for scalable and efficient quantum information processing.
• The demonstrated performance is relevant for future noise-free quantum network operations.
• This qubit-compatible platform advances the development of practical quantum networks.