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Quantum-enabled operation of a microwave-optical interface
Rishabh Sahu1, William Hease2, Alfredo Rueda2
1Institute of Science and Technology Austria, am Campus 1, 3400, Klosterneuburg, Austria. rsahu@ist.ac.at.
Nature Communications
|March 12, 2022
Summary
We developed a low-noise electro-optic interface for quantum networks. This system achieves high transduction efficiency, enabling efficient quantum signal conversion for future quantum communication protocols.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Solid-state quantum systems
- Quantum information science
Background:
- Solid-state microwave systems excel at quantum logic and sensing.
- Photons at telecom wavelengths are optimal for low-loss quantum interconnects.
- A low-noise interface is crucial for single-photon effects in quantum networks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a general-purpose electro-optic interface for quantum networks.
- To achieve high transduction efficiency with minimal input noise.
- To enable near-term heralded quantum network protocols.
Main Methods:
- Coherent electro-optic modulation on nanosecond timescales.
- Utilizing short, high-power optical pump pulses.
- Minimizing microwave input noise to below 1 quanta.
Main Results:
- Achieved 8.7% bidirectional transduction efficiency (up to 15%).
- Demonstrated near-unity cooperativity in electro-optic interaction.
- Reached internal pure conversion efficiency up to 99.5% with low mode occupancy.
Conclusions:
- The developed interface meets requirements for heralded quantum network protocols.
- Evidence for electro-optic laser cooling and vacuum amplification was observed.
- This work advances quantum interconnects for scalable quantum networks.
