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Efficient bidirectional quantum frequency conversion between telecom and visible bands using adaptively phase-matched
Jierui Hu1,2, Hao Yuan1,2, Joshua Akin1,2
1Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Nature Communications
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers achieved efficient quantum frequency conversion (QFC) between telecom and visible light using novel nanophotonic waveguides. This breakthrough advances scalable quantum networks by enabling high-performance, low-noise signal conversion.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Nanophotonics
- Integrated photonics
Background:
- Quantum frequency conversion (QFC) is crucial for quantum communication and networking.
- Current QFC methods face challenges in efficiency, noise, pump power, bandwidth, and pump-wavelength flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate efficient, low-noise, and bidirectional QFC between telecom (1550-nm) and visible (780-nm) bands.
- To achieve QFC without a long-wavelength pump using unpoled nanophotonic waveguides.
Main Methods:
- Utilized unpoled indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) nonlinear nanophotonic waveguides.
- Employed adaptive phase-matching control to optimize nonlinear susceptibility.
- Demonstrated bidirectional QFC between 1550-nm and 780-nm wavelength bands.
Main Results:
- Achieved 27% (55%) internal efficiency in 6-mm (2.5-mm) waveguides with low pump power (20 mW / 50 mW).
- Observed a low noise flux spectral density of 10-4 counts/s/Hz at 20 nm detuning.
- Successfully eliminated the need for a long-wavelength pump.
Conclusions:
- This work presents a significant advancement in integrated nonlinear photonics for high-performance QFC.
- The demonstrated InGaP waveguides facilitate the development of versatile and scalable quantum networks.
- The method offers a pathway to overcome existing limitations in quantum frequency conversion.
