Summary
In this project we develop a quantum interface between microwave and optical photons as a key enabling technology of a hybrid quantum network. In such a network, the robust optical photons carry quantum information through optical fibres over long distances, while superconducting microwave circuits protected from thermal photon noise by the low temperature environment of a dilution refrigerator function as quantum nodes, providing memory, processing and routing capability. Our work includes developing an integrated, microfabricated device that interfaces the fragile microwave photons and with optical photons through either individual or ensembles of three-level solid-state quantum emitters, such as nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds. In addition, we are developing novel quantum memory and repeater designs. Here the device itself could serve as an optical quantum memory, storing information in the ground states where we may perform quantum control via a microwave circuit. It could also serve as a specialized quantum node. Entangling operations between remote superconducting circuits can be performed for repeater operation. Finally, we will also develop an efficient microwave photon detector that works by converting microwave photons into optical photons, which can then be efficiently detected with existing technology.
Figure 1. Microwave to optical conversion with a three level quantum emitter coupled to a microwave stripline cavity and an optical, e.g. a photonic-crystal, cavity: A microwave photon couples the two ground states |g> and |s> of a three-level quantum emitter with the help of the microwave cavity. The conversion is then completed through an optical pump and an enhanced emission into optical cavity coupled to the transition between the excited state |e> and the ground state |g>.
Related Content
Hybrid Quantum Repeater based on Atomic Quantum Memories and Telecom Wavelength Entangled Photon-Pairs Generated from Semiconductor Nanowires
Summary Losses in physical channels, such as optical fibres, limit existing quantum communication systems to modest distance ranges. Since amplification of quantum signals is fundamentally not possible, we look to extend the range and functionality of these quantum channels by adding quantum memory nodes that can daisy-chain multiple lengths of quantum channels through entanglement […]
October 29, 2018
Free-space Polarization-selective Microcavity based on Chiral Metasurfaces
Summary Developing a new type of Fabry-Pérot cavity that allows improved control of the atoms’ emission into the cavity mode will result in enhancement of the efficiency and fidelity of quantum state transfer from photons to atoms and back. This in turn can be used to improve the performance of quantum networks and repeaters, as […]
September 19, 2019
Extensible Technology for a Medium-Scale Superconducting Quantum Processor
Summary Superconducting quantum bits, or qubits, use circuits made from superconducting materials to harness quantum mechanical states. These devices contain many atoms, but can behave as simple, controllable qubits. We are building technologies for the control and measurement of superconducting qubits to enable the first demonstration of an extensible, medium-scale quantum processor. Our approach […]
November 28, 2016
Structured Light Applications in Vision Science
Eye diseases such as macular degeneration can have a devastating impact on quality of life. Early detection and treatment are thus crucial for preventing irreversible vision loss. A previous study found that the human eye can detect differences in ‘structured’ light beams. Such light beams are composed of a coherent superposition of differently polarized planar […]
April 24, 2023