On-chip bi-directional microwave to optical conversion using materials doped with ytterbium 171
Abstract
The goal of this project is to coherently and reversibly convert microwave signals from superconducting chips into optical signals. We are aiming for efficiencies approaching the level where single microwave photons can be converted to single optical photons, thus enabling quantum communication between future superconducting quantum computers. The conversion process is mediated by an ensemble of 171Yb atoms (or ions) doped in a YVO4 crystal, coupledsimultaneously with high cooperativity to both a superconducting resonator and an optical resonator. The reason for using 171Yb:YVO is that 171Yb is the only Kramers rare-earth ion with a ~ nuclear spin, with a relatively simple hyperfine structure, that allows for coupling of the microwave signals directly into the hyperfine transitions. This is highly advantageous because it allows for transduction devices without using a magnetic field. Usually, microwaves are coupled to Zeeman transitions that are split using a magnetic field, which introduces complications when working with superconducting devices. We already made essential steps towards these goals as following: we grew and characterized excellent 171Yb:YVO crystals that are ideal for this project, we demonstrated proof of concept transduction (i.e. measurable signals) using on-chip microwave and optical waveguides, and we demonstrated on-chip integration (on sapphire) of photonic crystal resonators and microwave superconducting resonators with quality factors greater that 100000 that are required for future demonstration of high efficiency quantum transduction. In this program we will: integrate the already developed on-chip photonic andsuperconducting microwave resonators with the 171Yb:YVO crystals, demonstrate coherent transduction with efficiency of a few percent, characterize the noise of the transduction process, and achieve a signal to noise ratio that allows transduction at single photon level.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912182
Entities
People
- Andrei Faraon
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy