Fiber-coupled bound-state-in-the-continuum system for quantum transduction

Abstract

Because of the universal vibration coupling, mechanical oscillators are able to connect disparatephysical systems and realize quantum transduction when they are sufficiently cooled. Recently,radiation-pressure force has been found as an efficient means to control mechanical oscillators.However, manipulation of individual phonons using radiation-pressure force still facestremendous difficulties including measurement-induced parasitic heating and excess noises,resulting low bandwidth and poor fidelity for quantum transduction. These challenges arefundamentally associated with the device architecture of suspended optomechanical microcavities,which, although effectively isolating long-lived vibrational modes, limits the dissipation ofparasitic phonons generated via optical absorption.In this project, we will realize a fiber-coupled chip-scale optomechanical architecture withmechanical bound states in the continuum (BICs) coupled with optical band-edge modes belowthe light cone, and use such system to achieve low-noise quantum transduction. Long-lived BICphonons are trapped in unreleased optomechanical crystals due to the symmetry of the structure,while parasitic phonons are dissipated via the substrate without obstacles. The unique slab-onsubstratearchitecture provides unmatched heat capacity for mitigation of optical-absorption drivenheating and thermo-optic effect, allowing ample optical pump power to be applied for enhancedphoton-phonon cooperativity without introducing excess noises and sacrificing the operationbandwidth. On the other hand, optical band-edge modes below the light cone are naturallyradiation-forbidden while allowing high-efficiency fiber-optic coupling. This program aims atachieving quantum transduction between photons in optical fibers and on-chip phonons as well asmicrowave photons. The outcome of this project will have a tremendous impact in usingmechanical quantum systems for interconnects in quantum networks, eventually enabling secure,dynamic, scalable quantum communication and computing networks for an increasinglyinterconnected force with more rapid and effective decision-making.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jan 06, 2021
Source ID
N000142112136

Entities

People

  • Kejie Fang

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Computing