@article{9114, abstract = {Microwave photonics lends the advantages of fiber optics to electronic sensing and communication systems. In contrast to nonlinear optics, electro-optic devices so far require classical modulation fields whose variance is dominated by electronic or thermal noise rather than quantum fluctuations. Here we demonstrate bidirectional single-sideband conversion of X band microwave to C band telecom light with a microwave mode occupancy as low as 0.025 ± 0.005 and an added output noise of less than or equal to 0.074 photons. This is facilitated by radiative cooling and a triply resonant ultra-low-loss transducer operating at millikelvin temperatures. The high bandwidth of 10.7 MHz and total (internal) photon conversion efficiency of 0.03% (0.67%) combined with the extremely slow heating rate of 1.1 added output noise photons per second for the highest available pump power of 1.48 mW puts near-unity efficiency pulsed quantum transduction within reach. Together with the non-Gaussian resources of superconducting qubits this might provide the practical foundation to extend the range and scope of current quantum networks in analogy to electrical repeaters in classical fiber optic communication.}, author = {Hease, William J and Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Sahu, Rishabh and Wulf, Matthias and Arnold, Georg M and Schwefel, Harald G.L. and Fink, Johannes M}, issn = {2691-3399}, journal = {PRX Quantum}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Bidirectional electro-optic wavelength conversion in the quantum ground state}}, doi = {10.1103/prxquantum.1.020315}, volume = {1}, year = {2020}, } @article{9194, abstract = {Quantum transduction, the process of converting quantum signals from one form of energy to another, is an important area of quantum science and technology. The present perspective article reviews quantum transduction between microwave and optical photons, an area that has recently seen a lot of activity and progress because of its relevance for connecting superconducting quantum processors over long distances, among other applications. Our review covers the leading approaches to achieving such transduction, with an emphasis on those based on atomic ensembles, opto-electro-mechanics, and electro-optics. We briefly discuss relevant metrics from the point of view of different applications, as well as challenges for the future.}, author = {Lauk, Nikolai and Sinclair, Neil and Barzanjeh, Shabir and Covey, Jacob P and Saffman, Mark and Spiropulu, Maria and Simon, Christoph}, issn = {2058-9565}, journal = {Quantum Science and Technology}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, title = {{Perspectives on quantum transduction}}, doi = {10.1088/2058-9565/ab788a}, volume = {5}, year = {2020}, } @article{9195, abstract = {Quantum information technology based on solid state qubits has created much interest in converting quantum states from the microwave to the optical domain. Optical photons, unlike microwave photons, can be transmitted by fiber, making them suitable for long distance quantum communication. Moreover, the optical domain offers access to a large set of very well‐developed quantum optical tools, such as highly efficient single‐photon detectors and long‐lived quantum memories. For a high fidelity microwave to optical transducer, efficient conversion at single photon level and low added noise is needed. Currently, the most promising approaches to build such systems are based on second‐order nonlinear phenomena such as optomechanical and electro‐optic interactions. Alternative approaches, although not yet as efficient, include magneto‐optical coupling and schemes based on isolated quantum systems like atoms, ions, or quantum dots. Herein, the necessary theoretical foundations for the most important microwave‐to‐optical conversion experiments are provided, their implementations are described, and the current limitations and future prospects are discussed.}, author = {Lambert, Nicholas J. and Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Sedlmeir, Florian and Schwefel, Harald G. L.}, issn = {2511-9044}, journal = {Advanced Quantum Technologies}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Coherent conversion between microwave and optical photons - An overview of physical implementations}}, doi = {10.1002/qute.201900077}, volume = {3}, year = {2020}, } @inproceedings{10328, abstract = {We discus noise channels in coherent electro-optic up-conversion between microwave and optical fields, in particular due to optical heating. We also report on a novel configuration, which promises to be flexible and highly efficient.}, author = {Lambert, Nicholas J. and Mobassem, Sonia and Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Schwefel, Harald G.L.}, booktitle = {OSA Quantum 2.0 Conference}, isbn = {9-781-5575-2820-9}, location = {Washington, DC, United States}, publisher = {Optica Publishing Group}, title = {{New designs and noise channels in electro-optic microwave to optical up-conversion}}, doi = {10.1364/QUANTUM.2020.QTu8A.1}, year = {2020}, } @inproceedings{7032, abstract = {Optical frequency combs (OFCs) are light sources whose spectra consists of equally spaced frequency lines in the optical domain [1]. They have great potential for improving high-capacity data transfer, all-optical atomic clocks, spectroscopy, and high-precision measurements [2].}, author = {Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Sedlmeir, Florian and Leuchs, Gerd and Kuamri, Madhuri and Schwefel, Harald G. L.}, booktitle = {2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference}, isbn = {9781728104690}, location = {Munich, Germany}, publisher = {IEEE}, title = {{Electro-optic frequency comb generation in lithium niobate whispering gallery mode resonators}}, doi = {10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2019.8873300}, year = {2019}, } @article{7156, abstract = {We propose an efficient microwave-photonic modulator as a resource for stationary entangled microwave-optical fields and develop the theory for deterministic entanglement generation and quantum state transfer in multi-resonant electro-optic systems. The device is based on a single crystal whispering gallery mode resonator integrated into a 3D-microwave cavity. The specific design relies on a new combination of thin-film technology and conventional machining that is optimized for the lowest dissipation rates in the microwave, optical, and mechanical domains. We extract important device properties from finite-element simulations and predict continuous variable entanglement generation rates on the order of a Mebit/s for optical pump powers of only a few tens of microwatts. We compare the quantum state transfer fidelities of coherent, squeezed, and non-Gaussian cat states for both teleportation and direct conversion protocols under realistic conditions. Combining the unique capabilities of circuit quantum electrodynamics with the resilience of fiber optic communication could facilitate long-distance solid-state qubit networks, new methods for quantum signal synthesis, quantum key distribution, and quantum enhanced detection, as well as more power-efficient classical sensing and modulation.}, author = {Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Hease, William J and Barzanjeh, Shabir and Fink, Johannes M}, issn = {2056-6387}, journal = {npj Quantum Information}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Electro-optic entanglement source for microwave to telecom quantum state transfer}}, doi = {10.1038/s41534-019-0220-5}, volume = {5}, year = {2019}, } @inproceedings{7233, abstract = {We demonstrate electro-optic frequency comb generation using a doubly resonant system comprising a whispering gallery mode disk resonator made of lithium niobate mounted inside a three dimensional copper cavity. We observe 180 sidebands centred at 1550 nm.}, author = {Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Sedlmeir, Florian and Leuchs, Gerd and Kumari, Madhuri and Schwefel, Harald G.L.}, booktitle = {Nonlinear Optics, OSA Technical Digest}, isbn = {9781557528209}, location = {Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii (HI), United States}, publisher = {Optica Publishing Group}, title = {{Resonant electro-optic frequency comb generation in lithium niobate disk resonator inside a microwave cavity}}, doi = {10.1364/NLO.2019.NM2A.5}, year = {2019}, } @article{7451, abstract = {We prove that the observable telegraph signal accompanying the bistability in the photon-blockade-breakdown regime of the driven and lossy Jaynes–Cummings model is the finite-size precursor of what in the thermodynamic limit is a genuine first-order phase transition. We construct a finite-size scaling of the system parameters to a well-defined thermodynamic limit, in which the system remains the same microscopic system, but the telegraph signal becomes macroscopic both in its timescale and intensity. The existence of such a finite-size scaling completes and justifies the classification of the photon-blockade-breakdown effect as a first-order dissipative quantum phase transition.}, author = {Vukics, A. and Dombi, A. and Fink, Johannes M and Domokos, P.}, issn = {2521-327X}, journal = {Quantum}, publisher = {Verein zur Förderung des Open Access Publizierens in den Quantenwissenschaften}, title = {{Finite-size scaling of the photon-blockade breakdown dissipative quantum phase transition}}, doi = {10.22331/q-2019-06-03-150}, volume = {3}, year = {2019}, } @article{6053, abstract = {Recent technical developments in the fields of quantum electromechanics and optomechanics have spawned nanoscale mechanical transducers with the sensitivity to measure mechanical displacements at the femtometre scale and the ability to convert electromagnetic signals at the single photon level. A key challenge in this field is obtaining strong coupling between motion and electromagnetic fields without adding additional decoherence. Here we present an electromechanical transducer that integrates a high-frequency (0.42 GHz) hypersonic phononic crystal with a superconducting microwave circuit. The use of a phononic bandgap crystal enables quantum-level transduction of hypersonic mechanical motion and concurrently eliminates decoherence caused by acoustic radiation. Devices with hypersonic mechanical frequencies provide a natural pathway for integration with Josephson junction quantum circuits, a leading quantum computing technology, and nanophotonic systems capable of optical networking and distributing quantum information.}, author = {Kalaee, Mahmoud and Mirhosseini, Mohammad and Dieterle, Paul B. and Peruzzo, Matilda and Fink, Johannes M and Painter, Oskar}, issn = {1748-3395}, journal = {Nature Nanotechnology}, number = {4}, pages = {334–339}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Quantum electromechanics of a hypersonic crystal}}, doi = {10.1038/s41565-019-0377-2}, volume = {14}, year = {2019}, } @article{6102, abstract = {Light is a union of electric and magnetic fields, and nowhere is the complex relationship between these fields more evident than in the near fields of nanophotonic structures. There, complicated electric and magnetic fields varying over subwavelength scales are generally present, which results in photonic phenomena such as extraordinary optical momentum, superchiral fields, and a complex spatial evolution of optical singularities. An understanding of such phenomena requires nanoscale measurements of the complete optical field vector. Although the sensitivity of near- field scanning optical microscopy to the complete electromagnetic field was recently demonstrated, a separation of different components required a priori knowledge of the sample. Here, we introduce a robust algorithm that can disentangle all six electric and magnetic field components from a single near-field measurement without any numerical modeling of the structure. As examples, we unravel the fields of two prototypical nanophotonic structures: a photonic crystal waveguide and a plasmonic nanowire. These results pave the way for new studies of complex photonic phenomena at the nanoscale and for the design of structures that optimize their optical behavior.}, author = {Le Feber, B. and Sipe, J. E. and Wulf, Matthias and Kuipers, L. and Rotenberg, N.}, issn = {20477538}, journal = {Light: Science and Applications}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{A full vectorial mapping of nanophotonic light fields}}, doi = {10.1038/s41377-019-0124-3}, volume = {8}, year = {2019}, } @article{6348, abstract = {High-speed optical telecommunication is enabled by wavelength-division multiplexing, whereby hundreds of individually stabilized lasers encode information within a single-mode optical fibre. Higher bandwidths require higher total optical power, but the power sent into the fibre is limited by optical nonlinearities within the fibre, and energy consumption by the light sources starts to become a substantial cost factor1. Optical frequency combs have been suggested to remedy this problem by generating numerous discrete, equidistant laser lines within a monolithic device; however, at present their stability and coherence allow them to operate only within small parameter ranges2,3,4. Here we show that a broadband frequency comb realized through the electro-optic effect within a high-quality whispering-gallery-mode resonator can operate at low microwave and optical powers. Unlike the usual third-order Kerr nonlinear optical frequency combs, our combs rely on the second-order nonlinear effect, which is much more efficient. Our result uses a fixed microwave signal that is mixed with an optical-pump signal to generate a coherent frequency comb with a precisely determined carrier separation. The resonant enhancement enables us to work with microwave powers that are three orders of magnitude lower than those in commercially available devices. We emphasize the practical relevance of our results to high rates of data communication. To circumvent the limitations imposed by nonlinear effects in optical communication fibres, one has to solve two problems: to provide a compact and fully integrated, yet high-quality and coherent, frequency comb generator; and to calculate nonlinear signal propagation in real time5. We report a solution to the first problem.}, author = {Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Sedlmeir, Florian and Kumari, Madhuri and Leuchs, Gerd and Schwefel, Harald G.L.}, issn = {14764687}, journal = {Nature}, number = {7752}, pages = {378--381}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Resonant electro-optic frequency comb}}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-019-1110-x}, volume = {568}, year = {2019}, } @article{6609, abstract = {Mechanical systems facilitate the development of a hybrid quantum technology comprising electrical, optical, atomic and acoustic degrees of freedom1, and entanglement is essential to realize quantum-enabled devices. Continuous-variable entangled fields—known as Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) states—are spatially separated two-mode squeezed states that can be used for quantum teleportation and quantum communication2. In the optical domain, EPR states are typically generated using nondegenerate optical amplifiers3, and at microwave frequencies Josephson circuits can serve as a nonlinear medium4,5,6. An outstanding goal is to deterministically generate and distribute entangled states with a mechanical oscillator, which requires a carefully arranged balance between excitation, cooling and dissipation in an ultralow noise environment. Here we observe stationary emission of path-entangled microwave radiation from a parametrically driven 30-micrometre-long silicon nanostring oscillator, squeezing the joint field operators of two thermal modes by 3.40 decibels below the vacuum level. The motion of this micromechanical system correlates up to 50 photons per second per hertz, giving rise to a quantum discord that is robust with respect to microwave noise7. Such generalized quantum correlations of separable states are important for quantum-enhanced detection8 and provide direct evidence of the non-classical nature of the mechanical oscillator without directly measuring its state9. This noninvasive measurement scheme allows to infer information about otherwise inaccessible objects, with potential implications for sensing, open-system dynamics and fundamental tests of quantum gravity. In the future, similar on-chip devices could be used to entangle subsystems on very different energy scales, such as microwave and optical photons.}, author = {Barzanjeh, Shabir and Redchenko, Elena and Peruzzo, Matilda and Wulf, Matthias and Lewis, Dylan and Arnold, Georg M and Fink, Johannes M}, journal = {Nature}, pages = {480--483}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{Stationary entangled radiation from micromechanical motion}}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-019-1320-2}, volume = {570}, year = {2019}, } @article{287, abstract = {In this paper, we discuss biological effects of electromagnetic (EM) fields in the context of cancer biology. In particular, we review the nanomechanical properties of microtubules (MTs), the latter being one of the most successful targets for cancer therapy. We propose an investigation on the coupling of electromagnetic radiation to mechanical vibrations of MTs as an important basis for biological and medical applications. In our opinion, optomechanical methods can accurately monitor and control the mechanical properties of isolated MTs in a liquid environment. Consequently, studying nanomechanical properties of MTs may give useful information for future applications to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies involving non-invasive externally applied physical fields. For example, electromagnetic fields or high intensity ultrasound can be used therapeutically avoiding harmful side effects of chemotherapeutic agents or classical radiation therapy.}, author = {Salari, Vahid and Barzanjeh, Shabir and Cifra, Michal and Simon, Christoph and Scholkmann, Felix and Alirezaei, Zahra and Tuszynski, Jack}, journal = {Frontiers in Bioscience - Landmark}, number = {8}, pages = {1391 -- 1406}, publisher = {Frontiers in Bioscience}, title = {{Electromagnetic fields and optomechanics In cancer diagnostics and treatment}}, doi = {10.2741/4651}, volume = {23}, year = {2018}, } @article{307, abstract = {Spontaneous emission spectra of two initially excited closely spaced identical atoms are very sensitive to the strength and the direction of the applied magnetic field. We consider the relevant schemes that ensure the determination of the mutual spatial orientation of the atoms and the distance between them by entirely optical means. A corresponding theoretical description is given accounting for the dipole-dipole interaction between the two atoms in the presence of a magnetic field and for polarizations of the quantum field interacting with magnetic sublevels of the two-atom system. }, author = {Redchenko, Elena and Makarov, Alexander and Yudson, Vladimir}, journal = { Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Nanoscopy of pairs of atoms by fluorescence in a magnetic field}}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.97.043812}, volume = {97}, year = {2018}, } @article{22, abstract = {Conventional ultra-high sensitivity detectors in the millimeter-wave range are usually cooled as their own thermal noise at room temperature would mask the weak received radiation. The need for cryogenic systems increases the cost and complexity of the instruments, hindering the development of, among others, airborne and space applications. In this work, the nonlinear parametric upconversion of millimeter-wave radiation to the optical domain inside high-quality (Q) lithium niobate whispering-gallery mode (WGM) resonators is proposed for ultra-low noise detection. We experimentally demonstrate coherent upconversion of millimeter-wave signals to a 1550 nm telecom carrier, with a photon conversion efficiency surpassing the state-of-the-art by 2 orders of magnitude. Moreover, a theoretical model shows that the thermal equilibrium of counterpropagating WGMs is broken by overcoupling the millimeter-wave WGM, effectively cooling the upconverted mode and allowing ultra-low noise detection. By theoretically estimating the sensitivity of a correlation radiometer based on the presented scheme, it is found that room-temperature radiometers with better sensitivity than state-of-the-art high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT)-based radiometers can be designed. This detection paradigm can be used to develop room-temperature instrumentation for radio astronomy, earth observation, planetary missions, and imaging systems.}, author = {Botello, Gabriel and Sedlmeir, Florian and Rueda Sanchez, Alfredo R and Abdalmalak, Kerlos and Brown, Elliott and Leuchs, Gerd and Preu, Sascha and Segovia Vargas, Daniel and Strekalov, Dmitry and Munoz, Luis and Schwefel, Harald}, issn = {23342536}, journal = {Optica}, number = {10}, pages = {1210 -- 1219}, title = {{Sensitivity limits of millimeter-wave photonic radiometers based on efficient electro-optic upconverters}}, doi = {10.1364/OPTICA.5.001210}, volume = {5}, year = {2018}, } @inproceedings{155, abstract = {There is currently significant interest in operating devices in the quantum regime, where their behaviour cannot be explained through classical mechanics. Quantum states, including entangled states, are fragile and easily disturbed by excessive thermal noise. Here we address the question of whether it is possible to create non-reciprocal devices that encourage the flow of thermal noise towards or away from a particular quantum device in a network. Our work makes use of the cascaded systems formalism to answer this question in the affirmative, showing how a three-port device can be used as an effective thermal transistor, and illustrates how this formalism maps onto an experimentally-realisable optomechanical system. Our results pave the way to more resilient quantum devices and to the use of thermal noise as a resource.}, author = {Xuereb, André and Aquilina, Matteo and Barzanjeh, Shabir}, editor = {Andrews, D L and Ostendorf, A and Bain, A J and Nunzi, J M}, location = {Strasbourg, France}, publisher = {SPIE}, title = {{Routing thermal noise through quantum networks}}, doi = {10.1117/12.2309928}, volume = {10672}, year = {2018}, } @article{436, abstract = {There has been significant interest recently in using complex quantum systems to create effective nonreciprocal dynamics. Proposals have been put forward for the realization of artificial magnetic fields for photons and phonons; experimental progress is fast making these proposals a reality. Much work has concentrated on the use of such systems for controlling the flow of signals, e.g., to create isolators or directional amplifiers for optical signals. In this Letter, we build on this work but move in a different direction. We develop the theory of and discuss a potential realization for the controllable flow of thermal noise in quantum systems. We demonstrate theoretically that the unidirectional flow of thermal noise is possible within quantum cascaded systems. Viewing an optomechanical platform as a cascaded system we show here that one can ultimately control the direction of the flow of thermal noise. By appropriately engineering the mechanical resonator, which acts as an artificial reservoir, the flow of thermal noise can be constrained to a desired direction, yielding a thermal rectifier. The proposed quantum thermal noise rectifier could potentially be used to develop devices such as a thermal modulator, a thermal router, and a thermal amplifier for nanoelectronic devices and superconducting circuits.}, author = {Barzanjeh, Shabir and Aquilina, Matteo and Xuereb, André}, journal = {Physical Review Letters}, number = {6}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Manipulating the flow of thermal noise in quantum devices}}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.060601}, volume = {120}, year = {2018}, } @article{1114, abstract = {Nonequilibrium phase transitions exist in damped-driven open quantum systems when the continuous tuning of an external parameter leads to a transition between two robust steady states. In second-order transitions this change is abrupt at a critical point, whereas in first-order transitions the two phases can coexist in a critical hysteresis domain. Here, we report the observation of a first-order dissipative quantum phase transition in a driven circuit quantum electrodynamics system. It takes place when the photon blockade of the driven cavity-atom system is broken by increasing the drive power. The observed experimental signature is a bimodal phase space distribution with varying weights controlled by the drive strength. Our measurements show an improved stabilization of the classical attractors up to the millisecond range when the size of the quantum system is increased from one to three artificial atoms. The formation of such robust pointer states could be used for new quantum measurement schemes or to investigate multiphoton phases of finite-size, nonlinear, open quantum systems.}, author = {Fink, Johannes M and Dombi, András and Vukics, András and Wallraff, Andreas and Domokos, Peter}, issn = {21603308}, journal = {Physical Review X}, number = {1}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, title = {{Observation of the photon blockade breakdown phase transition}}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevX.7.011012}, volume = {7}, year = {2017}, } @article{796, abstract = {We present the fabrication and characterization of an aluminum transmon qubit on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. Key to the qubit fabrication is the use of an anhydrous hydrofluoric vapor process which selectively removes the lossy silicon oxide buried underneath the silicon device layer. For a 5.6 GHz qubit measured dispersively by a 7.1 GHz resonator, we find T1 = 3.5 μs and T∗2 = 2.2 μs. This process in principle permits the co-fabrication of silicon photonic and mechanical elements, providing a route towards chip-scale integration of electro-opto-mechanical transducers for quantum networking of superconducting microwave quantum circuits. The additional processing steps are compatible with established fabrication techniques for aluminum transmon qubits on silicon.}, author = {Keller, Andrew J and Dieterle, Paul and Fang, Michael and Berger, Brett and Fink, Johannes M and Painter, Oskar}, issn = {00036951}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, title = {{Al transmon qubits on silicon on insulator for quantum device integration}}, doi = {10.1063/1.4994661}, volume = {111}, year = {2017}, } @article{797, abstract = {Phasenübergänge helfen beim Verständnis von Vielteilchensystemen in der Festkörperphysik und Fluiddynamik bis hin zur Teilchenphysik. Unserer internationalen Kollaboration ist es gelungen, einen neuartigen Phasenübergang in einem Quantensystem zu beobachten [1]. In einem Mikrowellenresonator konnte erstmals die spontane Zustandsänderung von undurchsichtig zu transparent nachgewiesen werden.}, author = {Fink, Johannes M}, journal = {Physik in unserer Zeit}, number = {3}, pages = {111 -- 113}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Photonenblockade aufgelöst}}, doi = {10.1002/piuz.201770305}, volume = {48}, year = {2017}, }