Electro-Optic Transducer Delay Line for Resonator Decoherence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing approaches to converting microwave signals to optical signals or vice versa are complex and difficult to optimize, leading to issues like microwave resonator degradation and decoherence caused by stray optical photons, which result in signal loss and reduced efficiency in solid-state systems.

Innovation Solution

An electronic structure comprising a resonator assembly with separate microwave and optical resonators, an optical pump waveguide with a delay portion to reduce decoherence, and separate transmission lines for microwave and optical signals, allowing for the use of higher peak-power optical pulses and improved conversion efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a shared optical waveguide is used for both optical pump input and optical signal transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but signal loss increases due to interference and decoherence from stray optical photons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaveguide structureVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the optical waveguide system into separate waveguides: one dedicated to optical pump input and another for optical signal transmission. This segmentation eliminates interference between the two optical paths, preventing decoherence caused by stray photons while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If high peak-power optical pulses are used to improve transducer efficiency, then conversion efficiency increases, but decoherence of the microwave resonator increases due to scattering of optical pump photons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransducer efficiencyVSAvoidresonator coherence

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic scattering interaction by providing a dedicated optical pump waveguide that directs photons away from the microwave resonator. This allows high peak-power optical pulses to be used for efficient transduction without the photons scattering into the resonator and causing decoherence, thus extracting the harmful interaction while preserving the useful high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The dedicated optical pump waveguide acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the optical pump source and the resonator system. It controls the path of optical photons, ensuring they reach the intended target without interacting harmfully with the microwave resonator, thereby enabling high-power operation while maintaining resonator coherence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If separate optical waveguides are used for optical pump input and optical signal transmission, then signal loss is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal lossVSAvoidwaveguide structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the separate optical pump waveguide and optical signal waveguide at the output stage, where they converge to deliver both optical pump and optical signal to the resonator assembly. This merging approach reduces the overall number of separate components needed while maintaining the benefits of separate transmission paths, thus balancing signal loss reduction with manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces decoherence and signal loss by separating optical and microwave signals, enabling more efficient conversion between the microwave and optical domains with reduced decoherence and increased peak-power optical pulse usage.

Implementation Method 1

an optical pump waveguide that transmits an optical pump input to the resonator assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical waveguide: Waveguide (optics)

Implementation Method 2

a microwave signal waveguide that transmits a microwave signal relative to the resonator assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

conversion of photons between a microwave domain and an optical domain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-optic effect: Electro-Optic Effects

Data Source

PatentUS12197104B2Electro-optic transducer with integrated optical delay line

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Devices and/or methods provided herein relate to providing conversion of photons between an optical domain and a microwave domain. An electronic structure can comprise a resonator assembly comprising a microwave resonator and an optical resonator, an optical pump waveguide that transmits an optical pump input to the resonator assembly, and an optical signal waveguide, separate from the optical pump waveguide, that transmits an optical signal relative to the resonator assembly. The electronic structure further can comprise a microwave signal waveguide that transmits a microwave signal relative to the resonator assembly. The optical pump waveguide can comprise a delay portion that delays receipt of the optical pump input to the resonator assembly through the optical pump waveguide to a time after reduction of a majority of decoherence of the resonator assembly caused by scattering of a portion of the optical pump input, which portion does not enter the optical pump waveguide.