Microwave-to-Optical Photon Transducer for Quantum State Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in detecting single microwave photons and weak continuous microwave signals without introducing significant thermal noise or requiring extensive amplification and electrical wiring, which can disturb the quantum state and increase noise.
Innovation Solution
A microwave-to-optical photon transducer is proposed, which efficiently couples microwave and optical signals to generate optical output signals proportional to the microwave input signals, allowing for high repetition rate measurement of every photon without substantial energy dissipation or thermal noise generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detector is placed inside the cooled microwave stage to measure microwave signals, then measurement capability is improved, but thermal noise increases due to energy dissipation from the detector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical resonator as an intermediary device that couples microwave and optical domains. The microwave signal is converted to optical signal through electro-optical material in the resonator, allowing measurement without placing a thermal detector inside the cryogenic stage. This mediator enables indirect measurement while avoiding the thermal noise problem of direct microwave detection.
2Temperature
If amplifiers and electrical wiring are used to measure microwave signals at room temperature, then thermal noise from the microwave stage is avoided, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electrical measurement system (amplifiers and wiring) with an optical system. By converting microwave signals to optical signals that can be transmitted through optical fibers to room temperature detectors, the system eliminates the need for complex electrical amplification chains while maintaining the ability to measure at room temperature.
3Measurement precision
If energy is dissipated by the detector to measure microwave photons, then measurement is enabled, but quantum state collapses due to thermal noise
Solution Approach 1:
The optical resonator acts as a quantum interface that transfers quantum information from microwave photons to optical photons without requiring energy dissipation. The electro-optical coupling enables quantum state transfer while maintaining quantum coherence, allowing single photon detection without collapsing the quantum state.
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 transducer enables the measurement of microwave quantum state signals or low-level microwave signals with high efficiency and bandwidth, reducing thermal noise and eliminating the need for signal amplifiers, thus preserving the quantum state and enhancing detection sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
an optical resonator including an electro-optical material. The superconducting microwave resonator and the optical resonator are arranged one with respect to the other so as to be electro-magnetically coupled.
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave-to-optical photon transducer is provided for generating coupling between a microwave signal (Sin2) and an optical signal (Spi_in1, Spi_out1). The transducer comprises: a first input port; a second input port; a first output port for outputting the optical signal (Spi_out1) and one or more optical sideband signals (Sout1, Sout11, Sout12); a first waveguide disposed between the first input port and the first output port to allow the optical signal (Spi_in1) and the one or more optical sideband signals (Sout1, Sout11, Sout12) to propagate in the first waveguide; a second waveguide connected to the second input port, and extending in the transducer adjacent to the first waveguide to allow the microwave signal (Sin2) to propagate in the second waveguide; a phase-matching arrangement to cause at least the optical signal (Spi_in1) and the microwave signal (Sin2) to be phase-matched or quasi-phase-matched.