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QUANTUM OPTICS

Microwave–optical transducer efficiency boost

Nature Photonics volume 16, pages 262–264 (2022)Cite this article

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A record-breaking microwave-to-optics conversion efficiency of 82% over a 1 MHz bandwidth for low photon numbers is achieved by using a gas of Rydberg atoms, paving the way towards applications in quantum technologies.

Quantum transduction, namely the coherent conversion of single photons between one spectral region and another, is an important enabling capability for quantum networking and distributed computing with quantum processors1. Since several leading quantum technology platforms — including superconducting circuits and electron spins in quantum dots or defect centres in solids — operate in the microwave domain, it is widely believed that single-photon conversion between the microwave and optical domains will play a role in the realization of large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of solving problems of practical relevance. Moreover, quantum transduction could be useful for the efficient detection of microwave photons by exploiting the more efficient detectors for optical photons, or, conversely, for performing non-demolition measurements of optical photons using superconducting qubits coupled to microwave cavities.

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Fig. 1: Excitation scheme and system geometry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    Jacob P. Covey

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  1. Jacob P. Covey
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Correspondence to Jacob P. Covey.

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The author declares no competing interests.

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Covey, J.P. Microwave–optical transducer efficiency boost. Nat. Photon. 16, 262–264 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-022-00977-1

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