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arXiv:1407.2324 · Scientific Reports

An opto-magneto-mechanical quantum interface between distant superconducting qubits

Keyu Xia, Michael Ross Vanner, Jason Twamley

Published Jul 4, 2014• 20 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A quantum internet, where widely separated quantum devices are coherently connected, is a fundamental vision for local and global quantum information networks and processing. Superconducting quantum devices can now perform sophisticated quantum engineering locally on chip and a detailed method to achieve coherent optical quantum interconnection between distant superconducting devices is a vital, but highly challenging, goal. We describe a concrete opto-magneto-mechanical system that can interconvert microwave-to-optical quantum information with high fidelity. In one such node we utilise the magnetic fields generated by the supercurrent of a flux qubit to coherently modulate a mechanical oscillator that is part of a high-Q optical cavity to achieve high fidelity microwave-to-optical quantum information exchange. We analyze the transfer between two spatially distant nodes connected by an optical fibre and using currently accessible parameters we predict that the fidelity of transfer could be as high as ~80%, even with significant loss.

DOI
10.1038/srep05571

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A quantum internet, where widely separated quantum devices are coherently connected, is a fundamental vision for local and global quantum information networks and processing. Superconducting quantum devices can now perform sophisticated quantum engineering locally on chip and a detailed method to achieve coherent optical quantum interconnection between distant superconducting devices is a vital, but highly challenging, goal. We describe a concrete opto-magneto-mechanical system that can interconvert microwave-to-optical quantum information with high fidelity. In one such node we utilise the magnetic fields generated by the supercurrent of a flux qubit to coherently modulate a mechanical oscillator that is part of a high-Q optical cavity to achieve high fidelity microwave-to-optical quantum information exchange. We analyze the transfer between two spatially distant nodes connected by an optical fibre and using currently accessible parameters we predict that the fidelity of transfer could be as high as ~80%, even with significant loss.
We propose a design for a quantum microwave-optical photonic interface using electron spins in crystals to adiabatically swap the quantum states between a flux qubit and optical cavity that can achieve a transfer fidelity in excess of 9090%90. Following detailed modeling, we show that our protocol is robust against inhomogeneous broadening of the microwave and optical transitions, phase mismatch between the microwave and optical fields, and has the advantage that we can dynamically control the overall microwave-optical coupling strength in time. Using these capabilities we show how to coherently transport quantum information between two distant superconducting chips optically with a fidelity exceeding 9090%90.
We propose a scheme to implement quantum state transfer between two distant quantum nodes via a hybrid solid–optomechanical interface. The quantum state is encoded on the native superconducting qubit, and transferred to the microwave photon, then the optical photon successively, which afterwards is transmitted to the remote node by cavity leaking, and finally the quantum state is transferred to the remote superconducting qubit. The high efficiency of the state transfer is achieved by controllable Gaussian pulses sequence and numerically demonstrated with theoretically feasible parameters. Our scheme has the potential to implement unified quantum computing–communication–computing, and high fidelity of the microwave–optics–microwave transfer process of the quantum state.
Superconducting quantum circuits are a leading hardware candidate for realizing a large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer. However, scaling superconducting quantum computers will soon approach the physical limits imposed by their cryogenic operating environments. Consequently, interconnects between multiple processor modules will become increasingly necessary for scaling quantum computers. Optical fiber is a particularly promising candidate for these interconnects due to its low loss and negligible thermal noise at room temperature. However, interfacing microwave-frequency superconducting circuits with optical fibers presents several challenges. In this thesis, we present a modular architecture which addresses many of the current challenges in building this interface. We develop an optomechanical quantum transducer which is capable of generating microwave- and optical-frequency photons in pairs, and demonstrate quantum entanglement between these microwave-optical photon pairs. Further, we develop a superconducting qubit module optimized for efficient absorption of itinerant microwave photons, and demonstrate a high-efficiency photon catch protocol. Finally, we connect the superconducting qubit module to the transducer module via a superconducting microwave cable. We drive the microwave-optical photon pair generation process in the transducer module and employ the photon catch protocol in the qubit module to facilitate state transfer between the qubit and the flying microwave photon from the transducer. We observe correlations between the final qubit state and the detection of an optical photon, demonstrating a crucial step toward establishing quantum entanglement between superconducting qubits and light. We discuss ongoing progress and challenges in realizing hybrid entanglement and in extending this approach to entangle remote superconducting qubits over optical networks.
Superconducting quantum processors operate at microwave frequencies in millikelvin environments, making it challenging to interconnect distant nodes using conventional microwave wiring. Coherent microwave-to-optical (M2O) transduction enables superconducting quantum networks by interfacing itinerant microwave photons with low-loss optical fiber. However, many state-of-the-art transducers provide efficient conversion only over a narrow frequency span, complicating deployment with heterogeneous superconducting devices that are detuned by gigahertz-scale offsets. Here we demonstrate a frequency-agile microwave-optical interface that overcomes this bandwidth mismatch by cascading an electro-optic M2O transducer with a multimode microwave-to-microwave (M2M) frequency converter, with in situ tunability of the microwave resonances in both stages. Using this architecture, we realize continuous frequency coverage from 5.0 to 8.5 GHz within a single system. As an application relevant to superconducting-qubit networking, we use the cascaded M2M-M2O interface to optically read out a superconducting qubit whose readout resonator is detuned by 1.7 GHz from the native M2O microwave resonance, demonstrating a scalable route toward fiber-linked superconducting quantum nodes.
We describe an adiabatic state-transfer mechanism that allows for high-fidelity transfer of a microwave quantum state from one cavity to another through an optical fiber. The conversion from microwave frequency to optical frequency is enabled by an optomechanical transducer. The transfer process utilizes a combined dark state of the mechanical oscillator and fiber modes, making it robust against both mechanical and fiber loss. We anticipate this scheme being an enabling component of a hybrid quantum computing architecture consisting of superconducting qubits with optical interconnects.
The coherent conversion of microwave to optical signals is for now a missing hardware for long-distance quantum communication between superconducting quantum (sub)processors that could form the nodes of a future quantum network. Various architectures for quantum simulations and information processing are being currently explored with different TRL levels. Among these, circuits of superconducting qubits have already moved from the fundamental research environment to the R&D units of companies. Recent developments have shown extraordinary abilities for performing fast and high-fidelity quantum logic operations. Their limitations are short coherence times precluding long-term storage of quantum information, and the difficulty of coupling distant quantum registers using microwave photons that are (near)resonant with qubit transitions. There is thus a need for (i) a quantum memory compatible with superconducting qubits, and (ii) a microwave to optical transducer to demonstrate the complete communication protocol between distant sub-registers consisting of a moderate number of superconducting qubits. Cold alkaline atoms which have long coherence time and possess transitions both in the MW and optical domain could certainly help improve on these limitations. In this presentation, I will describe how an integrated atom chip compatible with superconducting quantum processors and optical communication networks will be realized within the newly funded MOCA consortium that received the support from the QuantERA ERA-NET Cofund. I will also specifically discuss a newly developed solution to transport atoms in the near field of surfaces were the atom-light coupling strength will be enhanced.