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arXiv:2108.05120 · Physical Review X

Narrow Optical Transitions in Erbium-Implanted Silicon Waveguides

Andreas Gritsch, Lorenz Weiss, Johannes Früh, Stephan Rinner, Andreas Reiserer

Published Oct 25, 2022• 57 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The realization of a scalable architecture for quantum information processing is a major challenge for quantum science.A promising approach is based on emitters in nanostructures that are coupled by light.Here, we show that erbium dopants can be reproducibly integrated at well-defined lattice sites by implantation into pure silicon.We thus achieve a narrow inhomogeneous broadening, less than 1 GHz, strong optical transitions, and an outstanding optical coherence even at temperatures of 8 K, with an upper bound to the homogeneous linewidth of around 10 kHz.Our study thus introduces a promising materials platform for the implementation of on-chip quantum memories, microwave-to-optical conversion, and distributed quantum information processing.

DOI
10.1103/physrevx.12.041009

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The realization of a scalable architecture for quantum information processing is a major challenge for quantum science.A promising approach is based on emitters in nanostructures that are coupled by light.Here, we show that erbium dopants can be reproducibly integrated at well-defined lattice sites by implantation into pure silicon.We thus achieve a narrow inhomogeneous broadening, less than 1 GHz, strong optical transitions, and an outstanding optical coherence even at temperatures of 8 K, with an upper bound to the homogeneous linewidth of around 10 kHz.Our study thus introduces a promising materials platform for the implementation of on-chip quantum memories, microwave-to-optical conversion, and distributed quantum information processing.
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Integrated photonic circuits offer great promise for quantum technologies. However, due to the rapid propagation of light, many envisioned applications require efficient on-chip quantum memories with a programmable delay, compact footprint, and high fidelity. Implementing this based on standard semiconductor processing technology is an outstanding challenge. Here, we realize such memories using erbium-doped silicon waveguides, fabricated as part of a multi-wafer project by a nanophotonic foundry. We demonstrate light storage with a 44.2(9) MHz44.2(9)\ \text{MHz}44.2(9) MHz bandwidth and a programmable delay exceeding 1 μs1\ μ\text{s}1 μs in a device with a footprint of only 1.5×10−2 mm21.5\times 10^{-2}\ \text{mm}^21.5×10−2 mm2, outperforming on-chip delay lines by many orders of magnitude. The phase of the read-out light field is preserved with a visibility of 91.3(30) %91.3(30)\ \%91.3(30) %. The efficiency of 1.89(28)×10−81.89(28)\times 10^{-8}1.89(28)×10−8 can be improved in future devices through resonator enhancement and higher dopant concentrations. With this, the demonstrated approach will pave the way towards applications in photonic quantum computing based on scalable silicon processing technology.
Abstract Solid-state spin–photon interfaces operating in the near-telecom and telecom bands are a key resource for long-distance quantum communication and scalable quantum networks. However, their optical transitions often suffer from spectral diffusion that hampers the generation of coherent spin–photon entanglement. Here we demonstrate narrow magneto-optical transitions of erbium dopants implanted into thin-film silicon carbide (SiC)-on-insulator, a viable platform for industrially scalable quantum networks. Using high-resolution resonant spectroscopy and spectral hole burning at cryogenic temperatures, we reveal sub-megahertz homogeneous linewidths and identify two lattice sites that best stabilise the emitters. We further characterise their optical lifetimes and magneto-optical response, establishing erbium-doped SiC-on-insulator as a robust and scalable platform for on-chip quantum networks.
Storing and retrieving photonic qubits are key functionalities in future optical quantum networks, and integrating scalable optical-memory units is crucial as these networks expand. However, attempts to combine silicon photonics and erbium ions for telecom memories, without losing the scalable and low-loss properties of silicon chips, face challenges because of limited light-matter interactions and potential extra decoherence. Here, we present an efficient silicon-chip platform using bound states in the continuum to overcome these limitations. In addition to a low propagation loss of 0.5 ± 0.5 decibels per centimeter, our experiments demonstrate an order-of-magnitude enhancement in light absorption compared to previous traditional silicon hybrid designs. Using these properties, we demonstrated photon echoes in our waveguide structures, revealing a coherence time of 2.6 ± 0.6 microseconds at zero magnetic field, closely matching that of bulk crystals. These characteristics make the bound state in the continuum platform a promising candidate for realizing integrated optical memories for quantum network applications.