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arXiv:2308.05206

A Long-lived and Efficient Optomechanical Memory for Light

M. Kristensen, Kralj, Nenad, Eric Langman, Albert Schließer

Published Aug 9, 2023• 0 citations
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Abstract

We demonstrate a memory for light based on optomechanically induced transparency. We achieve a long storage time by leveraging the ultra-low dissipation of a soft-clamped mechanical membrane resonator, which oscillates at MHz frequencies. At room temperature, we demonstrate a lifetime $T_1 \approx 23\,\mathrm{ms}$ and a retrieval efficiency $η\approx 40\%$ for classical coherent pulses. We anticipate storage of quantum light to be possible at moderate cryogenic conditions ($T\approx 10\,\mathrm{K}$). Such systems could find applications in emerging quantum networks, where they can serve as long-lived optical quantum memories by storing optical information in a phononic mode.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2308.05206

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We demonstrate a memory for light based on optomechanically induced transparency. We achieve a long storage time by leveraging the ultra-low dissipation of a soft-clamped mechanical membrane resonator, which oscillates at MHz frequencies. At room temperature, we demonstrate a lifetime T1≈23 msT_1 \approx 23\,\mathrm{ms}T1​≈23ms and a retrieval efficiency η≈40%η\approx 40\%η≈40% for classical coherent pulses. We anticipate storage of quantum light to be possible at moderate cryogenic conditions (T≈10 KT\approx 10\,\mathrm{K}T≈10K). Such systems could find applications in emerging quantum networks, where they can serve as long-lived optical quantum memories by storing optical information in a phononic mode.
We demonstrate a memory for light based on optomechanically induced transparency. We achieve a long storage time by leveraging the ultralow dissipation of a soft-clamped mechanical membrane resonator, which oscillates at MHz frequencies. At room temperature, we demonstrate a lifetime ${T}_{1}\ensuremath{\approx}23\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ms}$ and a retrieval efficiency $\ensuremath{\eta}\ensuremath{\approx}40%$ for classical coherent pulses. We anticipate the storage of quantum light to be possible at moderate cryogenic conditions ($T\ensuremath{\approx}10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{K}$). Such systems could find applications in emerging quantum networks, where they can serve as long-lived optical quantum memories by storing optical information in a phononic mode.
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Optomechanics may be viewed as a light-mechanics interface to realize hybrid structures for (classical or quantum) information processing, switching or storage. Using the two-laser technique, in this paper, we theoretically devise a protocol for quantum light memory via a cavity optomechanical system composed of a Fabry–Perot cavity and a mechanical resonator. Due to the long-lived mechanical resonator, this quantum memory for light based on optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT) can serve as a long-term memory that can store the full quantum light contained in an optical pulse. It is shown that, with the tunable pump laser, the quantum signal light can be reaccelerated and converted back on demand. Our presented work could open the door to all-optical routers for light memory devices and have a guide to actual experiments.
One of the major advances needed to realize all-optical information processing of light is the ability to delay or coherently store and retrieve optical information in a rapidly tunable manner. In the classical domain, this optical buffering is expected to be a key ingredient of managing the flow of information over complex optical networks. Such a system also has profound implications for quantum information processing, serving as a long-term memory that can store the full quantum information contained in an optical pulse. Here, we suggest a novel approach to light storage involving an optical waveguide coupled to an optomechanical crystal array, where light in the waveguide can be dynamically and coherently transferred into long-lived mechanical vibrations of the array. Under realistic conditions, this system is capable of achieving large bandwidths and storage/delay times in a compact, on-chip platform.
Coherent interfaces between optical photons and mechanical excitations provide a promising route towards phonon-state engineering and hybrid quantum information processing. Cavity optomechanical systems enable such interfaces via optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT), allowing coherent mapping between traveling optical fields and localized mechanical modes. However, previous implementations of OMIT conversion protocols were limited to classical input signals with large coherent state photon numbers due to room temperature operation and corresponding thermal mechanical noise. Here, we demonstrate efficient low-noise photon-phonon state transfer close to the single-quantum regime in an optomechanical crystal operated at Millikelvin temperatures. Using weak coherent optical input pulses at the few-photon level, we achieve a record-level photon-phonon conversion efficiency of η=0.76η=0.76η=0.76, a mechanical storage lifetime of T1=7.3 μsT_\mathrm{1}=7.3~μsT1​=7.3 μs, and a tunable conversion bandwidth exceeding 4.5 MHz. Hanbury Brown-Twiss measurements of the retrieved signal demonstrate the coherent nature of the converted phononic state, evidencing low added thermal noise in the conversion process (nth=9.0n_\mathrm{th}=9.0nth​=9.0). These results establish optomechanical crystals as efficient optical interfaces to GHz mechanical modes and provide a pathway toward deterministic single-quantum-level mechanical state preparation.