Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2403.14476 · npj Quantum Information

Loss-induced quantum nonreciprocity

Baijun Li, Yunlan Zuo, Le‐Man Kuang, Hui Jing, Chaohong Lee

Published Aug 12, 2024• 31 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Attribute to their robustness against loss and external noise, nonreciprocal photonic devices hold great promise for applications in quantum information processing. Recent advancements have demonstrated that nonreciprocal optical transmission in linear systems can be achieved through the strategic introduction of loss. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: can loss be harnessed as a resource for generating nonreciprocal quantum correlations? Here, we take a counterintuitive stance by engineering loss to generate a vital form of nonreciprocal quantum correlations, termed nonreciprocal photon blockade . We examine a dissipative three-cavity system comprising two nonlinear cavities and a linear cavity. The interplay of loss and nonlinearity leads to a robust nonreciprocal single- and two-photon blockade, facilitated by destructive quantum interference. Furthermore, we demonstrate the tunability of this nonreciprocal photon blockade by manipulating the relative phase between the two nonlinear cavities. Remarkably, this allows for the reversal of the direction of nonreciprocity. Our study not only sheds a light on the concept of loss-engineered quantum nonreciprocity but also opens up a pathway for the design of quantum nonreciprocal photonic devices.

DOI
10.1038/s41534-024-00870-5

Related papers

Nonreciprocity via Nonlinearity and Synthetic Magnetism

Xun-Wei Xu, Yong Li, Baijun Li +2 more

We propose how to realize nonreciprocity for a weak input optical field via nonlinearity and synthetic magnetism. We show that the photons transmitted from a linear cavity to a nonlinear cavity (i.e., a linear-nonlinear optical molecule) exhibit nonreciprocal photon blockade but no clear nonreciprocal transmission. Both nonreciprocal transmission and nonreciprocal photon blockade can be observed, when one or two auxiliary modes are coupled to the linear-nonlinear optical molecule to generate an artificial magnetic field. A similar method can be used to create and manipulate nonreciprocal transmission and nonreciprocal photon blockade for photons bidirectionally transport in a nonlinear-nonlinear optical molecule. Additionally, a photon circulator with nonreciprocal photon blockade is designed in cyclic three-nonlinear-mode system. The combination of nonlinearity and synthetic magnetism provides us an effective way towards the realization of quantum nonreciprocal devices, e.g., nonreciprocal single-photon sources and single-photon diodes.

arXiv:1909.11989•Physical Review Applied•Apr 27, 2020•77 citations

Loss-induced quantum nonreciprocity and entanglement in superconducting qubits

Yu-Meng Ren, Peng-Bo Li

Losses are ubiquitous in physics and are usually regarded as harmful in quantum information processing. Here, we propose a loss-induced scheme to achieve nonreciprocity and nonreciprocal entanglement in a superconducting platform, where two remote superconducting transmon qubits are connected via two lossy auxiliary cavities. The nonreciprocity in our scheme originates from interference between multiple lossy coupling paths. The coherent phases associated with the qubit-resonator couplings reverse sign under propagation reversal, while the loss-induced phases remain direction independent. Their combined effect leads to different interference conditions in the opposite directions, resulting in unequal effective couplings. We show that this loss-induced scheme can generate nonreciprocal quantum entanglement, indicating that loss can be utilized as a resource. Moreover, the tunability of nonreciprocity and nonreciprocal entanglement in our scheme can be manipulated by the relative phase induced by loss, allowing to tailor both reciprocal and nonreciprocal behaviors. Our results establish a direct link between engineered loss and nonreciprocal entanglement in quantum information processing and offer potential applications in scalable quantum networks.

quant-pharXiv:2605.11457•Physical Review A•May 13, 2026•1 citation

Nonreciprocal photon blockade induced by parametric amplification in an asymmetrical cavity

Shao-xiong Wu, Xue-Chen Gao, Huanhuan Cheng +1 more

We propose a scheme to generate and manipulate nonreciprocal photon blockade effect in an asymmetrical Fabry-P\'erot cavity, which consists of a single two-level atom and a second-order nonlinear medium. By utilizing the intrinsic spatial asymmetry of cavity and applying a parametric amplification pumping laser to the nonlinear medium, we can realize direction-dependent single-photon and two-photon blockade effects. For nonreciprocal single-photon blockade, our proposal is robust across a wide range of parameters, such as the cavity or atomic detuning, coupling strength, and atomic decay. Within similar parameter ranges, nonreciprocal two-photon blockade can be achieved and modulated by finely adjusting the parametric amplification pumping. Our project offers a feasible access to generating high-quality and tunable nonreciprocal single- or two-photon sources and paves a new avenue for investigating the nonreciprocity of photon quantum statistical properties.

arXiv:2504.14974•Physical Review A•Apr 18, 2025•13 citations

Photon Blockade in a Two-Cavity System with Two-Photon Dissipation

Hongming Tao

The photon blockade is a key quantum-nonlinear effect in which the admission of a second photon to a resonator is inhibited, enabling on-demand single-photon emission. Its practical use is limited by the weak intrinsic nonlinearity of most optical platforms. We address this limitation in a coupled-cavity architecture by engineering two-photon dissipation as a control resource rather than a detrimental loss. Within a quantum-master-equation framework, we model single-photon loss, engineered two-photon decay, and pure dephasing, and analyze their joint impact on the steady-state statistics of the driven cavities. We track the zero-delay correlation, photon populations, and detuning/drive dependences under distinct driving schemes (both cavities driven vs. single-cavity drive with. The results show that adding two-photon dissipation (i) suppresses multiphoton occupation and strengthens antibunching, (ii) broadens the operating window in detuning and drive amplitude, and (iii) improves robustness against moderate dephasing and device imperfections. A mechanism analysis attributes these gains to interference between coherent second-order processes and dissipative selection that stabilizes the odd-photon manifold. The study yields design guidelines for realizing stable, cavity-based single-photon sources using dissipation engineering.

International Conference on Intelligent Informatics and Biomedical Sciences (ICIIBMS)•Dec 2, 2025•0 citations

Squeezing-induced nonreciprocal photon blockade in an optomechanical microresonator

Dong-Yang Wang, L.-L. Yan, Shi‐Lei Su +3 more

We propose a scheme to generate nonreciprocal photon blockade in a stationary whispering gallery microresonator system based on two physical mechanisms. One of the two mechanisms is inspired by recent work [Phys. Rev. Lett.128, 083604 (2022)10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.083604], where the quantum squeezing caused by parametric interaction not only shifts the optical frequency of propagating mode but also enhances its optomechanical coupling, resulting in a nonreciprocal conventional photon blockade phenomenon. On the other hand, we also give another mechanism to generate stronger nonreciprocity of photon correlation according to the destructive quantum interference. Comparing these two strategies, the required nonlinear strength of parametric interaction in the second one is smaller, and the broadband squeezed vacuum field used to eliminate thermalization noise is no longer needed. All analyses and optimal parameter relations are further verified by numerically simulating the quantum master equation. Our proposed scheme opens a new avenue for achieving the nonreciprocal single photon source without stringent requirements, which may have critical applications in quantum communication, quantum information processing, and topological photonics.

Optics Express•Jun 13, 2023•43 citations

Nonreciprocal Photon Blockade in an Asymmetric Cavity

Shao-Xiong Wu, Jin-Na Fan, Dan Yan +3 more

We propose a scheme to realize tunable and strong nonreciprocal photon blockade (PB) in an asymmetric Fabry-Pérot cavity. The setup consists of a single-mode optical cavity trapping a two-level atom, with the cavity coherently driven by a laser and the atom pumped by an auxiliary control field of the same frequency. By engineering quantum interference between multiple excitation pathways by adjusting the amplitude and relative phase of the control laser, we identify two distinct optimal control conditions that enable directional suppression of two-photon states. Under optimal control conditions, strong nonreciprocal PB is achieved, with a nonreciprocal ratio exceeding 30 dB over a broad operational bandwidth. The proposed protocol requires only standard coherent laser sources and is compatible with current cavity QED experimental setups, offering a practical and scalable platform for nonreciprocal quantum photonics.

quant-pharXiv:2606.10319•Advanced Quantum Technologies•Jun 10, 2026•2 citations
Attribute to their robustness against loss and external noise, nonreciprocal photonic devices hold great promise for applications in quantum information processing. Recent advancements have demonstrated that nonreciprocal optical transmission in linear systems can be achieved through the strategic introduction of loss. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: can loss be harnessed as a resource for generating nonreciprocal quantum correlations? Here, we take a counterintuitive stance by engineering loss to generate a vital form of nonreciprocal quantum correlations, termed nonreciprocal photon blockade . We examine a dissipative three-cavity system comprising two nonlinear cavities and a linear cavity. The interplay of loss and nonlinearity leads to a robust nonreciprocal single- and two-photon blockade, facilitated by destructive quantum interference. Furthermore, we demonstrate the tunability of this nonreciprocal photon blockade by manipulating the relative phase between the two nonlinear cavities. Remarkably, this allows for the reversal of the direction of nonreciprocity. Our study not only sheds a light on the concept of loss-engineered quantum nonreciprocity but also opens up a pathway for the design of quantum nonreciprocal photonic devices.
We propose how to realize nonreciprocity for a weak input optical field via nonlinearity and synthetic magnetism. We show that the photons transmitted from a linear cavity to a nonlinear cavity (i.e., a linear-nonlinear optical molecule) exhibit nonreciprocal photon blockade but no clear nonreciprocal transmission. Both nonreciprocal transmission and nonreciprocal photon blockade can be observed, when one or two auxiliary modes are coupled to the linear-nonlinear optical molecule to generate an artificial magnetic field. A similar method can be used to create and manipulate nonreciprocal transmission and nonreciprocal photon blockade for photons bidirectionally transport in a nonlinear-nonlinear optical molecule. Additionally, a photon circulator with nonreciprocal photon blockade is designed in cyclic three-nonlinear-mode system. The combination of nonlinearity and synthetic magnetism provides us an effective way towards the realization of quantum nonreciprocal devices, e.g., nonreciprocal single-photon sources and single-photon diodes.
Losses are ubiquitous in physics and are usually regarded as harmful in quantum information processing. Here, we propose a loss-induced scheme to achieve nonreciprocity and nonreciprocal entanglement in a superconducting platform, where two remote superconducting transmon qubits are connected via two lossy auxiliary cavities. The nonreciprocity in our scheme originates from interference between multiple lossy coupling paths. The coherent phases associated with the qubit-resonator couplings reverse sign under propagation reversal, while the loss-induced phases remain direction independent. Their combined effect leads to different interference conditions in the opposite directions, resulting in unequal effective couplings. We show that this loss-induced scheme can generate nonreciprocal quantum entanglement, indicating that loss can be utilized as a resource. Moreover, the tunability of nonreciprocity and nonreciprocal entanglement in our scheme can be manipulated by the relative phase induced by loss, allowing to tailor both reciprocal and nonreciprocal behaviors. Our results establish a direct link between engineered loss and nonreciprocal entanglement in quantum information processing and offer potential applications in scalable quantum networks.
We propose a scheme to generate and manipulate nonreciprocal photon blockade effect in an asymmetrical Fabry-P\'erot cavity, which consists of a single two-level atom and a second-order nonlinear medium. By utilizing the intrinsic spatial asymmetry of cavity and applying a parametric amplification pumping laser to the nonlinear medium, we can realize direction-dependent single-photon and two-photon blockade effects. For nonreciprocal single-photon blockade, our proposal is robust across a wide range of parameters, such as the cavity or atomic detuning, coupling strength, and atomic decay. Within similar parameter ranges, nonreciprocal two-photon blockade can be achieved and modulated by finely adjusting the parametric amplification pumping. Our project offers a feasible access to generating high-quality and tunable nonreciprocal single- or two-photon sources and paves a new avenue for investigating the nonreciprocity of photon quantum statistical properties.
The photon blockade is a key quantum-nonlinear effect in which the admission of a second photon to a resonator is inhibited, enabling on-demand single-photon emission. Its practical use is limited by the weak intrinsic nonlinearity of most optical platforms. We address this limitation in a coupled-cavity architecture by engineering two-photon dissipation as a control resource rather than a detrimental loss. Within a quantum-master-equation framework, we model single-photon loss, engineered two-photon decay, and pure dephasing, and analyze their joint impact on the steady-state statistics of the driven cavities. We track the zero-delay correlation, photon populations, and detuning/drive dependences under distinct driving schemes (both cavities driven vs. single-cavity drive with. The results show that adding two-photon dissipation (i) suppresses multiphoton occupation and strengthens antibunching, (ii) broadens the operating window in detuning and drive amplitude, and (iii) improves robustness against moderate dephasing and device imperfections. A mechanism analysis attributes these gains to interference between coherent second-order processes and dissipative selection that stabilizes the odd-photon manifold. The study yields design guidelines for realizing stable, cavity-based single-photon sources using dissipation engineering.
We propose a scheme to generate nonreciprocal photon blockade in a stationary whispering gallery microresonator system based on two physical mechanisms. One of the two mechanisms is inspired by recent work [Phys. Rev. Lett.128, 083604 (2022)10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.083604], where the quantum squeezing caused by parametric interaction not only shifts the optical frequency of propagating mode but also enhances its optomechanical coupling, resulting in a nonreciprocal conventional photon blockade phenomenon. On the other hand, we also give another mechanism to generate stronger nonreciprocity of photon correlation according to the destructive quantum interference. Comparing these two strategies, the required nonlinear strength of parametric interaction in the second one is smaller, and the broadband squeezed vacuum field used to eliminate thermalization noise is no longer needed. All analyses and optimal parameter relations are further verified by numerically simulating the quantum master equation. Our proposed scheme opens a new avenue for achieving the nonreciprocal single photon source without stringent requirements, which may have critical applications in quantum communication, quantum information processing, and topological photonics.
We propose a scheme to realize tunable and strong nonreciprocal photon blockade (PB) in an asymmetric Fabry-Pérot cavity. The setup consists of a single-mode optical cavity trapping a two-level atom, with the cavity coherently driven by a laser and the atom pumped by an auxiliary control field of the same frequency. By engineering quantum interference between multiple excitation pathways by adjusting the amplitude and relative phase of the control laser, we identify two distinct optimal control conditions that enable directional suppression of two-photon states. Under optimal control conditions, strong nonreciprocal PB is achieved, with a nonreciprocal ratio exceeding 30 dB over a broad operational bandwidth. The proposed protocol requires only standard coherent laser sources and is compatible with current cavity QED experimental setups, offering a practical and scalable platform for nonreciprocal quantum photonics.