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:2601.12855

Nonreciprocity of intense light field and weak quantum signal in optomechanical systems with three-mode parametric interactions

Yao Dong, Xin-Yao Huang, Guo-Feng Zhang

quant-phSubmitted Jan 19, 2026• Announced Jan 20, 2026
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We demonstrate nonreciprocal optical transmission for both intense classical fields and weak quantum signals within a reconfigurable optomechanical platform driven by three-mode parametric interactions. The platform is modular, where each three-mode optomechanical system serves as a fundamental building block. Operating independently, a single block achieves nonreciprocity for classical fields. Specifically, asymmetric radiation pressure from intrinsic optomechanical nonlinearity induces nonreciprocal mechanical displacement, modulating the cavity intensity through optomechanical feedback. This enables full isolation of backward transmission without requiring parameter initialization. Alternatively, for quantum signals, the platform is reconfigured by activating photonic and phononic exchange channels between the two blocks. In this configuration, nonreciprocity arises from quantum interference between direct photon hopping and indirect conversion pathways. Constructive interference enables unidirectional low-loss transmission, while destructive interference completely suppresses the reverse direction. After adiabatically eliminating the auxiliary modes, the optimal nonreciprocal frequency and the trade-off between insertion loss and nonreciprocal bandwidth can be controlled by engineering optomechanically induced mechanical dissipation. Additionally, the three-mode-based device requires less control-field power than two-mode systems under resolved-sideband conditions, demonstrating versatile potential for optical nonreciprocity applications across classical and quantum domains.

Journal reference
Phys. Rev. A 113, 013513 (2026)
DOI
10.1103/8kg8-brsx

Related papers

Optomechanically-induced nonreciprocal conversion between microwave and optical photons

Fen-Fen Xing, Li‐Guo Qin, Li-Jun Tian +2 more

We theoretically propose a scheme of the nonreciprocal conversion device between photons of two arbitrary frequencies in a hybrid cavity optomechanical system, where two optical cavities and two microwave cavities are coupled to two different mechanical resonators via radiation pressure. Two mechanical resonators are coupled together via the Coulomb interaction. We study the nonreciprocal conversions between both the same and different types of frequency photons. The device is based on multichannel quantum interference to break the time-reversal symmetry. Our results show the perfect nonreciprocity conditions. By adjusting the Coulomb interaction and the phase differences, we find that the nonreciprocity can be modulated and even transformed into reciprocity. These results provide new insight into the design of nonreciprocal devices, including isolators, circulators, and routers in quantum information processing and quantum networks.

Optics Express•Jan 30, 2023•8 citations

Nonlocal nonreciprocal optomechanical circulator

Jihui Zheng, Rui Peng, Jiong Cheng +2 more

A nonlocal circulator protocol is proposed in a hybrid optomechanical system. By analogy with quantum communication, using the input–output relationship, we establish the quantum channel between two optical modes with long-range. The three-body nonlocal interaction between the cavity and the two oscillators is obtained by eliminating the optomechanical cavity mode and verifying the Bell-CHSH inequality of continuous variables. By introducing the phase accumulation between cyclic interactions, the unidirectional transmission of quantum state between the optical mode and two mechanical modes is achieved. The results show that nonreciprocal transmissions are achieved as long as the accumulated phase reaches a certain value. In addition, the effective interaction parameters in our system are amplified, which reduces the difficulty of the implementation of our protocol. Our research can provide potential applications for nonlocal manipulation and transmission control of quantum platforms.

arXiv:2112.09935•Chinese Physics B•Dec 8, 2021•3 citations

Nonreciprocal conversion between radio-frequency and optical photons with an optoelectromechanical system

Najmeh Eshaqi-Sani, Stefano Zippilli, David Vitali

Nonreciprocal systems breaking time-reversal symmetry are essential tools in modern quantum technologies enabling the suppression of unwanted reflected signals or extraneous noise entering through detection ports. Here we propose a scheme enabling nonreciprocal conversion between optical and radio-frequency (rf) photons using exclusively optomechanical and electromechanical interactions. The nonreciprocal transmission is obtained by interference of two dissipative pathways of transmission between the two electromagnetic modes established through two distinct intermediate mechanical modes. In our protocol, we apply a bichromatic drive to the cavity mode and a single-tone drive to the rf resonator, and use the relative phase between the drive tones to obtain nonreciprocity. We show that perfect nonreciprocal transduction can be obtained in the limit of large cooperativity in both directions, from optical to rf and vice versa. We also study the transducer noise and show that mechanical thermal noise is always reflected back onto the isolated port. In the limit of large cooperativity, the input noise is instead transmitted in an unaltered way in the allowed direction; in particular one has only vacuum noise in the output rf port in the case of optical-to-rf conversion.

arXiv:2202.13231•Physical Review A•Sep 7, 2022•17 citations

Nonreciprocal Reconfigurable Microwave Optomechanical Circuit

Nathan Bernier, L. D. Tóth, Akshay Koottandavida +5 more

Nonreciprocal devices, such as isolators, are required to protect sensitive superconducting quantum circuits. Growing research has focused on integrated alternatives to the existing bulky ferrite technologies. Here we realize a nonreciprocal isolator with a multimode microwave optomechanical circuit. Two mechanical oscillators mediate frequency conversion between two microwave modes. Relying on dissipation and the phases of the microwaves tones, the signals interfere constructively in one direction and destructively in the other, resulting in a nonreciprocal isolator. We show how this scheme can be extended to directional amplification and to a circulator, if an additional microwave mode is introduced.

International Conference on Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics•Jul 1, 2018•22 citations

Quantum Squeezing Induced Optical Nonreciprocity

Lei Tang, Jiang-Shan Tang, Mingyuan Chen +3 more

We propose an all-optical approach to achieve optical nonreciprocity on a chip by quantum squeezing one of two coupled resonator modes. By parametric pumping a χ^{(2)}-nonlinear resonator unidirectionally with a classical coherent field, we squeeze the resonator mode in a selective direction due to the phase-matching condition, and induce a chiral photon interaction between two resonators. Based on this chiral interresonator coupling, we achieve an all-optical diode and a three-port quasicirculator. By applying a second squeezed-vacuum field to the squeezed resonator mode, our nonreciprocal device also works for single-photon pulses. We obtain an isolation ratio of >40 dB for the diode and fidelity of >98% for the quasicirculator, and insertion loss of <1 dB for both. We also show that nonreciprocal transmission of strong light can be switched on and off by a relative weak pump light. This achievement implies a nonreciprocal optical transistor. Our protocol opens up a new route to achieve integrable all-optical nonreciprocal devices permitting chip-compatible optical isolation and nonreciporcal quantum information processing.

arXiv:2110.05016•Physical Review Letters•Feb 23, 2022•191 citations

Optical nonreciprocal response and conversion in a Tavis‐Cummings coupling optomechanical system

Yang Jiao, Cheng‐Hua Bai, Dong‐Yang Wang +2 more

We propose a scheme to realize optical nonreciprocal response and conversion in a Tavis-Cummings coupling optomechanical system, where a single cavity mode interacts with the vibrational mode of a flexible membrane with an embedded ensemble of two-level quantum emitters. Due to the introduction of the Tavis-Cummings interaction, we find that the phases between the mechanical mode and the optical mode, as well as between the mechanical mode and the dopant mode, are correlated with each other, and further give the analytical relationship between them. By optimizing the system parameters, especially the relative phase between two paths, the optimal nonreciprocal response can be achieved. Under the frequency domain, we derive the transmission matrix of the system analytically based on the input-output relation and study the influence of the system parameters on the nonreciprocal response of the quantum input signal. Moreover, compared with the conventional optomechanical systems, the Tavis-Cummings coupling optomechanical system exhibits richer nonreciprocal conversion phenomena among the optical mode, mechanical mode, and dopant mode, which provide a new applicable way of achieving the phonon-photon transducer and the optomechanical circulator in future practice.

arXiv:2006.10984•Quantum Engineering•May 16, 2020•14 citations
We demonstrate nonreciprocal optical transmission for both intense classical fields and weak quantum signals within a reconfigurable optomechanical platform driven by three-mode parametric interactions. The platform is modular, where each three-mode optomechanical system serves as a fundamental building block. Operating independently, a single block achieves nonreciprocity for classical fields. Specifically, asymmetric radiation pressure from intrinsic optomechanical nonlinearity induces nonreciprocal mechanical displacement, modulating the cavity intensity through optomechanical feedback. This enables full isolation of backward transmission without requiring parameter initialization. Alternatively, for quantum signals, the platform is reconfigured by activating photonic and phononic exchange channels between the two blocks. In this configuration, nonreciprocity arises from quantum interference between direct photon hopping and indirect conversion pathways. Constructive interference enables unidirectional low-loss transmission, while destructive interference completely suppresses the reverse direction. After adiabatically eliminating the auxiliary modes, the optimal nonreciprocal frequency and the trade-off between insertion loss and nonreciprocal bandwidth can be controlled by engineering optomechanically induced mechanical dissipation. Additionally, the three-mode-based device requires less control-field power than two-mode systems under resolved-sideband conditions, demonstrating versatile potential for optical nonreciprocity applications across classical and quantum domains.
We theoretically propose a scheme of the nonreciprocal conversion device between photons of two arbitrary frequencies in a hybrid cavity optomechanical system, where two optical cavities and two microwave cavities are coupled to two different mechanical resonators via radiation pressure. Two mechanical resonators are coupled together via the Coulomb interaction. We study the nonreciprocal conversions between both the same and different types of frequency photons. The device is based on multichannel quantum interference to break the time-reversal symmetry. Our results show the perfect nonreciprocity conditions. By adjusting the Coulomb interaction and the phase differences, we find that the nonreciprocity can be modulated and even transformed into reciprocity. These results provide new insight into the design of nonreciprocal devices, including isolators, circulators, and routers in quantum information processing and quantum networks.
A nonlocal circulator protocol is proposed in a hybrid optomechanical system. By analogy with quantum communication, using the input–output relationship, we establish the quantum channel between two optical modes with long-range. The three-body nonlocal interaction between the cavity and the two oscillators is obtained by eliminating the optomechanical cavity mode and verifying the Bell-CHSH inequality of continuous variables. By introducing the phase accumulation between cyclic interactions, the unidirectional transmission of quantum state between the optical mode and two mechanical modes is achieved. The results show that nonreciprocal transmissions are achieved as long as the accumulated phase reaches a certain value. In addition, the effective interaction parameters in our system are amplified, which reduces the difficulty of the implementation of our protocol. Our research can provide potential applications for nonlocal manipulation and transmission control of quantum platforms.
Nonreciprocal systems breaking time-reversal symmetry are essential tools in modern quantum technologies enabling the suppression of unwanted reflected signals or extraneous noise entering through detection ports. Here we propose a scheme enabling nonreciprocal conversion between optical and radio-frequency (rf) photons using exclusively optomechanical and electromechanical interactions. The nonreciprocal transmission is obtained by interference of two dissipative pathways of transmission between the two electromagnetic modes established through two distinct intermediate mechanical modes. In our protocol, we apply a bichromatic drive to the cavity mode and a single-tone drive to the rf resonator, and use the relative phase between the drive tones to obtain nonreciprocity. We show that perfect nonreciprocal transduction can be obtained in the limit of large cooperativity in both directions, from optical to rf and vice versa. We also study the transducer noise and show that mechanical thermal noise is always reflected back onto the isolated port. In the limit of large cooperativity, the input noise is instead transmitted in an unaltered way in the allowed direction; in particular one has only vacuum noise in the output rf port in the case of optical-to-rf conversion.
Nonreciprocal devices, such as isolators, are required to protect sensitive superconducting quantum circuits. Growing research has focused on integrated alternatives to the existing bulky ferrite technologies. Here we realize a nonreciprocal isolator with a multimode microwave optomechanical circuit. Two mechanical oscillators mediate frequency conversion between two microwave modes. Relying on dissipation and the phases of the microwaves tones, the signals interfere constructively in one direction and destructively in the other, resulting in a nonreciprocal isolator. We show how this scheme can be extended to directional amplification and to a circulator, if an additional microwave mode is introduced.
We propose an all-optical approach to achieve optical nonreciprocity on a chip by quantum squeezing one of two coupled resonator modes. By parametric pumping a χ^{(2)}-nonlinear resonator unidirectionally with a classical coherent field, we squeeze the resonator mode in a selective direction due to the phase-matching condition, and induce a chiral photon interaction between two resonators. Based on this chiral interresonator coupling, we achieve an all-optical diode and a three-port quasicirculator. By applying a second squeezed-vacuum field to the squeezed resonator mode, our nonreciprocal device also works for single-photon pulses. We obtain an isolation ratio of >40 dB for the diode and fidelity of >98% for the quasicirculator, and insertion loss of <1 dB for both. We also show that nonreciprocal transmission of strong light can be switched on and off by a relative weak pump light. This achievement implies a nonreciprocal optical transistor. Our protocol opens up a new route to achieve integrable all-optical nonreciprocal devices permitting chip-compatible optical isolation and nonreciporcal quantum information processing.
We propose a scheme to realize optical nonreciprocal response and conversion in a Tavis-Cummings coupling optomechanical system, where a single cavity mode interacts with the vibrational mode of a flexible membrane with an embedded ensemble of two-level quantum emitters. Due to the introduction of the Tavis-Cummings interaction, we find that the phases between the mechanical mode and the optical mode, as well as between the mechanical mode and the dopant mode, are correlated with each other, and further give the analytical relationship between them. By optimizing the system parameters, especially the relative phase between two paths, the optimal nonreciprocal response can be achieved. Under the frequency domain, we derive the transmission matrix of the system analytically based on the input-output relation and study the influence of the system parameters on the nonreciprocal response of the quantum input signal. Moreover, compared with the conventional optomechanical systems, the Tavis-Cummings coupling optomechanical system exhibits richer nonreciprocal conversion phenomena among the optical mode, mechanical mode, and dopant mode, which provide a new applicable way of achieving the phonon-photon transducer and the optomechanical circulator in future practice.