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

Physical Review A

One-step implementation of a coherent conversion between microwave and optical cavities via an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers

Tong Liu, Jun‐Long Zhao, Bao-qing Guo, Qi‐Cheng Wu, Y. H. Zhou, Chui‐Ping Yang

Published Feb 9, 2021• 26 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum conversion between microwave and optical photons is an important area of quantum information science and technology. Here we propose a one-step method to realize a coherent conversion between a microwave cavity and an optical cavity utilizing a nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble (NV ensemble). An NV ensemble considered here acts as a quantum transducer, dispersively coupled to the microwave and optical cavities, enabling transfer of the quantum state and generating entangled states between microwave and optical cavities. With state-of-the-art technology, the numerical simulation is performed to demonstrate that cat states and Fock states can be high-fidelity transferred and a maximally entangled state can be efficiently synthesized between microwave and optical cavities.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.103.023706

Related papers

Implementing a cross-Kerr interaction between microwave and optical cavities and its application in generating a hybrid continuous-variable–discrete-variable entangled state

Jin Xu, Tong Liu

Microwave-optical interactions and hybrid entangled states are crucial for building hybrid quantum networks. In this work, we propose an approach for realizing a cross-Kerr nonlinear interaction between microwave and optical cavities using an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV ensemble). This cross-Kerr interaction is achieved by an NV ensemble dispersively coupled to a microwave cavity and an optical cavity. As an application, we show that the cross-Kerr interaction can be used to create a hybrid entangled state of a discrete-variable (DV) optical qubit and a continuous-variable (CV) optical qubit. The DV optical qubit here refers to a qubit, with two logic states encoded via the vacuum and single-photon states of the optical cavity. The CV optical qubit means a qubit, whose two logic states are encoded through two quasi-orthogonal coherent states or cat states of the microwave cavity. Our method is quite simple because it only requires a single-step operation. Numerical simulations demonstrate that high-fidelity generation of the proposed hybrid state is feasible within current experimental technology. This proposal is universal and the NV ensemble can be replaced by other quantum transducers, such as magnons, rare-earth-doped crystals, and silicon-vacancy centers.

Physical Review A•Mar 7, 2024•7 citations

Long-distance transmission of arbitrary quantum states between spatially separated microwave cavities

Yu Wang, Qi-Ping Su, Tong Liu +4 more

Long-distance transmission between spatially separated microwave cavities is a crucial area of quantum information science and technology. In this work, we present a method for achieving long-distance transmission of arbitrary quantum states between two microwave cavities, by using a hybrid system that comprises two microwave cavities, two nitrogen-vacancy center ensembles (NV ensembles), two optical cavities, and an optical fiber. Each NV ensemble serves as a quantum transducer, dispersively coupling with a microwave cavity and an optical cavity, which enables the conversion of quantum states between a microwave cavity and an optical cavity. The optical fiber acts as a connector between the two optical cavities. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our method allows for the transfer of an arbitrary photonic qubit state between two spatially separated microwave cavities with high fidelity. Furthermore, the method exhibits robustness against environmental decay, parameter fluctuations, and additive white Gaussian noise. Our approach offers a promising way for achieving long-distance transmission of quantum states between two spatially separated microwave cavities, which may have practical applications in networked large-scale quantum information processing and quantum communication.

Optics Express•Jan 15, 2024•5 citations

Quantum microwave-optical interface with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

Bo Li, Fuli Li, Yuan Zhou +2 more

We propose an efficient scheme for a coherent quantum interface between microwave and optical photons using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. In this setup, an NV center ensemble is simultaneously coupled to an optical and a microwave cavity. We show that, by using the collective spin excitation modes as an intermediary, quantum states can be transferred between the microwave cavity and the optical cavity through either a double-swap scheme or a dark-state protocol. This hybrid quantum interface may provide interesting applications in single microwave photon detections or quantum information processing.

arXiv:1709.04852•Physical Review A•Sep 29, 2017•51 citations

Interfacing microwave qubits and optical photons via spin ensembles

Susanne Blum, Christopher O’Brien, Nikolai Lauk +3 more

A protocol is discussed which allows one to realize a transducer for single photons between the optical and the microwave frequency range. The transducer is a spin ensemble, where the individual emitters possess both an optical and a magnetic-dipole transition. Reversible frequency conversion is realized by combining optical photon storage, by means of electromagnetically induced transparency, with the controlled switching of the coupling between the magnetic-dipole transition and a superconducting qubit, which is realized by means of a microwave cavity. The efficiency is quantified by the global fidelity for coherently transferring a qubit excitation between a single optical photon and the superconducting qubit. We test various strategies and show that the total efficiency is essentially limited by the optical quantum memory: It can exceed 80% for ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centers and approaches 99% for cold atomic ensemble, assuming state-of-the-art experimental parameters. This protocol allows one to bridge the gap between the optical and the microwave regime in order to efficiently combine superconducting and optical components in quantum networks.

arXiv:1501.05860•Physical Review A•Mar 26, 2015•48 citations

Transfer of arbitrary quantum states between separated superconducting cavities via an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers

Jin Xia Xu, Tong Liu

Transfer of quantum states between distant nodes is one of the most important preconditions for realizing large-scale quantum information processing. We here propose two ways to transfer an arbitrary quantum state between two separated superconducting cavities coupled to an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV ensemble). By using the double-swap scheme and theory of the dispersive regime, quantum states can be deterministically transferred between two superconducting cavities. With current hybrid circuit QED technology, the numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate that the single-photon state and cat state can be high-fidelity transferred between two superconducting cavities.

Results in Physics•Dec 12, 2022•7 citations

Coupling a single nitrogen-vacancy center with a superconducting qubit via the electro-optic effect

Changhao Li, Fuli Li

We propose an efficient scheme for transferring quantum states and generating entangled states between two qubits of different nature. The hybrid system consists of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center and a superconducting (SC) qubit, which couple to an optical cavity and a microwave resonator, respectively. Meanwhile, the optical cavity and the microwave resonator are coupled via the electro-optic effect. By adjusting the relative parameters, we can achieve high-fidelity quantum state transfer as well as highly entangled states between the NV center and the SC qubit. This protocol is within the reach of currently available techniques, and may provide interesting applications in quantum communication and computation with single NV centers and SC qubits.

arXiv:1804.10722•Physical Review A•May 15, 2018•14 citations
Quantum conversion between microwave and optical photons is an important area of quantum information science and technology. Here we propose a one-step method to realize a coherent conversion between a microwave cavity and an optical cavity utilizing a nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble (NV ensemble). An NV ensemble considered here acts as a quantum transducer, dispersively coupled to the microwave and optical cavities, enabling transfer of the quantum state and generating entangled states between microwave and optical cavities. With state-of-the-art technology, the numerical simulation is performed to demonstrate that cat states and Fock states can be high-fidelity transferred and a maximally entangled state can be efficiently synthesized between microwave and optical cavities.
Microwave-optical interactions and hybrid entangled states are crucial for building hybrid quantum networks. In this work, we propose an approach for realizing a cross-Kerr nonlinear interaction between microwave and optical cavities using an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV ensemble). This cross-Kerr interaction is achieved by an NV ensemble dispersively coupled to a microwave cavity and an optical cavity. As an application, we show that the cross-Kerr interaction can be used to create a hybrid entangled state of a discrete-variable (DV) optical qubit and a continuous-variable (CV) optical qubit. The DV optical qubit here refers to a qubit, with two logic states encoded via the vacuum and single-photon states of the optical cavity. The CV optical qubit means a qubit, whose two logic states are encoded through two quasi-orthogonal coherent states or cat states of the microwave cavity. Our method is quite simple because it only requires a single-step operation. Numerical simulations demonstrate that high-fidelity generation of the proposed hybrid state is feasible within current experimental technology. This proposal is universal and the NV ensemble can be replaced by other quantum transducers, such as magnons, rare-earth-doped crystals, and silicon-vacancy centers.
Long-distance transmission between spatially separated microwave cavities is a crucial area of quantum information science and technology. In this work, we present a method for achieving long-distance transmission of arbitrary quantum states between two microwave cavities, by using a hybrid system that comprises two microwave cavities, two nitrogen-vacancy center ensembles (NV ensembles), two optical cavities, and an optical fiber. Each NV ensemble serves as a quantum transducer, dispersively coupling with a microwave cavity and an optical cavity, which enables the conversion of quantum states between a microwave cavity and an optical cavity. The optical fiber acts as a connector between the two optical cavities. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our method allows for the transfer of an arbitrary photonic qubit state between two spatially separated microwave cavities with high fidelity. Furthermore, the method exhibits robustness against environmental decay, parameter fluctuations, and additive white Gaussian noise. Our approach offers a promising way for achieving long-distance transmission of quantum states between two spatially separated microwave cavities, which may have practical applications in networked large-scale quantum information processing and quantum communication.
We propose an efficient scheme for a coherent quantum interface between microwave and optical photons using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. In this setup, an NV center ensemble is simultaneously coupled to an optical and a microwave cavity. We show that, by using the collective spin excitation modes as an intermediary, quantum states can be transferred between the microwave cavity and the optical cavity through either a double-swap scheme or a dark-state protocol. This hybrid quantum interface may provide interesting applications in single microwave photon detections or quantum information processing.
A protocol is discussed which allows one to realize a transducer for single photons between the optical and the microwave frequency range. The transducer is a spin ensemble, where the individual emitters possess both an optical and a magnetic-dipole transition. Reversible frequency conversion is realized by combining optical photon storage, by means of electromagnetically induced transparency, with the controlled switching of the coupling between the magnetic-dipole transition and a superconducting qubit, which is realized by means of a microwave cavity. The efficiency is quantified by the global fidelity for coherently transferring a qubit excitation between a single optical photon and the superconducting qubit. We test various strategies and show that the total efficiency is essentially limited by the optical quantum memory: It can exceed 80% for ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy centers and approaches 99% for cold atomic ensemble, assuming state-of-the-art experimental parameters. This protocol allows one to bridge the gap between the optical and the microwave regime in order to efficiently combine superconducting and optical components in quantum networks.
Transfer of quantum states between distant nodes is one of the most important preconditions for realizing large-scale quantum information processing. We here propose two ways to transfer an arbitrary quantum state between two separated superconducting cavities coupled to an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy centers (NV ensemble). By using the double-swap scheme and theory of the dispersive regime, quantum states can be deterministically transferred between two superconducting cavities. With current hybrid circuit QED technology, the numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate that the single-photon state and cat state can be high-fidelity transferred between two superconducting cavities.
We propose an efficient scheme for transferring quantum states and generating entangled states between two qubits of different nature. The hybrid system consists of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center and a superconducting (SC) qubit, which couple to an optical cavity and a microwave resonator, respectively. Meanwhile, the optical cavity and the microwave resonator are coupled via the electro-optic effect. By adjusting the relative parameters, we can achieve high-fidelity quantum state transfer as well as highly entangled states between the NV center and the SC qubit. This protocol is within the reach of currently available techniques, and may provide interesting applications in quantum communication and computation with single NV centers and SC qubits.