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Physical Review A

Quantum nonreciprocity based on electromagnetically induced transparency in chiral quantum-optical systems

Yu You, Yiqi Hu, Gongwei Lin, Yihong Qi, Yueping Niu, Shangqing Gong

Published Jun 10, 2021• 28 citations
Publisher

Abstract

On-chip single-photon nonreciprocal devices with high isolation and low insertion loss become a key element in quantum information processing. Based on electromagnetically induced transparency in chiral quantum systems, a single-photon isolator and a single-photon circulator are obtained without requiring unbalanced coupling. These devices have high isolation and low insertion loss. Moreover, their bandwidths are significantly broadened with the assistance of electromagnetically induced transparency.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.103.063706

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On-chip single-photon nonreciprocal devices with high isolation and low insertion loss become a key element in quantum information processing. Based on electromagnetically induced transparency in chiral quantum systems, a single-photon isolator and a single-photon circulator are obtained without requiring unbalanced coupling. These devices have high isolation and low insertion loss. Moreover, their bandwidths are significantly broadened with the assistance of electromagnetically induced transparency.
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Breaking electromagnetic reciprocity enables directional control of light and is essential for both classical and quantum photonic systems. However, realizing integrated optical nonreciprocity that simultaneously combines low loss, broad bandwidth, and compatibility with quantum states of light remains a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate optical nonreciprocity based on quantum frequency conversion in an integrated [Formula: see text] nonlinear waveguide. Operating from classical power levels down to the single-photon level, the device preserves quantum coherence and entanglement of the input photons. We achieve an isolation of 34 decibels with a low on-chip insertion loss of 0.8 decibels and a broad isolation bandwidth, together with a four-port circulator exhibiting an operational fidelity of up to 0.97. Our results establish parametric frequency conversion as a scalable and quantum-compatible route toward integrated nonreciprocal photonic devices for applications in quantum communication and noise-resilient photonic networks.
Nonreciprocal optical devices (NRODs) working in the quantum regime are the key building blocks for nonreciprocal quantum information processing. Conventional NRODs require a bias field, such as a strong control field or an external magnetic field, increasing the complexity in fabrication and operation. Here, we propose a bias-free nonmagnetic scheme for single-photon isolators and circulators on a solid-state platform. Our single-photon isolator is made of a chiral optical waveguide embedded with a negatively charged carbon nanotube quantum dot (CNQD), while the circulator with four ports consists of two optical waveguides and a whispering-gallery-mode optical microresonator coupling to a CNQD in a chiral way. The time-reversal symmetry in these two systems breaks because the inherent spin–orbit coupling of electrons and holes in the CNQD strongly lifts the energy degeneracies of two circularly polarized transitions. Under realistic experimental parameters, we obtain a low-loss and high-isolation-contrast single-photon isolator over a 10 gigahertz bandwidth and a circulator over a one gigahertz bandwidth, respectively, without requiring any bias (control) fields. Our bias-free design can greatly simplify the implementation and operation of NRODs and provide a compact solid-state platform for nonreciprocal quantum information processing.
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.
Optical isolation is important for protecting a laser from damage due to the detrimental back reflection of light. It typically relies on breaking Lorentz reciprocity and normally is achieved via the Faraday magneto-optical effect, requiring a strong external magnetic field. Single-photon isolation, the quantum counterpart of optical isolation, is the key functional component in quantum information processing, but its realization is challenging. In this chapter, we present all-optical schemes for isolating the backscattering from single photons. In the first scheme, we show the single-photon isolation can be realized by using a chiral quantum optical system, in which a quantum emitter asymmetrically couples to nanowaveguide modes or whispering-gallery modes with high optical chirality. Secondly, we propose a chiral optical Kerr nonlinearity to bypass the so-called dynamical reciprocity in nonlinear optics and then achieve room-temperature photon isolation with low insertion loss. The concepts we present may pave the way for quantum information processing in an unconventional way.
Non-reciprocal optical devices in integrated systems on a chip have attracted great interest due to the increasing demand for researching integrated photonics and silicon photonics. The non-reciprocal devices include optical isolators, circulators, and optical amplifiers. In this paper, We analyze the dynamic nonreciprocity of an optical isolator based on the principle of electromagnetically induced transparency, and show a comparison of the nonreciprocal transmission when waves are transmitted forward and backward. The results show that when energy is transmitted, this isolator can realize signal isolation with specific direction transmission at non-single frequency. This device can be used in a wide range of signal processing and optical communication applications.