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Coherent memory for microwave photons based on long-lived mechanical excitations

Yulong Liu, Qichun Liu, Huanying Sun, Mo Chen, Shuai-Peng Wang, Tiefu Li

Published Aug 11, 2023• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Mechanical resonators, due to their capability to host ultralong-lived phonon modes, are particularly attractive for quantum state storage and as memory elements in conjunction with quantum computing and communication networks. Here we demonstrate absorptive-type coherent memory based on long-lived mechanical excitations. The itinerant coherent microwave field is captured, stored, and retrieved from a mechanical memory oscillator which is pre-cooled to the ground state. The phase space distribution allows us to distinguish between coherent and thermal components and study their evolution as a function of storage time. Our device exhibits attractive functions with an energy decay time of T 1 = 15.9 s, a thermal decoherence rate of Γ th = 2.85 Hz, and acquires less than one quantum noise during the τ coh = 55.7 ms storage period. We demonstrate that both the amplitude and phase information of microwave coherent states can be recovered, indicating the coherence of our memory device. These results suggest that high- Q mechanical resonators and long coherence time phonons could be ideal candidates for the construction of long-lived and on-demand microwave quantum memories.

DOI
10.1038/s41534-023-00749-x

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Abstract Mechanical resonators, due to their capability to host ultralong-lived phonon modes, are particularly attractive for quantum state storage and as memory elements in conjunction with quantum computing and communication networks. Here we demonstrate absorptive-type coherent memory based on long-lived mechanical excitations. The itinerant coherent microwave field is captured, stored, and retrieved from a mechanical memory oscillator which is pre-cooled to the ground state. The phase space distribution allows us to distinguish between coherent and thermal components and study their evolution as a function of storage time. Our device exhibits attractive functions with an energy decay time of T 1 = 15.9 s, a thermal decoherence rate of Γ th = 2.85 Hz, and acquires less than one quantum noise during the τ coh = 55.7 ms storage period. We demonstrate that both the amplitude and phase information of microwave coherent states can be recovered, indicating the coherence of our memory device. These results suggest that high- Q mechanical resonators and long coherence time phonons could be ideal candidates for the construction of long-lived and on-demand microwave quantum memories.
Abstract The storage of quantum states and information is essential for enabling large quantum networks. The direct implementation of storage in magnonic systems, which are emerging as crucial components in quantum networks, has also garnered attention. In this study, we present experimental investigations of magnomechanical microwave storage for the first time. By reducing the ambient temperature to 8 K, we can achieve a mechanical mode with a narrow linewidth as low as 6.4 Hz, resulting in an energy decay time of 24.8 ms. Furthermore, we employ Ramsey interferometry to investigate the coherence of the magnomechanical memory. The mechanical interference can be utilized to evaluate the decoherence lifetime of 19.5 ms. Our proposed scheme provides the potential to utilize magnomechanical systems as quantum memory for photonic quantum information.
Long-lived mechanical oscillators are actively pursued as critical resources for quantum storage, sensing, and transduction. However, achieving deterministic quantum control while limiting mechanical dissipation remains a persistent challenge. Here, we demonstrate strong coupling between a transmon superconducting qubit and an ultra-long-lived nanomechanical oscillator (T1≈25 msT_\text{1} \approx 25 \text{ ms}T1​≈25 ms at 5 GHz, Q≈0.8×109Q \approx 0.8 \times 10^9Q≈0.8×109) by leveraging the low acoustic loss in silicon and phononic bandgap engineering. The qubit-oscillator system achieves large cooperativity (CT1≈1.5×105C_{T_1}\approx 1.5\times10^5CT1​​≈1.5×105, CT2≈150C_{T_2}\approx 150CT2​​≈150), enabling the generation of non-classical states and the investigation of mechanisms underlying mechanical decoherence. We show that dynamical decoupling$\unicode{x2014}$implemented through the qubit$\unicode{x2014}$can mitigate decoherence, leading to a mechanical coherence time of T2≈1 msT_2\approx 1 \text{ ms}T2​≈1 ms. These findings extend the exceptional storage capabilities of mechanical oscillators to the quantum regime, putting them forward as compact bosonic elements for future applications in quantum computing and metrology.
Scalable quantum networks require quantum memories that are chip-integrated, telecom-band compatible, and capable of flexible retrieval. Nanofabricated mechanical resonators meet these criteria. They offer independent tunability of optical and mechanical modes, long-lived phonon states, and design flexibility beyond atomic systems, making them strong candidates for practical integrated quantum memory. Here, we demonstrate an on-chip, absorptive optomechanical memory for telecom-band photons, based on optomechanically induced transparency (OMIT) and operating near the mechanical ground state. The device stores telecom-band photons, demonstrating compatibility with external photon sources at the few-photon level, while enabling on-demand retrieval. By placing the device in a dilution refrigerator at 20 mK and tailoring the control field to suppress optical heating, we achieve a remarkably low phonon occupancy of just 0.32 during the storage process. Our results lay the groundwork for scalable, phonon-based quantum memory devices and open new avenues for integrating mechanical systems into practical quantum network architectures.
Cavity optomechanical system holds potential for applications in ultrasensitive detection and serves as a fundamental element in the development of general quantum networks. Here we experimentally present the coherent storage of microwave signal utilizing a cavity electromechanical system comprising a high-quality factor SiN membrane resonator and superconducting cavity. It demonstrates that the coherent storage time is high to 50 ms, with acquisition of less than one quantum noise during this timeframe. These results indicate that long-coherent-time phonons could serve as ideal candidates for the development of quantum memories in quantum computers.
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.