IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,321,050
Granted Patent B2
US 12,321,050 · App. 17/435,987 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Methods and systems for frequency conversion and modulation using solid-state defects

Inventors: Kevin C. Miao (Chicago, IL); Samuel J. Whiteley (Chicago, IL); David D. Awschalom (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: The University of Chicago
G02F1/0344G02F1/0327
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,321,050
App. No.
17/435,987
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and methods for performing quantum state-mediated microwave-to-optical energy conversion. Such quantum state-mediated energy conversion may be achieved via coherent interactions between an optical excitation and microwave electric field mediated by various quantum states in a defect embedded in a crystalline lattice. Such energy conversion enables coherent electro-optical modulation of optical emission from the defect, microwave-optical transduction, optical detection of microwave, and optical frequency mixing in the optical emission from the defect. The optical emission from the defect maintains and carries quantum coherence in the defect. Such devices and methods may be applied in quantum information processing systems.

Claims (47)

1. A method for performing electro-optical modulation, comprising:

providing a crystalline lattice embedded with a defect;

driving an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect with an excitation optical field to generate an optical emission from the defect; and

applying a microwave electric field to interact with the excitation optical field via the defect to modulate the optical emission from the defect,

wherein a sum or difference between an optical frequency of the excitation optical field and one or a multiple of a microwave frequency of the microwave electric field is resonant with the optical transition between the ground quantum state and the excited quantum state of the defect.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the excitation optical field is resonant or near resonant with the optical transition between the ground quantum state and the excited quantum state of the defect.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling an intensity of the excitation optical field, an amplitude of the microwave electric field, or microwave frequency of the microwave electric field to produce an amplitude modulation of the optical emission from the defect.

4. A method for performing electro-optical modulation, comprising:

providing a crystalline lattice embedded with a defect;

driving an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect with an excitation optical field to generate an optical emission from the defect; and

applying a microwave electric field to interact with the excitation optical field via the defect to modulate the optical emission from the defect;

controlling a number of spectral components or relative intensity between the spectral components of the optical emission from the defect by adjusting an amplitude or a microwave frequency of the microwave electric field.

5. A method for performing electro-optical modulation, comprising:

providing a crystalline lattice embedded with a defect;

driving an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect with an excitation optical field to generate an optical emission from the defect; and

applying a microwave electric field to interact with the excitation optical field via the defect to modulate the optical emission from the defect;

wherein:

the microwave electric field comprises two microwave frequency tones; and

the method further comprises controlling a relative phase between the two microwave frequency tones to produce an amplitude modulation of the optical emission from the defect.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a ratio of a frequency of a first of the two microwave frequency tones and a frequency of a second of the two microwave frequency tones is a rational number.

7. A device for performing electro-optical modulation, the device comprising:

a crystalline lattice;

a defect embedded in the crystal lattice; and

two electrodes adapted to apply a microwave electric field to the defect,

wherein:

the device is adapted to receive an excitation optical field to drive an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect to generate an optical emission from the defect; and

the defect is adapted to serve as a quantum medium for an interaction between the excitation optical field and the microwave electric field applied via the two electrodes for modulating the optical emission from the defect.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the excitation optical field is resonant or near resonant with the optical transition between the ground quantum state and the excited quantum state of the defect.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a sum or difference between an optical frequency of the excitation optical field and one or a multiple of a microwave frequency of the microwave electric field is resonant with the optical transition between the ground quantum state and the excited quantum state of the defect.

10. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the device is adapted to receive the excitation optical field with intensity modulation, or control an amplitude or frequency of the microwave electric field to produce an amplitude modulation of the optical emission from the defect.

11. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the two electrodes are adapted to control a number of spectral components or relative intensity between the spectral components of the optical emission from the defect by controlling an amplitude or a microwave frequency of the microwave electric field.

12. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the two electrodes are adapted to apply the microwave electric field comprising two microwave frequency tones and to control a relative phase between the two microwave frequency tones to produce an amplitude modulation of the optical emission from the defect.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a frequency of a first of the two microwave frequency tones and a frequency of a second of the two microwave frequency tones is a rational number.

14. A device for performing microwave-to-optical transduction, the device comprising:

a crystalline lattice;

a defect embedded in the crystal lattice;

a microwave transmission line on the crystalline lattice comprising two electrodes; and

a microwave resonator coupled to the microwave transmission line and to the defect, the microwave resonator being adapted for generating or storing one or more microwave photons,

wherein the device is adapted to:

receive an excitation optical field to drive an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect;

absorb an optical photon from the excitation optical field; and

convert the one or more microwave photons into an emitted optical photon from the defect or convert the absorbed optical photon into the stored one or more microwave photons as a result of an interaction between the excitation optical field and the one or more microwave photons via the defect.

15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein a sum or difference between an optical frequency of the excitation optical field and a microwave frequency corresponding to a total energy of the one or more microwave photons is resonant with the optical transition between the ground quantum state and the excited quantum state of the defect.

16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more microwave photons correspond to a cavity mode of the microwave resonator.

17. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the microwave resonator comprises a superconducting microwave resonator.

18. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the one or more microwave photons are generated by the microwave resonator as a result of a zero-point fluctuation in the microwave resonator.

19. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the microwave transmission line comprises a superconducting microwave transmission line.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2021
From: AWSCHALOM, DAVID D.; MIAO, KEVIN C.; WHITELEY, SAMUEL J.
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Reel/Frame 057385/0114 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62814070 · Mar 5, 2019
Related Publication 20220155621A1 · May 19, 2022
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