<p>Microwave-optical transducers and quantum memories are essential for quantum repeaters enabling a quantum internet. Despite advances in both technologies, integrating these functionalities remains challenging. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate an on-demand microwave-optical quantum transducer based on a Rydberg ensemble. Using cascaded electromagnetically induced transparency, we store microwave photons in a highly excited collective state and convert them into optical photons during retrieval. Leveraging an optical depth of millions for microwave photons and minimal single-photon-level dephasing, our transducer achieves around 90% area-normalized storage efficiency, 2.3 MHz bandwidth, and noise-equivalent temperature of 26 K under cavity-free conditions. Furthermore, our system is cryogenically compatible and extendable for high single-photon conversion efficiency without requiring optical cavity coupling. These findings advance practical on-demand quantum interfaces with broad applications across atomic and solid-state platforms.</p>

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Quantum-memory-assisted on-demand microwave-optical transduction

  • Hai-Tao Tu,
  • Kai-Yu Liao,
  • Si-Yuan Qiu,
  • Xiao-Hong Liu,
  • Yi-Qi Guo,
  • Zheng-Qi Du,
  • Yang Xu,
  • Xin-Ding Zhang,
  • Hui Yan,
  • Shi-Liang Zhu

摘要

Microwave-optical transducers and quantum memories are essential for quantum repeaters enabling a quantum internet. Despite advances in both technologies, integrating these functionalities remains challenging. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate an on-demand microwave-optical quantum transducer based on a Rydberg ensemble. Using cascaded electromagnetically induced transparency, we store microwave photons in a highly excited collective state and convert them into optical photons during retrieval. Leveraging an optical depth of millions for microwave photons and minimal single-photon-level dephasing, our transducer achieves around 90% area-normalized storage efficiency, 2.3 MHz bandwidth, and noise-equivalent temperature of 26 K under cavity-free conditions. Furthermore, our system is cryogenically compatible and extendable for high single-photon conversion efficiency without requiring optical cavity coupling. These findings advance practical on-demand quantum interfaces with broad applications across atomic and solid-state platforms.