A nonreciprocal reconfigurable microwave optomechanical circuit: isolation, circulation and directional amplification

ORAL

Abstract

Nonreciprocal devices such as isolators or circulators are ubiquitous in a wide range of communication systems and are particularly indispensable in the readout chains of superconducting quantum circuits. Typically, the operation of these devices relies on ferrite materials. Here we realise reconfigurable nonreciprocal transmission between two microwave modes using purely optomechanical interactions in a superconducting electromechanical circuit. We analyse the transmission as well as the noise properties of this system. The scheme relies on the interference in two mechanical modes that mediate coupling between microwave cavities. We show how quantum-limited circulators can be realized with the same principle and discuss the progress towards all-optomechanically mediated directional amplifiers. The technology can be built on-chip without any external magnetic field, rendering it compatible with superconducting quantum circuits. The results also highlight the potential of utilising dissipation in multimode optomechanical systems.

*This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the NCCR Quantum Science and Technology (QSIT), and the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 732894 (FET Proactive HOT).

Presenters

  • Laszlo Daniel Toth

    • Department of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    • Ecole Polytech Fed de Lausanne
    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​

Authors

  • Laszlo Daniel Toth

    • Department of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    • Ecole Polytech Fed de Lausanne
    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​
  • Nathan Bernier

    • Department of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    • Ecole Polytech Fed de Lausanne
    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​
  • Marie Ioannou

    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​
  • Daniel Malz

    • University of Cambridge
    • Department of Physics, University of Cambridge
    • Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
    • Physics, University of Cambridge
  • Alexey Feofanov

    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​
  • Andreas Nunnenkamp

    • University of Cambridge
    • Department of Physics, University of Cambridge
    • Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
    • Physics, University of Cambridge
  • Tobias Kippenberg

    • Institute of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    • Swiss Fed Inst Tech
    • Physics, EPFL
    • Department of Physics, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
    • Ecole Polytech Fed de Lausanne
    • Institute of Physics, EPFL - Lausanne​