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  • Open Access

Demonstration of Efficient Nonreciprocity in a Microwave Optomechanical Circuit*

G. A. Peterson, F. Lecocq, K. Cicak, R. W. Simmonds, J. Aumentado, and J. D. Teufel†

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA

  • †Corresponding author. john.teufel@nist.gov
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Phys. Rev. X 7, 031001 – Published 6 July, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.7.031001

Abstract

The ability to engineer nonreciprocal interactions is an essential tool in modern communication technology as well as a powerful resource for building quantum networks. Aside from large reverse isolation, a nonreciprocal device suitable for applications must also have high efficiency (low insertion loss) and low output noise. Recent theoretical and experimental studies have shown that nonreciprocal behavior can be achieved in optomechanical systems, but performance in these last two attributes has been limited. Here, we demonstrate an efficient, frequency-converting microwave isolator based on the optomechanical interactions between electromagnetic fields and a mechanically compliant vacuum-gap capacitor. We achieve simultaneous reverse isolation of more than 20 dB and insertion loss less than 1.5 dB. We characterize the nonreciprocal noise performance of the device, observing that the residual thermal noise from the mechanical environments is routed solely to the input of the isolator. Our measurements show quantitative agreement with a general coupled-mode theory. Unlike conventional isolators and circulators, these compact nonreciprocal devices do not require a static magnetic field, and they allow for dynamic control of the direction of isolation. With these advantages, similar devices could enable programmable, high-efficiency connections between disparate nodes of quantum networks, even efficiently bridging the microwave and optical domains.

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  • *This article is a contribution of the U.S. Government, not subject to U.S. copyright.

Popular Summary

Electrical and optical signals usually travel forwards as easily as they travel backwards, a property known as reciprocity. Modern communication devices and quantum networks, however, often require isolators, which allow signals to flow only in one direction. Traditionally, magnetic materials have provided the crucial ingredient for violating reciprocity, but these devices are both lossy and bulky. An attractive alternative is to use a material whose properties can be modulated in time. In optomechanical systems, the coupling between light and motion can be modulated, leading to several recent proposals and proof-of-principle demonstrations of nonreciprocity. Ideally, these same ideas and devices could be extended to route even fragile quantum signals between nodes of a quantum network. To this end, we engineer nonreciprocity in a microwave optomechanical circuit with efficiency and noise performance approaching the stringent requirements of quantum applications.

Our isolator is based on optomechanical interactions between electromagnetic fields and a mechanical resonator. We are able to attenuate reverse signals by more than a hundredfold while maintaining high forward transmission of greater than 70%. We also fully characterize the noise performance and find that residual thermal noise of less than 10 photons is routed solely to the input of the isolator. The strong agreement between our data and coupled-mode theory demonstrates the precise control with which we can direct microwave signals.

Looking forward, similar nonreciprocal optomechanical systems could be used to route photons and phonons (packets of vibrational motion) over a wide range of frequencies, for example, to build a directional bridge between microwave and optical devices.

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Phys. Rev. X 7, 031001– Published 6 July, 2017
  • Received 22 March 2017
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

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