Researchers at the University of Rochester used surface acoustic waves to overcome a significant obstacle in the quest to realize a quantum internet. The scientists from Rochester’s Institute of Optics and Department of Physics and Astronomy developed a technique for pairing particles of light and sound that could be used to faithfully convert information stored in quantum systems – qubits – to optical fields, which can be transmitted over long distances.

Surface acoustic waves are vibrations that glide along the exterior of materials like a wave in the ocean or tremors along the ground during an earthquake. They are used for a variety of appli­cations – many of the electrical components of our phones have surface acoustic wave filters – because they make very precise cavities that can be used for precise timing in uses like navigation. But scientists have begun using them in quantum appli­cations as well. “In the last 10 years, surface acoustic waves have emerged as a good resource for quantum appli­cations because the phonon, or individual particle of sound, couples very well to different systems,” says William Renninger.

Using existing methods, surface acoustic waves are accessed, mani­pulated, and controlled through piezo­electric materials to turn elec­tricity into acoustic waves and vice versa. However, these electric signals must be applied to mechanical fingers inserted into the middle of the acoustic cavity, which cause parasitic effects by scattering phonons in ways that have to be compensated for. Rather than coupling the phonons to electric fields, Renninger’s lab tried a less invasive approach, shining light on the cavities and elimi­nating the need for mechanical contact.

“We were able to strongly couple surface acoustic waves with light,” says PhD student Arjun Iyer. “We designed acoustic cavities, or tiny echo chambers, for these waves where sound could last for a long time, allowing for stronger interactions. Notably, our technique works on any material, not just the piezo­electric materials that can be elec­trically controlled.”

Renninger’s team partnered with the lab of John Nichol to make the surface acoustic wave devices. In addition to producing strong quantum coupling, the devices have the added benefits of simple fabrication, small size, and the ability to handle large amounts of power. Beyond applications in hybrid quantum computing, the team says their techniques can be used for spectro­scopy to explore the property of materials, as sensors, and to study condensed matter physics. (Source: U. Rochester)

Reference: A. Iyer et al.: Coherent optical coupling to surface acoustic wave devices, Nat. Commun. 15, 3993 (2024); DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48167-7

Link: Renninger Lab, Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, USA