arXiv · 2509.18834
Quantum-memory-assisted on-demand microwave-optical transduction
Abstract
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.
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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. 2025-09-23. Quantum-memory-assisted on-demand microwave-optical transduction. https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.18834
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