Surfing Quantum Internet: New Acoustic Wave Techniques Unveiled by Rochester Researchers

Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a technique using surface acoustic waves to advance the development of a quantum internet. The team, including optics graduate students Arjun Iyer and Wendao Xu, designed tiny echo chambers to couple light with surface acoustic waves. This method could convert information stored in quantum systems to optical fields for long-distance transmission. The technique works on any material and offers benefits like simple fabrication, small size, and high power handling. The research, supported by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Office of Naval Research, was published in Nature Communications.

Surface Acoustic Waves: A New Approach to Quantum Internet

Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a novel method to couple light to surface acoustic waves, a significant step towards the realization of a quantum internet. The study, published in Nature Communications, outlines a technique that could be used to convert information stored in quantum systems, or qubits, to optical fields, which can then be transmitted over long distances.

Surface acoustic waves are vibrations that travel along the exterior of materials, similar to ocean waves or ground tremors during an earthquake. They are used in a variety of applications, including the electrical components of mobile phones, due to their ability to create precise cavities for accurate timing in navigation. Recently, scientists have begun to explore their potential in quantum applications.

The Role of Phonons in Quantum Applications

“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, associate professor of optics and physics at the University of Rochester.

Traditionally, surface acoustic waves are accessed, manipulated, and controlled through piezoelectric materials, which convert electricity into acoustic waves and vice versa. However, this method requires the application of electric signals to mechanical fingers inserted into the middle of the acoustic cavity, which can cause parasitic effects by scattering phonons in ways that need to be compensated for.

Using Light to Manipulate Surface Acoustic Waves

Renninger’s lab has taken a different approach, using light to manipulate surface acoustic waves and eliminating the need for mechanical contact. “We were able to strongly couple surface acoustic waves with light,” says Arjun Iyer, an optics PhD student and first author of the paper. “We designed acoustic cavities, or tiny echo chambers, for these waves where sound could last for a long time, allowing for stronger interactions.”

This technique works on any material, not just the piezoelectric materials that can be electrically controlled. The team partnered with the lab of Associate Professor of Physics John Nichol to create the surface acoustic wave devices described in the study.

Potential Applications and Benefits of the New Technique

In addition to producing strong quantum coupling, the devices have several other benefits. They are simple to fabricate, small in size, and capable of handling large amounts of power. Beyond applications in hybrid quantum computing, the team believes their techniques can be used for spectroscopy to explore the properties of materials, as sensors, and to study condensed matter physics.

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Office of Naval Research. This new method of coupling light to surface acoustic waves represents a significant advancement in the field of quantum computing and could potentially revolutionize the way we transmit information over long distances.