Quantum transduction between the microwave and optical domains is an outstanding challenge for long-distance quantum networks based on superconducting qubits. For all transducers realizedto date, the generally weak light-matter coupling does not allow high transduction efficiency, large bandwidth, and low noise simultaneously. Here we show that a large electric dipole moment of an exciton in an optically active self-assembled quantum dot molecule (QDM) efficiently couples to a microwave field inside a superconducting resonator, allowing for efficient transduction between microwave and optical photons. Furthermore, every transduction event is heralded by a single-photon pulse generated at the QDM resonance, which can be used to generate entanglement between distant qubits. With an on-chip device, we demonstrate a sizeable single-photon coupling strength of 16 MHz. Thanks to the fast exciton decay rate in the QDM, the transduction bandwidth reaches several 100s of MHz.
We show that optically active coupled quantum dots embedded in a superconducting microwave cavity can be used to realize a fast quantum interface between photonic and transmon qubits.Single photon absorption by a coupled quantum dot results in generation of a large electric dipole, which in turn ensures efficient coupling to the microwave cavity. Using cavity parameters achieved in prior experiments, we estimate that bi-directional microwave-optics conversion in nanosecond timescales with efficiencies approaching unity is experimentally feasible with current technology. We also outline a protocol for in-principle deterministic quantum state transfer from a time-bin photonic qubit to a transmon qubit. Recent advances in quantum dot based quantum photonics technologies indicate that the scheme we propose could play a central role in connecting quantum nodes incorporating cavity-coupled superconducting qubits.
We propose an efficient scheme for generating photonic NOON states of two resonators coupled to a four-level superconducting flux device (coupler). This proposal operates essentiallyby employing a technique of a coupler resonantly interacting with two resonators simultaneously. As a consequence, the NOON-state preparation requires only N+1 operational steps and thus is much faster when compared with a recent proposal [Q. P. Su et al., Scientific Reports 4, 3898 (2014)] requiring 2N steps of operation. Moreover, due to the use of only two resonators and a coupler, the experimental setup is much simplified when compared with previous proposals requiring three resonators and two superconducting qubits/qutrits.