Release-free electro-optomechanical crystal modulator
Abstract
Electro-optic modulation is central to classical optical communications and emerging quantum technologies. High-confinement optomechanical crystal modulators enable microwave-optical transduction through strong optomechanical interactions and offer a promising interface between superconducting qubits and optical fibers. However, their performance is limited by thermal noise from optical absorption. Release-free optomechanical crystals provide improved thermal anchoring but have not yet been integrated into a microwave-optical transducer. Here, we demonstrate a release-free electro-optomechanical transducer combining strong optomechanical interactions in silicon with the efficient piezoelectricity of lithium niobate via micro-transfer printing. We observe electro- and optomechanical coupling rates compatible with quantum-level operation when co-integrated with a superconducting microwave circuit. This advance moves release-free electro-optomechanical devices toward practical microwave-optical interfaces.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2605.05190,
title = {Release-free electro-optomechanical crystal modulator},
author = {Paul Burger and Joey Frey and Johan Kolvik and Mads B. Kristensen and Raphaël van Laer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2605.05190},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
8 pages, 6 figures