English

Mechanically mediated optical-microwave quantum state transfer by feedback

Quantum Physics 2025-12-08 v1 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics

Abstract

State transfer between light and microwaves is a key challenge in quantum networks. Promising transducers use a mechanical intermediary that couples to both fields via radiation pressure. Such electro-optomechanical devices have achieved high efficiencies, yet require resolved-sideband cavities, and generally compromise in scalability and noise performance. Here, we relax this constraint by extending the protocol of Navarathna et al. that transfers optical quantum information onto a mechanical resonator using a broadband, sideband-unresolved cavity and feedback. Combining this with parametric mechanical-to-microwave conversion, we show that continuous optical-to-microwave quantum state transfer is possible using measurement-based feedback, while all-optical coherent feedback enables bidirectional transfer. To assess the transfer, we introduce the quantum transfer witness WT\mathcal{W}_T, which -- though similar to the input-referred added noise -- also identifies whether a channel is capable of both preserving Gaussian entanglement and outperforming classical transduction schemes. Finally, we show that quantum-compatible noise performance is within reach of current experimental capabilities. Our results unlock a new design space for electro-optomechanical transducers and strengthens their candidacy as scalable quantum links between distant nodes.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.05457,
  title  = {Mechanically mediated optical-microwave quantum state transfer by feedback},
  author = {Max P. Foreman and Jesse J. Slim and Warwick P. Bowen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.05457},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

14 pages, includes Supplementary Information

R2 v1 2026-07-01T08:10:48.333Z