Surface Acoustic Waves Connecting Light and Microwaves

Abstract

We describe our current efforts to investigate coherent coupling between surface acoustic waves (SAW) and electromagnetic waves in both optical and microwave regimes. We develop a hybrid quantum system consisting of a microwave resonator, a superconducting qubit, and a SAWresonator. The coherent coupling between the circuit components enables us to measure the SAW amplitude near the quantum level. We also describe a cavity optomechanical system formed with a SAW resonator inserted inside an optical cavity. The system provides a possibility to build a coherent interface between the microwave and optical photon at the single-photon level. It is an important building block for the construction of quantum information networks.