Quantum phase modulation with acoustic cavities and quantum dots

Fast, efficient, and low-power modulation of light at microwave frequencies is crucial for chip-scale classical and quantum processing as well as for long-range networks of superconducting quantum processors. A successful approach to bridge the gap between microwave and optical photons has been to use intermediate platforms, such as acoustic waves, that couple efficiently to a variety of quantum systems. Here, we use gigahertz-frequency focusing surface acoustic wave cavities on GaAs that are piezo-electrically coupled to superconducting circuits and parametrically coupled, via strain, to photons scattered from InAs quantum dots. We demonstrate modulation of single photons with a half-wave voltage as low as 44 mV, and subnatural modulation sideband linewidths. These demonstrations pave the way for efficient and low-noise transduction of quantum information between microwave and optical domains. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement