Device Offers Quantum-Compatible Link Between Microwave, Optical Domains

A device that uses a small plate to absorb microwave energy and bounce it into laser light could provide a solution for sending quantum signals over long distances. Scientists at JILA, a joint institute of the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, have developed a mechanically mediated microwave-optical converter. The research targets an important step for practical quantum computing — the ability to convert microwave signals, produced by quantum chips, into light beams that can travel down fiber optic cables. This chip, designed by researchers at JILA and measuring less than a half-inch across, converts microwave energy into laser light. Courtesy of Peter Burns and Dan Schmidt. “Currently, there’s no way to convert a quantum signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal,” said researcher Peter Burns. “We’re anticipating a growth in quantum computing and are trying to create a link that will be usable for these networks.”  Operating at T