Heralding entangled optical photons from a microwave quantum processor

Abstract

Exploiting the strengths of different quantum hardware components may enhance the capabilities of emerging quantum processors. Here, we propose and analyze a quantum architecture that leverages the non-local connectivity of optics, along with the exquisite quantum control offered by superconducting microwave circuits, to produce entangled optical resource states. Contrary to previous proposals on optically distributing entanglement between superconducting microwave processors, we use squeezing between microwaves and optics to produce microwave-optical Bell pairs in a dual-rail encoding from a single microwave quantum processor. Moreover, the microwave quantum processor allows us to deterministically entangle microwave-optical Bell pairs into larger cluster states, from which entangled optical photons can be extracted through microwave measurements. Our scheme paves the way for small microwave quantum processors to create heralded entangled optical resource states for optical quantum computation, communication, and sensing using imperfect microwave-optics transducers. We expect that improved isolation of the superconducting processor from stray optical fields will allow the scheme to be demonstrated using currently available hardware.