US 12,235,565 B2
Microwave-to-optical photon transducer
Mitchell Anderson, Pully (CH); Clément Javerzac-Galy, Vulliens (CH); and Olexiy Feofanov, Epalinges (CH)
Assigned to MIRAEX SA, Ecublens (CH)
Appl. No. 17/925,163
Filed by MIRAEX SA, Ecublens (CH)
PCT Filed May 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/053887
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/229389, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20174866 (EP), filed on May 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0185159 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. G02F 1/365 (2006.01); G02F 1/35 (2006.01); G02F 1/39 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/365 (2013.01) [G02F 1/353 (2013.01); G02F 1/3546 (2021.01); G02F 1/395 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microwave-to-optical photon transducer for providing coupling between at least a microwave signal (Sin2) and an optical signal (Spi_in1, Spi_out1), the transducer comprising:
a first input port for receiving the optical signal (Spi_in1);
a second input port for receiving the microwave signal (Sin2);
a first output port for outputting the optical signal (Spi_out1) and one or more optical sideband signals (Sout1, Sout11, Sout12);
a first waveguide disposed between the first input port and the first output port to allow the optical signal (Spi_in1) and the one or more optical sideband signals (Sout1, Sout11, Sout12) to propagate in the first waveguide;
a second waveguide connected to the second input port, and extending in the transducer adjacent to the first waveguide to allow the microwave signal (Sin2) to propagate in the second waveguide;
a phase-matching arrangement to cause at least the optical signal (Spi_in1) in the first waveguide and the microwave signal (Sin2) in the second waveguide to be phase-matched or quasi-phase-matched,
wherein the first waveguide is made of non-linear material or comprises non-linear material such that a first electromagnetic field generated by the optical signal (Spi_in1) in the first waveguide and a second electromagnetic field generated by the microwave signal (Sin2) in the second waveguide are arranged to interact and overlap in the non-linear material, and wherein the transducer is configured to use travelling waves for mixing the microwave signal and the optical signal to allow the one or more optical sideband signals (Sout1, Sout11, Sout12) to be sensed at the first output port to allow the power of the microwave signal at the second input port to be determined based on the sensed one or more sideband signals.