Quantum routing of single photons with whispering-gallery resonators

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study on quantum routing of single photons using whispering-gallery resonators coupled to waveguides, demonstrating controllable routing and high transfer rates through parameter tuning.

Contribution

It provides an analytical quantum scattering framework for photon routing in a two-WGR system, revealing controllable routing and resonance phenomena.

Findings

Routing efficiency can exceed 0.5 near resonance with a single resonator.

High transfer rates are achievable even outside resonance regimes.

Fano-like resonances are tunable through system design.

Abstract

Quantum routing of single photons in a system with two waveguides coupled to two whispering-gallery resonators (WGRs) are investigated theoretically. With a real-space full quantum theory, photonic scattering amplitudes along four ports of the waveguide network are analytically obtained. It is shown that, by adjusting the geometric and physical parameters of the two-WGR configuration, the quantum routing properties of single photons along the present waveguide network can be controlled effectively. For example, the routing capability from input waveguide to another one can significantly exceed 0.5 near the resonance point of scattering spectra, which can be achieved with only one resonator. By properly designing the distance between two WGRs and the waveguide-WGR coupling strengths, the transfer rate between the waveguides can also reach certain sufficiently high values even in the non-resonance regime. Moreover, Fano-like resonances in the scattering spectra are designable. The proposed system may provide a potential application in controlling single-photon quantum routing as a novel router.