Single-sideband microwave-to-optical conversion in high-Q ferrimagnetic microspheres

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates microwave-to-optical conversion using a high-Q ferrimagnetic microsphere, revealing a novel single-sideband process with wide tunability, advancing quantum communication technologies.

Contribution

The study introduces a new method for microwave-to-optical conversion utilizing a magneto-optical whispering gallery mode microcavity with single-sideband operation.

Findings

Achieved microwave-to-optical conversion with a wide tuning range up to 2.5 GHz.

Observed single sideband conversion indicating a unique photon-magnon interaction.

Demonstrated modulation of optical modes via magnon excitation in a ferrimagnetic microsphere.

Abstract

Coherent conversion of microwave and optical photons can significantly expand the ability to control the information processing and communication systems. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the microwave-to-optical frequency conversion in a magneto-optical whispering gallery mode microcavity. By applying a magnetic field parallel to the microsphere equator, the intra-cavity optical field will be modulated when the magnon is excited by the microwave drive, leading to microwave-to-optical conversion via the magnetic Stokes and anti-Stokes scattering processes. The observed single sideband conversion phenomenon indicates a non-trivial optical photon-magnon interaction mechanism, which is derived from the magnon induced both the frequency shift and modulated coupling rate of optical modes. In addition, we demonstrate the single-sideband frequency conversion with an ultrawide tuning range up to 2.5GHz, showing its great potential in microwave-to-optical conversion.