Photonic Links for Spin-Based Quantum Sensors

TL;DR

This paper introduces an RF-over-fiber control platform for optically accessible spin qubits, enabling scalable, low-noise quantum sensing by transmitting microwave signals over fiber to control NV centers in diamond.

Contribution

It presents a novel RFoF architecture for spin control that overcomes limitations of traditional microwave delivery in quantum sensors.

Findings

RFoF efficiency of 1.81% at 2.90 GHz

Demonstrated low-noise, cryo-compatible ODMR control

Bridges conventional quantum sensing with distributed quantum tech

Abstract

A growing variety of optically accessible spin qubits have emerged in recent years as key components for quantum sensors, qubits, and quantum memories. However, the scalability of conventional spin-based quantum architectures remains limited by direct microwave delivery, which introduces thermal noise, electromagnetic cross-talk, and design constraints for cryogenic, high-field, and distributed systems. In this work, we present a unified framework for RF-over-fiber (RFoF) control of optically accessible spins through RFoF optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectroscopy of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. The RFoF platform relies on an electro-optically modulated telecom-band laser that transmits microwave signals over fiber and a high-speed photodiode that recovers the RF waveform to drive NV center spin transitions. We obtain an RFoF efficiency of 1.81\% at 2.90~GHz, corresponding to $P_{\mathrm{RF,out}}=-0.7$~dBm. The RFoF architecture provides a path toward low-noise, thermally isolated, and cryo-compatible ODMR systems bridging conventional spin-based quantum sensing protocols with emerging distributed quantum technologies.