Electro - optical modulator based on exciton-polaritons

One of the main issues in quantum computing is absence of scalable quantum communication. 

We propose a novel approach, which utilizes properties of exciton-polaritons. Due to an extremely small effective mass and the dual quantum nature of polaritons they are extremely sensitive to electric fields and can be easily controlled by them. In the proposed design an optical signal is dragged from the take-in point to read-out point via the channel using exciton polaritons that are generated in the adjacent layer. 

 

Via numerical simulations we showed that for the purpose of getting a strong read-out signal, a wedge-shaped potential should be applied to the channel. Then we apply pulsed voltage generating drag force. This resulted in formation of the polariton pulses propagating in the channel and reaching the optical read-out area in the device. If multiple voltage pulses are applied, then multiple polariton pulses propagated in the system. To obtain same response to identical drag pulses, a channel needs to undergo relaxation and return to the initial state between the pulses. When time between two drag pulses is shorter than critical, the response pulses will overlap and become indistinguishable. Even though this imposes a limitation on the operational frequency of the devise, the frequency is measured in GHz, which coincides with operation frequency of quantum computers. Therefore, the system performs conversion of input electric signals into optical signals and back, maintaining the desired operation frequency.