# US 12,112,236 B1 · Reconfigurable phononic devices for classical and quantum processing systems

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- Number: US 12,112,236 B1
- Document ID: US12112236B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/506,749
- Filed: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-10-30
- Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
- Applicants: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
- Inventors: Matt Eichenfield; Daniel Beom Soo Soh; Eric Chatterjee; Jeffrey Charles Taylor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112236B1

## CPC

- G06N 10/00: Quantum computing, i.e. information processing based on quantum-mechanical phenomena
- G02F 1/11: based on acousto-optical elements, e.g. using variable diffraction by sound or like mechanical waves (acousto-optical deflection G02F1/33)
- G02F 1/212: {Mach-Zehnder type}
- G02F 1/225: in an optical waveguide structure
- H10N 30/20: with electrical input and mechanical output, e.g. functioning as actuators or vibrators
- H10N 60/80: Constructional details
- B82Y 10/00: Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
- G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

Various reconfigurable phononic devices, including phase shifters, mirrors, Mach Zehnder interferometers, memories, and transducers for use in both classical and quantum computing systems are disclosed. The individual phononic devices may be combined in various configurations to implement desired, more complex functionality. The phononic devices may be coupled together to implement the desired functionality using phononic waveguides. The phononic devices include one or more phase shifters that are operationally based on either hyperelasticity or a moving boundary effect.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a phononic crystal, the phononic crystal including:
a phononic beam splitter, the phononic beam splitter adapted to receive first and second phononic input signals, to couple approximately 50% of the first phononic signal to each of first and second phononic beam splitter outputs, and to couple approximately 50% of the second phononic signal to each of first and second phononic beam splitter outputs;
a first phononic phase shifter, the first phononic phase shifter coupled to the first phononic beam splitter output and adapted to receive a first phononic beam splitter output signal therefrom, the first phononic phase shifter adapted to induce a first phase shift in the first phononic beam splitter output signal, and to couple the phase shifted first phononic beam splitter output signal to a first phononic phase shifter output;
a second phononic phase shifter, the second phononic phase shifter coupled to the second phononic beam splitter output and adapted to receive a second phononic beam splitter output signal therefrom, the second phononic phase shifter adapted to induce a second phase shift in the second phononic beam splitter output signal, and to couple the phase shifted second phononic beam splitter output signal to a second phononic phase shifter output; and
a phononic beam combiner, a first input to the phononic beam combiner coupled to the first phononic phase shifter output and adapted to receive the first phase shifted first phononic beam splitter output signal therefrom, a second input to the phononic beam combiner coupled to the second phononic phase shifter output and adapted to receive the second phase shifted second phononic beam splitter output signal therefrom, the phononic beam combiner adapted to couple a first portion of the first phase shifted first phononic beam splitter output signal to a first phononic beam combiner output and a remainder of the first phase shifted first phononic beam splitter output signal to a second phononic beam combiner output, and to couple a first portion of the second phase shifted second phononic beam splitter output signal to the first phononic beam combiner output and a remainder of the second phase shifted second phononic beam splitter output signal to the second phononic beam combiner output.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second phononic phase shifters includes:
a phononic crystal waveguide; and
at least one strain actuator, each of the at least one strain actuator adapted to induce a strain in the phononic crystal waveguide, the induced strain in the phononic crystal waveguide adapted to induce a corresponding phase shift in a phononic signal carried by the phononic crystal waveguide.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the phase shift is caused by at least one of hyperelasticity or a moving boundary effect.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the device implements a reconfigurable Mach-Zehnder phonon interferometer function.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the device is adapted to couple approximately 50% of the first phononic input signal to each of the first and second phononic beam combiner outputs;
wherein the device is adapted to couple approximately 50% of the second phononic input signal to each of the first and second phononic beam combiner outputs; and
wherein the device implements a reconfigurable beam mixer function.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the device is adapted to couple approximately 50% of the first phononic input signal to each of the first and second phononic beam combiner outputs; and
wherein when no second phononic input signal is present, the device implements a reconfigurable beam splitter function.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein when no second phononic input signal is present, the device implements a reconfigurable beam splitter function.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1,
wherein the device is adapted to couple approximately 100% of the first phononic input signal to the first phononic beam combiner output and approximately 0% of the first phononic input signal to the second phononic beam combiner output;
wherein the device is adapted to couple approximately 100% of the second phononic input signal to the first phononic beam combiner output and approximately 0% of the second phononic input signal to the second phononic beam combiner output, and
wherein the device implements a reconfigurable beam combiner function.