Methods and systems for frequency conversion and modulation using solid-state defects

A method for performing electro-optical modulation, comprising:

• providing a crystalline lattice embedded with a defect;
• driving an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect with an excitation optical field to generate an optical emission from the defect;
• and
• applying a microwave electric field to interact with the excitation optical field via the defect to modulate the optical emission from the defect;
• controlling a number of spectral components or relative intensity between the spectral components of the optical emission from the defect by adjusting an amplitude or a microwave frequency of the microwave electric field.

A method for performing electro-optical modulation, comprising:

• providing a crystalline lattice embedded with a defect;
• driving an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect with an excitation optical field to generate an optical emission from the defect;
• and
• applying a microwave electric field to interact with the excitation optical field via the defect to modulate the optical emission from the defect;
• wherein:
• the microwave electric field comprises two microwave frequency tones;
• and
• the method further comprises controlling a relative phase between the two microwave frequency tones to produce an amplitude modulation of the optical emission from the defect.

A device for performing electro-optical modulation, the device comprising:

• a crystalline lattice;
• a defect embedded in the crystal lattice;
• and
• two electrodes adapted to apply a microwave electric field to the defect,
• wherein:
• the device is adapted to receive an excitation optical field to drive an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect to generate an optical emission from the defect;
• and
• the defect is adapted to serve as a quantum medium for an interaction between the excitation optical field and the microwave electric field applied via the two electrodes for modulating the optical emission from the defect.

A device for performing microwave-to-optical transduction, the device comprising:

• a crystalline lattice;
• a defect embedded in the crystal lattice;
• a microwave transmission line on the crystalline lattice comprising two electrodes;
• and
• a microwave resonator coupled to the microwave transmission line and to the defect, the microwave resonator being adapted for generating or storing one or more microwave photons,
• wherein the device is adapted to:
• receive an excitation optical field to drive an optical transition between a ground quantum state and an excited quantum state of the defect;
• absorb an optical photon from the excitation optical field;
• and
• convert the one or more microwave photons into an emitted optical photon from the defect or convert the absorbed optical photon into the stored one or more microwave photons as a result of an interaction between the excitation optical field and the one or more microwave photons via the defect.