Quantum Optical Wavelength Converter

A method for converting a wavelength of an optical signal comprising an optical quantum state, the method comprising:

• a) receiving an optical signal comprising an optical quantum state with a first wavelength;
• b) selecting an amplitude and phase as a function of frequency of an optical pump signal spectrum at a pump signal wavelength to form an optical pump signal that will convert a spectra of the optical signal comprising the optical quantum state to a desired spectra;
• c) combining the received optical signal comprising the optical quantum state with the first wavelength and the selected optical pump signal, thereby forming a combined optical signal;
• d) propagating the combined optical signal through a nonlinear optical waveguide that converts the optical quantum state with the first wavelength to an optical quantum state at a second wavelength;
• and
• e) filtering the combined optical signal to suppress at least some of the optical pump signal to a desired residual pump level and to preserve a quantum property of the converted optical quantum state at the second wavelength.

An optical quantum state converter comprising:

• a) an optical pump source comprising a dispersive element and a spatial light modulator that provides an optical pump signal having an amplitude and phase as a function of frequency at a pump optical signal wavelength to an output;
• b) an optical combiner having a first input configured to receive an optical signal comprising an optical quantum state at a first wavelength and a second input coupled to the output of the optical pump source;
• c) a nonlinear optical waveguide having an input that is coupled to an output of the optical combiner, the nonlinear optical waveguide converting the optical quantum state at the first wavelength to an optical quantum state at a second wavelength, wherein the amplitude and phase as the function of frequency of the optical pump signal is chosen to convert a spectra of the optical signal comprising the optical quantum state to a desired spectra;
• and
• d) a filter having an input coupled to the output of the nonlinear optical waveguide, the filter suppressing at least some of the optical pump signal to a desired residual pump level and preserving a quantum property of the converted optical quantum state at the second wavelength.

A method for converting a wavelength of an optical signal comprising an optical quantum state, the method comprising:

• a) receiving an optical signal comprising an optical quantum state with a first wavelength;
• b) selecting an amplitude and phase as a function of frequency of an optical pump signal spectrum at a pump signal wavelength to form an optical pump signal having a chirp magnitude and sign that will convert a spectra of the optical signal comprising the optical quantum state to a spectra having a desired bandwidth;
• c) combining the received optical signal comprising the optical quantum state with the first wavelength and the selected optical pump signal, thereby forming a combined optical signal;
• d) propagating the combined optical signal through a nonlinear optical waveguide that converts the optical quantum state with the first wavelength to an optical quantum state at a second wavelength;
• and
• e) filtering the combined optical signal to suppress at least some of the optical pump signal to a desired residual pump level and to preserve a quantum property of the converted optical quantum state at the second wavelength.