Noise Performance of On‐Chip Nano‐Mechanical Switches for Quantum Photonics Applications

Abstract

Nano‐opto‐electromechanical systems provide an elegant solution for controlling light in quantum photonic integrated circuits, enabling small footprint devices for on‐chip unitary transformations with low power consumption and cryogenic compatibility. In quantum applications, the noise of optical switches and routers is an important factor in establishing high‐fidelity linear optical operations. In this work, the dynamical operation and noise performance of gap‐variable directional couplers fabricated in Gallium Arsenide, are reported. The noise contribution stemming from mechanical modes of the devices are investigated and a low‐temperature total phase noise of is observed over the 1–5 MHz bandwidth. The noise characteristic depends very weakly on the temperature, suggesting that the origin of noise stems primarily from electrostatic actuation.