Single‐Photon Nonreciprocity with an Integrated Magneto‐Optical Isolator

Abstract

Abstract Nonreciprocal photonic devices are essential components of classical optical information processing. It is interesting and important to investigate their feasibility in the quantum world. In this work, a single‐photon non‐reciprocal dynamical transmission experiment has been performed with an on‐chip silicon nitride (SiN)‐based magneto‐optical (MO) isolator. The measured isolation ratio for single photons achieved is 12.33 dB, consistent with the result of the classical test, which proves the functionality of our on‐chip isolator. The quantum coherence of the passing single photons is further verified using high‐visibility quantum interference. This work will promote on‐chip nonreciprocal photonic devices within the integrated quantum circuits and help introduce novel phenomena in quantum information processes.