Quantum emitters can now be linked together through a terahertz channel while being controlled by visible light.
April 26, 2026
Original Paper
Entanglement of two optical emitters mediated by a terahertz channel
arXiv · 2604.21723
The Takeaway
Terahertz radiation is notoriously difficult to manipulate but sits in a crucial spot between radio waves and light. This research generated a steady-state entanglement between two optical emitters using these elusive terahertz photons. Visible light was used to act as the steering wheel, managing the entire process from a distance. This creates a bridge between two different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum for quantum computing. It allows us to use the speed of light to control the more complex interactions of terahertz waves. This breakthrough could make quantum networks more reliable by using multi-frequency communication.
From the abstract
Quantum technologies in the terahertz (THz) require a coherent interface between addressable qubits and THz quantum channels -- a capacity that so far, remains largely underdeveloped. Here, we propose and demonstrate the generation of steady-state entanglement between polar quantum emitters, mediated by THz photons. We exploit strong visible-light driving of the emitters to create Rabi-split dressed eigenstates whose energy separation can be optically tuned into the THz regime. The polar nature