Release-free electro-optomechanical crystal modulator

Journal article, 2026

Electro-optic modulation is central to classical optical communications and emerging quantum technologies. High-confinement optomechanical crystal modulators enable microwave-optical transduction through strong optomechanical interactions and offer a promising interface between superconducting qubits and optical fibers. However, their performance is limited by thermal noise from optical absorption. Release-free optomechanical crystals provide improved thermal anchoring but have not yet been integrated into a microwave-optical transducer. Here, we demonstrate a release-free electro-optomechanical transducer combining strong optomechanical interactions in silicon with the efficient piezoelectricity of lithium niobate via micro-transfer printing. We observe electro-and optomechanical coupling rates compatible with quantum-level operation when co-integrated with a superconducting microwave circuit. This advance moves release-free electro-optomechanical devices toward practical microwave-optical interfaces. (c) 2026 Optica Publishing Group. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved.