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  • Open Access

Quantum nonreciprocity from qubits coupled by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

Zhenghao Zhang1,*,†, Qingtian Miao1,*,‡, and G. S. Agarwal2,§

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College station, Texas 77843, USA
  • 2Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: zzh312@tamu.edu
  • ‡Contact author: qm8@tamu.edu
  • §Contact author: Girish.Agarwal@ag.tamu.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013336 – Published 27 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3n6j-zdf4

Abstract

We present a theoretical study of quantum nonreciprocity induced via Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) in an otherwise achiral, waveguide quantum electrodynamics. Using the full quantum master equation and input-output formalism for two two-level systems coupled to a one-dimensional waveguide and driven by a coherent field, we show that an engineered DMI enables strong nonreciprocity in an otherwise reciprocal system, with tunable behavior governed by driving strength, detuning, and phase of the DMI. We not only demonstrate nonreciprocal transmission but also demonstrate nonreciprocal quantum entanglement and photon bunching. The system can end up in a pure state as certain decohering channels do not participate. The pure state leads to power-independent perfect transparency. Conditions are derived and depend on the propagation phase, the relative detuning of the two qubits, and the exchange interaction. At these pure-state points, the steady-state entanglement is reciprocal and admits a closed-form expression; away from them, phase control generates strong entanglement nonreciprocity. The DMI also reshapes photon statistics, redistributing two-photon correlations and shifting superbunching from transmission (no DMI) to reflection at finite DMI. These results establish DMIs as a versatile resource for engineering nonreciprocity, transparency, entanglement, and photon correlations in waveguide QED, enabling isolators, routers, and superbunching light sources without requiring chiral waveguides.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013336– Published 27 March, 2026
  • Received 6 November 2025
  • Accepted 6 March 2026
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