| Project Detail |
Novel photonic integrated systems to efficiently detect squeezed light
Squeezed states of light have quantum correlations that give rise to smaller measurement uncertainties than corresponding classical states. Such quantum features can be exploited for optical high-precision measurements, radiometry, quantum key distribution, etc. Current nanophotonic chips using waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are limited in their ability to detect squeezed light mainly owing to the coupling losses of both fibre-chip couplers and waveguide-to-SNSPD interfaces. Funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ESSENS project will develop a photonic integrated system to efficiently detect squeezed light at telecom wavelengths. The proposed systems will open up exciting uses of squeezed light in applications such as quantum simulation, communication, and sensing with hundreds of detectors and interferometers on highly integrated monolithic chips with near perfect stability.
Quantum photonics has become a key driver for the development of novel applications—such quantum information processing and sensing—that leverage quantum effects to open new possibilities beyond classical capabilities. Squeezed states of light are particularly promising for such applications and have been employed, e.g. to conduct Gaussian boson sampling experiments. Despite the success of these experiments, the use of bulk optical components hinders scalability and phase stabilization. Thus, higher levels of photonic integration are strongly desired. However, the exploitation of squeezed light, which critically relies on efficient detection, has not yet been achieved using nanophotonic chips because of the limited efficiency of the required fiber-chip couplers and single-photon detectors (SPDs).
In this project, an optical fiber–accessible, photonic integrated system will be implemented to demonstrate on-chip detection of squeezed light at telecom wavelengths. To accomplish this goal, two approaches will be employed to assist fiber-chip couplers and waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire SPDs, enabling access to previously inaccessible regions of the design space: subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials and direct-laser-writing (DLW) fabrication technology. The outcome of this project will break new ground for exploiting squeezed states for applications in quantum simulation, communication, and sensing with hundreds of detectors and interferometers on highly integrated, monolithic chips with near perfect phase stability.
This project will be completed in a leading interdisciplinary research group. The applicant’s background in integrated photonics and SWG metamaterial engineering will be combined with the expertise on quantum detectors and the DLW nanofabrication capabilities of the host group. The proposed work will expand the applicant’s experience, skills and professional networks, re-enforcing the advance of his career as an independent researcher. |
