Quantum Integrated Photonics

Science Leader	Project Leader
A/Prof Mike Steel Macquarie University	Dr Chunle Xiong University of Sydney

We are developing key optical resources to enable a new wave of emerging quantum technologies: unique sources of light that can emit single photons in nanostructures, and reconfigurable photonic circuits that can perform logic operations at the few-photon level.

Figure One - Schematic diagram of experiments and the first quantum light signal recorded in a CUDOS nonlinear waveguide

Quantum technologies are currently constrained to research laboratories due to the large physical size and inherent instability of the optical components that are used. Quantum integrated photonics will move quantum information processing from the laboratory to the chip and hence into the real world.

Some of the team in the laboratory at the University of Bristol.

We will provide fundamental understanding of the quantum behavior of photons in nanostructures, which will enable applications of quantum mechanics in the real world such as secure communications for the defense sector and financial organizations, and ultra-powerful computing.

Quantum Integrated Photonics Group, Annual CUDOS Workshop at Shoal Bay, Feb 2011