Nanophotonic quantum devices based on lanthanides
Abstract
We propose to develop new nano-fabrication and testing capabilities for on-chip nano-photonic devices in materials like YVO4 and Y2 SiO5 doped with lanthanides (rare-earth atoms) such asytterbium and erbium. These capabilities are essential for advancing current DoD projects related to quantum memories, on-chip processing of quantum photonic states, and quantum transduction between optical and microwave fields. These projects are based on nano-photonic optical resonators coupled to rare-earth (erbium and ytterbium) io ns. Rare-earth ensembles have outstanding optical and spin coherence properties, which makes them very promising materials for qua ntum memories and quantum transduction. So far, via AFOSR, ONR and ARO grants, the PI demonstrated proof-of-principle quantum memor ies at telecom wavelengths and optical to microwave transduction. Based on the promise of the proof-of-principle demonstrations, th ese projects are continuing with development of more efficient devices with applications in future optical quantum networks. Thus, in an AFOSR grant we are currently exploring storage and processing of telecom photonic quantum states using erbium-doped media an d silicon photonics, in an ARO/LPS grant we are exploring quantum transduction at telecom wavelength using erbiumdoped materials a nd silicon photonics, and in an ONR grant we explore transduction at 980nm with ytterbium-doped materials. While the initial proof- of-concept work was done with monolithic photonic devices fabricated via focused ion beam milling, all current project are based on hybrid photonic platforms where the nano-photonic devices are fabricated in a high refractice index semiconductor material like s ilicon or gallium arsenide that is located on top of the rare-earthdoped substrate. This choice was made because further advancing the focused ion beam fabrication was deemed as not feasible. Currently, one bottleneck is the quality of the hybrid devices that i s limited by either the absorption and roughness of the amorphous silicon material that we deposit, or the cleanliness of the gall ium arsenide material that we can transfer. In order to further advance our fabrication we request funding for a micro-manipulator, a versatile tool that will allow us to transfer high quality crystalline membranes in which we can fabricate superior photonic dev ices. These membranes can be either semiconductor (Si, GaAs), or made of the YSO/YVO crystal itselfwhich we are developing with co llaborators from Stanford. To test these devices at quantum levelwe request funds for electronic instrumentation like high performa nce signal generators, amplifiers, analyzers, nano-positioners, and optical instrumentation with high efficiency and stability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112944
Entities
People
- Andrei Faraon
Organizations
- California Institute of Technology
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy