Research

Our research group is focused on exploring the frontiers of quantum physics, particularly in the realm of quantum information protocols. We tackle the challenges posed by multipartite systems, seeking to understand and harness complex quantum phenomena such as entanglement and coherence. Our efforts span from generating and manipulating intricate quantum states to developing novel methods for their characterization. Leveraging advanced materials and photonic technologies, we aim to construct resilient and efficient quantum states, which have potential applications in quantum communication. Our work includes both experimental and theoretical approaches, involving a blend of imaging techniques, algorithms for phase retrieval, and various entanglement analysis methods. As we advance in these research areas, we also contribute to the development of improved image processing and Fourier-space analysis techniques suitable for increasingly complex quantum systems.

• Hybrid Quantum Photonics

We developed a hybrid process for integrating high quality single photon emitters in a CMOS compatible platform. The process is deterministic in terms of selecting the quantum emitter, using a nano-manipulator, and the design of the photonic circuit. The developed hybrid platform exploits the advantages of high quality single-photon sources grown on III-V platforms with well-developed silicon based photonics.  Moreover, a major problems with integrated quantum photonics is the suppression of excitation lasers and filtering of emission lines. This proved to be a considerably difficult task which hindered the demonstration of on-chip sub-Poissonian light without the use of external bulky filters. We experimentally demonstrated, all-on-chip, generation and filtering of single-photons. The emission from a nanowire QD embedded in a photonic waveguide is filtered with a tunable ring. The process was generalized, as shown in the figure, to multiplex two nanowires quantum emitters in a single waveguide coupled to an electrically tunable ring resonator filter.

Nature Communications 8, 379 (2017)

Nano Lett. 16 (4), 2289–2294 (2016)

Nature Photonics, 14, 285-298 (2020), Review paper

 

We develop a site-controlled process to deterministically integrate hBN quantum emitters in silicon nitride photonic waveguides. The hybrid integration methods allows to intrdouce quantum light sources to photonic platforms with no inherent light emitting properties. hBN is an exciting quantum material with potential with capability of emitting single light particles with high quantum efficiency at room temperature , without the need of extreme refrigiration.

Adv. Quantum Technol., 2100032 (2021) (Journal Cover)

 

We realize a hybrid system combining site-controlled Cu2O micro-crystals and silicon nitride photonic circuits. In the work, we couple Cu2O exciton emission to a SiN waveguide,  the emission shows excellent quality on par with micro-crystals  grown on thermal oxide. The platform offers exciting possibilities through exploring rydberg excitons in Cu2O for strong light matter interaction, mediated by high order rydberg states in Cu2O.

Communications Materials , 1, 11  (2020)

 

• Strain-tunable Photonics

We developed a strain tunable hybrid quantum photonic platform through fabricating silicon nitride photonic waveguides with preselected III-V single nanowire QDs, directly on a piezoelectric crystal substrate. A piezoelectric substrate sandwiched between two electrodes controls the emission frequency of a single-photon emitter and the pass frequency of a ring resonator by means of strain. By applying an electric field across the piezoelectric substrate, we stretched the photons wavelength and shifted the bandpass frequency of a ring resonator filter. The device shows excellent stability, suitable for locking to atomic memories due to the direct integration of the photonic layer on the piezoelectric substrate, no bonding is involved.

Nano Lett. 18 (12), 7969-7976 (2018)

 

This study outlines the successful transfer of a nanowire quantum dot onto a bulk luthium niobate. The emission of the nanowire QD can be dynamically controlled by creating an acousto-optical interaction with surface acoustic waves. The single photon source retains its purity even during the process of dynamics strain tuning. 

 

ACS Photonics 10 (10), 3691–3699

https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.12204

Nature communications 12 (1), 1408

 

• Quantum Entanglement 

Our research group is focused on exploring the frontiers of quantum physics, particularly in the realm of quantum information protocols. We tackle the challenges posed by multipartite systems, seeking to understand and harness complex quantum phenomena such as entanglement and coherence. Our efforts span from generating and manipulating intricate quantum states to developing novel methods for their characterization. Leveraging advanced materials and photonic technologies, we aim to construct resilient and efficient quantum states, which have potential applications in quantum communication. Our work includes both experimental and theoretical approaches, involving a blend of imaging techniques, algorithms for phase retrieval, and various entanglement analysis methods.

Nano Lett. 2023, 23, 11, 5350–5357

 

• Topological Photonics and condensed matter physics simulations

We develop CMOS compatible topological photonic lattices. The research focuses on both the fundamental physics aspect, through studying phase transitions and state localiaztion, in addition to applications that merge the fields of quantum and topological photonics.

Photon. Res. 10(12), 2901-2907 (2022) (Editor Pick)

Phys. Rev. Research 4, 033222 (2022)

npj Nanophotonics 1 (1), 8

Physical Review B 108 (14), L140202

 

• Superconducting Single Photon Detectors

We perform bandgap dispersion eingeering of superconducting transmission lines to slow down RF signals to record speed of 0.0019 speed of light in vacuum. We use the slow RF transmission line for time division multiplexin go superconducting single photon detectors, the article is featured in APL Photonics.

APL Photonics 5, 111301 , (2020) (Featured Article)

Nano Letters 23 (21), 9748-9752

Nanophotonics 12 (3), 339-358 (Review)

ACS Photonics 2020, 7, 7, 1780–1787

 

We develop superconducting single photon detectors with high detection efficiencies, low dark counts, and high time resolution. The detectors are fabricated by patterning thin NbTiN layers on photonic integrated circuits. Using these detectors, we realized a fully integrated, proof of concept, quantum channel, combining nanowire single photon emitter, a silicon nitride waveguide, and a ring resonator filter terminated with a single photon detector.

Optics Express 27(17), 24601-24609  (2019)

• Single photon wavelength conversion

We study both theoretically and experimentally the dynamic tuning of optical resoantors and its effects on a trapped single photon in an optical resonator. We show that the effect of changing the refractive index of the optical cavity on the photon is equavelant to changing the tension on a guitar string while a note is resonating. The dynamic tuning f the cavity results in changing the frequence of the trapped photon. We also show that this process is linear, within the adiabatic tuning limits.

Appl. Phys. Lett. 101, 171110 (2012)

Phys. Rev. A 82, 063839 (2010)

Optics Express 27,  14400-14406,  (2019)

• Photonic-Analogue of Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency

On chip dynamic optical buffers and storage elements are difficult to realize in silicon photonics. The dynamic tuning of silicon circuitry involves introducing loss through free carrier dispersion effect, which limits the achievable storage time. We experimentally demonstrated a carrier free optical storage element in silicon using a photonic analogue of an atomic Electromagnetic-Induced-transparency. It is capable of arbitrarily storing and releasing a light pulse through dynamic tuning of a system of microcavities. The storage is performed through the creation of a supermode between the ring resonators with EIT peaks that can be opened and closed depending on the dynamic control of the system.

Optics Express 18 (3), 3014-3022 (2010)

Phys. Rev. A 82, 063839 (2010)

• Material Properties Characterization

Accurate characterization of material properties such as the thermo-optic cofficient and second/third order nonlinearities are important for designing photonic integrated circuits. We performed quantitative study of SiN and SiO2 thermo-optic cofficients at low temperatures, which is important for quantum applications requireing cryogenic temperatures and low thermal budget. The low-temperature result of the thermo-optic coefficient is critical for providing design/operation guidelines for many important low-temperature photonic circuits. We find the Thermo-optic coefficients of PECVD silicon nitride and silicon oxide to be 2.51 + 0.08 E-5 K -1 and 0.96 + 0.09 E-5 K -1 at room temperature while decreasing by an order of magnitude when cooling to 18 K.

 IEEE Photonics,  8  (3), 2701009 (2016)