SPIN SPACE - Spatially encoded telecoms and quantum technologies using spin-enabled all-optical switching
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bristol
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
Our planet is criss-crossed with optical fibres that influence almost every aspect our lives in the 21st century. However, despite the great advances in optical fibre communications technologies that have occurred in the past 20 years, we have already almost run out of data capacity. With more of the world online, and the "Internet of Things" predicted to connect up to a trillion devices in the next 20 years, we need to find better ways of overcoming fundamental limits in how much data we can send. Also looming on the horizon are new technologies that may use optical fibre telecommunication networks, such as quantum optics technologies, sending, for example, completely secure data using single photons. However, sending many of these photons but keeping each one separate is a major challenge.
In answer to these new technologies, it has been suggested that sending information via a microstructured fibre may offer solutions to the challenges above. Microtructured fibres are rather like a stick of Brighton rock with a pattern running through. The simplest of these may be several cores running in parallel but optically isolated, whilst more complex designs involve controlled light leakage between the cores, or indeed a honeycomb structure with light travelling in the air. Recent ideas propose sending a pattern of light (either a light intensity pattern or a pattern of polarization) through the microstructured fibre with complex changes in the pattern containing encoded information.
While much work is presently being carried out on signal propagation in microstructured fibres, it is clear that to create the signal, a means of producing a spatial laser pattern is required that can switch pattern over GHz timescales. More importantly, to perform functions such as rerouting signals from one area of the array or changing the pattern one requires a device with an optical input and output to be fed into the later fibre network. Switching an array using electrical contacts is tricky - one needs to individually access many micron-sized areas at fast speeds. We propose that if small (few micrometer) lasers are fabricated into a small forest of pillars that emit individual points of light vertically, we can generate complex patterns easily. We use a semiconductor laser, where the spin, the electron's intrinsic magnet, interacts differently depending on the light polarization - in some cases the photon is absorbed, in other cases the spin is in the wrong direction and the light passes through. We will thus control light pulses to flip the spins and perform optical logic in spatial arrays of these devices. This will allow incoming signals to be switched and re-routed.
When the laser power is turned down, and very specific frequencies are used, we find that the light becomes intrinsically "grainy" - and turns into individual photons. We also know that the semiconductor can be prepared so that it behaves like a collection of atoms - at very specific wavelengths, the photon only "sees" one electron. Rather like an atom, the photon may be absorbed and an electron gains energy - however in our case it also interacts with the electron's spin. When the electron drops from its excited state and emits a photon, the photon has changed polarization. We can then filter out the outgoing photons from the incoming ones and use the scattered photons as a "single photon source" - where exactly one photon is produced per optical pulse. This source allows completely secure information to be sent, and is the starting point for photon quantum computing, where many of these individual photons are made to interact and encode information for a quantum computer.
In answer to these new technologies, it has been suggested that sending information via a microstructured fibre may offer solutions to the challenges above. Microtructured fibres are rather like a stick of Brighton rock with a pattern running through. The simplest of these may be several cores running in parallel but optically isolated, whilst more complex designs involve controlled light leakage between the cores, or indeed a honeycomb structure with light travelling in the air. Recent ideas propose sending a pattern of light (either a light intensity pattern or a pattern of polarization) through the microstructured fibre with complex changes in the pattern containing encoded information.
While much work is presently being carried out on signal propagation in microstructured fibres, it is clear that to create the signal, a means of producing a spatial laser pattern is required that can switch pattern over GHz timescales. More importantly, to perform functions such as rerouting signals from one area of the array or changing the pattern one requires a device with an optical input and output to be fed into the later fibre network. Switching an array using electrical contacts is tricky - one needs to individually access many micron-sized areas at fast speeds. We propose that if small (few micrometer) lasers are fabricated into a small forest of pillars that emit individual points of light vertically, we can generate complex patterns easily. We use a semiconductor laser, where the spin, the electron's intrinsic magnet, interacts differently depending on the light polarization - in some cases the photon is absorbed, in other cases the spin is in the wrong direction and the light passes through. We will thus control light pulses to flip the spins and perform optical logic in spatial arrays of these devices. This will allow incoming signals to be switched and re-routed.
When the laser power is turned down, and very specific frequencies are used, we find that the light becomes intrinsically "grainy" - and turns into individual photons. We also know that the semiconductor can be prepared so that it behaves like a collection of atoms - at very specific wavelengths, the photon only "sees" one electron. Rather like an atom, the photon may be absorbed and an electron gains energy - however in our case it also interacts with the electron's spin. When the electron drops from its excited state and emits a photon, the photon has changed polarization. We can then filter out the outgoing photons from the incoming ones and use the scattered photons as a "single photon source" - where exactly one photon is produced per optical pulse. This source allows completely secure information to be sent, and is the starting point for photon quantum computing, where many of these individual photons are made to interact and encode information for a quantum computer.
Planned Impact
Industry
This project provides a test-bed for two new technologies in optical fibres. Technologies based on multicore fibres, whether for standard telecoms or to build up a fledgling quantum secure network, are clearly disruptive technologies that, on a national scale, will be costly and require planning for the next 30 years. Nevertheless, with a ten-fold increase in internet traffic every 4 years, a capacity crunch is rapidly approaching: the network presently used will reach its fundamental (non-linear Shannon) limit by 2020-2025. A careful choice of next-generation technology will be necessary, and one that will have to be made in the next few years. This project will form just one part of this decision-making process, but a crucial one. Sources and switches are an important component in such a network, and thus exploration of the VCSEL source and switch solution provides one of the key components to test the viability of microstructured fibres.
The potential of our approach is that it not only opens routes to enhanced capacity, but also offers new ways of switching and routing using optics, thus enhancing network flexibility. This latter aspect of all optical processing could also lead to new applications in information security and processing. Thus the technology being explored in this project is at an early stage, but nevertheless it has the potential to impact the information and communications industries, from manufacturers of devices and subsystems right through to operators and users.
In addition, while the UK is currently investing heavily in future quantum information technologies, we believe that the only realistic solution for medium to long range quantum cryptography will be to use fibres and telecom wavelength photons. Moreover, the only commercially viable solution will be to either use an existing fibre network, or one in parallel and very similar to the existing one. If this technology is to be widely available in 20-30yrs time, planning of next-generation classical and quantum-ready networks will need to occur in parallel. This exploratory project does not address all the issues to be faced, but does take the first step of bringing two fields and technologies into a common platform. By promoting dialogue between fields and constructing a common technological language we also hope to promote a cultural change.
Policy
Closely linked to the industrial applications is the impact this project will have on government policy. Leaders will need to plan for future telecommunications infrastructure in order to support industrial development. We will feed into nationwide projects that have the strongest influence.
Inward Investment
By patenting our most novel and successful devices we will ensure that any innovation is retained within the UK. The UK is well-placed to become a future pioneer of the most advanced telecoms technology, for example by allowing the development of spatially encoded fibres and quantum communications networks.
People training
In this project we will train 4 individuals, and additional PhD students in practical solutions to a subject which spans industrial applications to fundamental physics. This is key for the future development of novel technologies. Such individuals may later go on to work in companies, bringing ideas from the latest in fundamental research, or may stay in academia where they will have a broad oversight into the issues and challenges when developing ideas from the lab bench to an industrial product. They may even go on into their own start-up companies ready to develop their new innovations themselves.
This project provides a test-bed for two new technologies in optical fibres. Technologies based on multicore fibres, whether for standard telecoms or to build up a fledgling quantum secure network, are clearly disruptive technologies that, on a national scale, will be costly and require planning for the next 30 years. Nevertheless, with a ten-fold increase in internet traffic every 4 years, a capacity crunch is rapidly approaching: the network presently used will reach its fundamental (non-linear Shannon) limit by 2020-2025. A careful choice of next-generation technology will be necessary, and one that will have to be made in the next few years. This project will form just one part of this decision-making process, but a crucial one. Sources and switches are an important component in such a network, and thus exploration of the VCSEL source and switch solution provides one of the key components to test the viability of microstructured fibres.
The potential of our approach is that it not only opens routes to enhanced capacity, but also offers new ways of switching and routing using optics, thus enhancing network flexibility. This latter aspect of all optical processing could also lead to new applications in information security and processing. Thus the technology being explored in this project is at an early stage, but nevertheless it has the potential to impact the information and communications industries, from manufacturers of devices and subsystems right through to operators and users.
In addition, while the UK is currently investing heavily in future quantum information technologies, we believe that the only realistic solution for medium to long range quantum cryptography will be to use fibres and telecom wavelength photons. Moreover, the only commercially viable solution will be to either use an existing fibre network, or one in parallel and very similar to the existing one. If this technology is to be widely available in 20-30yrs time, planning of next-generation classical and quantum-ready networks will need to occur in parallel. This exploratory project does not address all the issues to be faced, but does take the first step of bringing two fields and technologies into a common platform. By promoting dialogue between fields and constructing a common technological language we also hope to promote a cultural change.
Policy
Closely linked to the industrial applications is the impact this project will have on government policy. Leaders will need to plan for future telecommunications infrastructure in order to support industrial development. We will feed into nationwide projects that have the strongest influence.
Inward Investment
By patenting our most novel and successful devices we will ensure that any innovation is retained within the UK. The UK is well-placed to become a future pioneer of the most advanced telecoms technology, for example by allowing the development of spatially encoded fibres and quantum communications networks.
People training
In this project we will train 4 individuals, and additional PhD students in practical solutions to a subject which spans industrial applications to fundamental physics. This is key for the future development of novel technologies. Such individuals may later go on to work in companies, bringing ideas from the latest in fundamental research, or may stay in academia where they will have a broad oversight into the issues and challenges when developing ideas from the lab bench to an industrial product. They may even go on into their own start-up companies ready to develop their new innovations themselves.
Organisations
Publications
Adams M
(2018)
A model for confined Tamm plasmon devices
Adams M
(2017)
Effects of detuning, gain-guiding, and index antiguiding on the dynamics of two laterally coupled semiconductor lasers
in Physical Review A
Adams M
(2018)
Model for confined Tamm plasmon devices
in Journal of the Optical Society of America B
Androvitsaneas P
(2016)
Charged quantum dot micropillar system for deterministic light-matter interactions
in Physical Review B
Androvitsaneas P
(2019)
Efficient Quantum Photonic Phase Shift in a Low Q-Factor Regime
in ACS Photonics
Cemlyn B
(2019)
Polarization Responses of a Solitary and Optically Injected Vertical Cavity Spin Laser
in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
Cemlyn B
(2018)
Near-threshold high spin amplification in a 1300 nm GaInNAs spin laser
in Semiconductor Science and Technology
Dada A
(2019)
Optimal simultaneous measurements of incompatible observables of a single photon
in Optica
Harbord E
(2019)
Confined Tamm optical states coupled to quantum dots in a photoconductive detector
in Applied Physics Letters
Description | We have discovered that a new type of "Tamm plasmon" microphotonic structure may be used to generate lasing and single photon states. The advantage of the Tamm states is that the lateral confinement of the optical mode is defined only with a metal disc of a few microns, not by etching a structure. Etching gives rise to defect states and also means that one does not achieve a flat geometry. Our flat geometry will result in a much easier method to couple to optical fibres. |
Exploitation Route | We anticipate that commercial device developers such as IQE would be interested in developing a commercial avenue to fabrication of the Tamm devices. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Description | We have discovered that a new type of "Tamm plasmon" microphotonic structure may be used to detect and generate lasing, as well as single photon states. The advantage of the Tamm states is that the lateral confinement of the optical mode is defined only with a metal disc of a few microns, not by etching a structure. Etching gives rise to defect states and also means that one does not achieve a flat geometry. Our flat geometry will result in a much easier method to couple to optical fibres. The impact of this work is recorded against grant ref EP/M024156/1' to our grant. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | GW4 Accelerator fund |
Amount | £71,043 (GBP) |
Organisation | GW4 |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2015 |
End | 07/2016 |
Description | Horizon 2020 Quantum Flagship |
Amount | € 2,809,812 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start |
Title | Supporting Data for "Optimal simultaneous measurements of incompatible observables of a single photon" |
Description | EPSRC fellowship project Data will include electromagnetic simulations, raw spectroscopic data, processed data and details of processing code. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Description | COST |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | As a result of my activities in quantum technologies I was asked to be UK representative on COST Action "Nanoscale Quantum Optics". Here I became gender balance advisor and tackled questions regarding under representation of women in the quantum technology area. I gave information sessions about implicit bias and other issues at scientific meetings, to the general audience of all attendees - men and women scientists. I also ran discussion sessions and ran two surveys to monitor attitudes towards gender imbalance to monitor changes in opinion. The survey showed that after the intervention many more men reported being engaged in activities to counteract underrepresentation of women in science. The outcome was that I was asked to present at Europe's foremost science policy conference, ESOF 2018. I was also asked to present in Feb 2020 to policy makers in Brussels (from COST and from Horizon 2020) about the activities I had undertaken. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | https://www.cost-nqo.eu/gender-balance/ |
Description | Co-founder of quantum technology "QPHOT" session at ICTON2016 onwards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | After a successful organisation of a workshop related to quantum spin effects at ICTON2015, I, along with Dr. Daryl Beggs at the University of Bristol have co-founded a new session for ICTON on the topic of quantum photonic technologies. The aim is to engage those in the fields of classical photonics and telecommunications, including many attendees from Industry, with quantum technologies. ICTON (International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks) is primarily focused on classical photonic devices and telecommunications technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://icton2016.fbk.eu/ |
Description | Invited Speaker at Royal Society 150 year celebration of Maxwell's paper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation on photonic crystals for the Royal Society's 150th anniversary celebration of Maxwell's seminal paper |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |