Development of highly efficient, portable, and fiber-integrated photonic platforms based on micro-resonators

Compact optical reference development allows novel ultra-precise, compact optical atomic clocks to become feasible. Crucial system components are ultra-compact coherent optical frequency combs to convert the optical reference frequency into an electronic signal, enabling applications such as hold-over references for GNSS denial/interruption in facilities and telecom networks, data centres and novel defence applications.

Simultaneously, quantum cryptography has gained tremendous momentum in the last decade. Key to enabling quantum cryptography are the development of quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum random number generation (QRNG) techniques ensuring safe, reliable, and robust communication networks. Current protocols utilize highly attenuated laser beams or single photon sources for encryption. Lasers offer advantages in terms of high bit rates, simplistic experimental setups, and low hardware costs. Truly secure communication can only be achieved by embedding quantum light sources with lasers.

Applications need high-quality, low-cost optical solutions. Compact, fibre-integrated micro-resonators exhibit large nonlinear optical behaviour which facilitates their application in a wide range of systems, from efficient entangled single photon sources to optical frequency comb generation. With industrial fabrication established and their easy integration into an all-fibre system, micro-resonators are ideal devices for portable systems with demanding robustness and stability requirements.

We will develop effective optical sources tailored for quantum technology applications based on architectures embedding fibre-laser and chip-integrated micro-resonators. Using the exceptional optical nonlinearity of these chips and the expertise developed by the collaboration between INRS-EMT and Sussex, efficient, compact optical sources will be developed for (i) quantum cryptography, developing a probabilistic source of single photons for QKD and QRNG and (ii) portable atomic clocks, realizing a ruggedized optical frequency comb and locking it to an atomic reference.

The same underlying physics and technology allows the targeting of key applications of optical sources in quantum technology. The Canadian team will employ these systems as entangled single photon sources for quantum cryptography, the UK team will focus on their integration into a portable optical reference to build a compact atomic clock.

With unique in-house, world-leading expertise in vacuum electronics (TMD), non-classical light sources (OEC), non-linear micro-resonators (INRS-EMT), photonics (Pasquazi-Sussex) and atomic science (Keller-Sussex); the goal will be achieved by using the joint expertise in non-linear optics with integrated micro-resonators to develop a high-efficiency photon source and a highly-precise optical frequency comb. The shared expertise, technology and techniques of the Canadian and UK teams, as well as of their industrial partners will facilitate rapid progress and commercialization.