Quantum Waveguides for Indistinguishable Single Photon Sources (QWISPS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Optoelectronics Research Ctr (closed)
Abstract
Covesion Ltd and The University of Southampton plan a collaborative feasibility study to investigate the use of periodicallypoled
lithium niobate crystals in single-photon sources for applications exploiting quantum entanglement. Our crystals
enable the energy of a single photon to be split and conserved as two lower-energy photons at different colours; the laws of
physics state that if one of these photons is created then the other must also exist. In this project, we seek to reduce the
manufacturing tolerances required to generate indistinguisable photons between parallel sources and our objective is to
prove our new approach across multiple devices. This is an important step in enabling scalable quantum applications
where many indistinguishable photons are needed in parallel, such as quantum computing.
lithium niobate crystals in single-photon sources for applications exploiting quantum entanglement. Our crystals
enable the energy of a single photon to be split and conserved as two lower-energy photons at different colours; the laws of
physics state that if one of these photons is created then the other must also exist. In this project, we seek to reduce the
manufacturing tolerances required to generate indistinguisable photons between parallel sources and our objective is to
prove our new approach across multiple devices. This is an important step in enabling scalable quantum applications
where many indistinguishable photons are needed in parallel, such as quantum computing.
Planned Impact
Economic benefits arising from this project are an expected increase in Covesion turnover based on crystal sales, plus
potential for further VC investment and growth via the development of higher-value single photon sources. These benefits
will spill-over to Covesion's supply chain, which includes specialist raw material providers, equipment suppliers, and coating
services across the UK and Europe. Periodically-poled materials are expected to be an enabling component for quantum
communications, which is expected to grow to a $Bn market in 2018 with over 50% of the required expertise based in
Europe.
Socially, additional turnover equates to new jobs at Covesion, including engineers, technical, sales and admin staff.
Investment in quantum technologies will enable the UK to maintain an important technology lead and train a new
generation of engineers and physicists with sought-after high-level skills. Engagement with industry will enable those
engineers to find jobs relevant to their training, while engagement with UK policy makers Innovate UK, DSTL and EPSRC
will ensure government priorities remain focussed on funding initiatives in areas of UK-centric expertise.
Environmentally, this feasibility study is a first step towards our ultimate aim of replacing bench-level experiments and
components with integrated systems the size of a (large) matchbox. While we only process a few kilograms of raw crystal
per year, the proportional size of a PPLN waveguide device versus bulk is around 10%, allowing us to reduce material
waste and process steps (photolithography, dicing, polishing, etc) by 90%, reducing our chemical waste by tens of litres per
year. This will become more significant as volumes increase.
potential for further VC investment and growth via the development of higher-value single photon sources. These benefits
will spill-over to Covesion's supply chain, which includes specialist raw material providers, equipment suppliers, and coating
services across the UK and Europe. Periodically-poled materials are expected to be an enabling component for quantum
communications, which is expected to grow to a $Bn market in 2018 with over 50% of the required expertise based in
Europe.
Socially, additional turnover equates to new jobs at Covesion, including engineers, technical, sales and admin staff.
Investment in quantum technologies will enable the UK to maintain an important technology lead and train a new
generation of engineers and physicists with sought-after high-level skills. Engagement with industry will enable those
engineers to find jobs relevant to their training, while engagement with UK policy makers Innovate UK, DSTL and EPSRC
will ensure government priorities remain focussed on funding initiatives in areas of UK-centric expertise.
Environmentally, this feasibility study is a first step towards our ultimate aim of replacing bench-level experiments and
components with integrated systems the size of a (large) matchbox. While we only process a few kilograms of raw crystal
per year, the proportional size of a PPLN waveguide device versus bulk is around 10%, allowing us to reduce material
waste and process steps (photolithography, dicing, polishing, etc) by 90%, reducing our chemical waste by tens of litres per
year. This will become more significant as volumes increase.
People |
ORCID iD |
Peter Smith (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Carpenter L
(2016)
Advances in Ductile Mode Dicing of PPLN Devices
Carpenter L G
(2018)
Zinc Indiffused PPLN Ridge Waveguides
Carpenter LG
(2020)
CW demonstration of SHG spectral narrowing in a PPLN waveguide generating 2.5 W at 780 nm.
in Optics express
Carpenter LG
(2017)
Ductile Mode Dicing for PPLN Waveguide Devices
Gray A
(2020)
Investigation of PPLN Waveguide Uniformity via Second Harmonic Generation Spectra
in IEEE Photonics Technology Letters
Description | We have developed new findings on routes to fabricate nonlinear waveguides and manufactured prototype demonstrator units; these demonstrators were exhibited at the UK Quantum Technology Showcase events held in 2016 and 2017. We have applied for patent too and these have been licensed. |
Exploitation Route | Further funding has been received from Innovate UK to continue this project for a second year (Innovate UK reference 102668; project 'QWISPS-2'). |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Environment,Security and Diplomacy |
Description | The development have contributed to UK capability in making nonlinear optical waveguides. |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Security and Diplomacy |
Description | Accelerating the commercial exploitation of quantum technologies; Quantum Waveguides for Indistinguishable Single Photon Sources 2 (QWISPS-2) |
Amount | £172,087 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 102668 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2016 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Commercialisation of Quantum Technologies: Establishing Supply Chains for Emergent Quantum Computers (ESCHER) |
Amount | £1,232,887 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R041636/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 03/2019 |
Description | Exploring the commercial applications of quantum technologies; Cold Atom Space Payload (CASPA) |
Amount | £1,372,114 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 102805 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 02/2019 |
Description | Knowledge Transfer Partnership |
Amount | £144,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 11034 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2018 |
Description | QWISPS |
Organisation | Covesion Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | QWISPS is an Innovate UK (131877) & EPSRC (EP/M508329/1) funded project based on the development of waveguides in Periodically Poled Lithium Niobate (PPLN) for use in quantum technologies. The aim of the project is to develop PPLN waveguides that are able to generate indistinguishable single photons between devices. The role of the University of Southampton is the design and manufacture of waveguide devices in PPLN wafers supplied by Covesion Ltd, and also the optical testing of these waveguides in the classical and quantum (single photon) regimes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Covesion Ltd are the lead industrial partners of the QWISPS project. Covesion are the European market leaders of PPLN and are contributing expertise on the design, manufacture, and packaging of this material. |
Impact | Demonstrator PPLN waveguides have been developed and exhibited at the UK Quantum Technology Showcase events in 2015 and 2016. This research has lead to follow-on projects funded by Innovate UK (102668 'QWISPS-2' and 102805 'CASPA') extending the scope of collaboration to include additional industrial partners. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Company Name | COVESION LIMITED |
Description | Covesion Ltd is Europe's leading supplier of periodically-poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystals. We are an SME company founded on technology developed at the University of Southampton and have a 15-year track record in the manufacture of wavelength conversion crystals for scientific equipment, laser displays, missile defence, environmental monitoring, and quantum technologies. We actively participate in Innovate UK collaborative research projects with industrial and academic partners throughout the UK. |
Year Established | 2007 |
Impact | Covesion has participated in several projects supported by Innovate UK; HELPS (K2515A), CFC-FREE (AF014L), MATRIX (56273), QWISPS (131877), QWISPS-2 (102668), CASPA (102805), ESCHER (104000), PEPE (3729), and three Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (8758, 9534, 11034). Covesion have commercialised the results of these projects and collaborations with the University of Southampton. There are currently 2 full time scientific/engineering posts within Covesion. |
Website | http://www.covesion.com |
Company Name | COVESION LIMITED |
Description | Covesion is a world leading supplier of nonlinear optical materials |
Year Established | 2007 |
Impact | Covesion are engaged in supplying PPLN materials to a wide range of users encompassing top Universities, research institutes and companies. |
Website | http://www.covesion.com |
Description | Innovate UK Quantum Standards Meeting on 8th September 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Attended Innovate UK hosted user workshop and discussion on the requirements and definition of standard for development of a commercial supply chain for quantum technologies. Discussion with Innovate UK, DTSL, and KTN representatives and industrial stakeholders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | National Quantum Technology Showcase on 11th November 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Exhibitor - showcasing prototype wavelength conversion devices for generating 780nm laser wavelengths as a component for Rubidium atom traps |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Photonics West Trade Show Exhibition 16-18th February 2016 |
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 | Trade show exhibition in collaboration with Covesion Ltd. PPLN demonstrators shown at trade show and waveguides discussed with potential customers. Approximately 1500 academic and industrial visitors attend the Photonics West Trade show event each year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Public Engagement Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | IEEE Student Chapter talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | invited talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Technical talk: Ultra Precision Machining of integrated optics. The material covered included the UoS capabilities within the area and specifically the pioneering work carried out within micromilling of integrated optics. At lunch conversations were held with Prof Paul Shore, University of Cranfield /Loxham Precision Ltd, and discussions centred around the recent commercialisation of a 5 axes machining centre, the µ4Mill. This was fortuitous as the µ4Mill was specifically designed to machine substrates on the micron scale, with nanoscale surface roughnesses, on substrate that are <10cm, which was a perfect machine to fill the Ultra Precision Machining needs within the Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub. The purchase of this £0.6M system, that was the product of EPSRC investment, shows the UK and the UoS will be well placed to exploit Ultra Precision Machining for Quantum Technologies within the near future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.cdt-up.eng.cam.ac.uk/pdfs-pre-sep-2016/UltraPrecisionManufacturingConference2015V6.pdf |