High brightness, waveguide-based IR quantum light sources

Quantum light sources are a critical need for NASA and the broader scientific community. The proposed program will develop ultra-high brightness, low loss, integrated quantum light sources in the IR spectral regime using waveguide-based technology. The overall goal of this STTR program is to develop high brightness, ultra-low loss quantum light sources based on thick film lithium niobate waveguides for quantum light generation in the IR spectral regime. This goal will be accomplished by combining the fabrication and characterization expertise from UCSD and AdvR to fabricate thick film ridge waveguides using thin film fabrication techniques. This process will combine the high-power handling, robust coupling, low noise characteristics of thick film ridge waveguides, with the high-level integration ability of thin film ridge waveguides. This will lead to ultra-high efficiency quantum light sources in the IR spectral regime for squeezed light, quantum communications, and quantum sensing applications. Technical Objectives and Proposed Deliverables: 1. Refine waveguide fabrication techniques to enable low loss, highly nonlinear, lithographically defined waveguides suitable for low loss packaging. 2. Demonstrate quantum performance of thick film ridge waveguide-based source. 3. Determine initial limits of higher functionality enabled by the lithographic definition and demonstrated preferential polishing techniques, including splitters, directional couplers, MMI, coupling tapers, etc. Deliverables: -Reports and presentations to NASA personnel -Squeezed light source to UCSD -Engineering samples, as requested, to NASA technical monitor
Benefits: Squeezed light Quantum Sensing Transition edge detectors Quantum Communications Quantum Networking Entanglement swapping Integrated Photonics Frequency Conversion Electro-optic modulators