Quantum technologies promise a change of paradigm for many fields of application, for example in communication systems, in high-performance computing and simulation of quantum systems, as well as in sensor technology. However, the experimental realization of suitable system still poses considerable challenges. Current efforts in photonic quantum target the implementation of practical and scalable systems, where the realization of controlled quantum network structures is key for many applications.
We explore three different, but compatible approaches to overcome current limitations for realization of future photonic quantum systems: non-linear integrated quantum optics, pulsed temporal modes and time-multiplexing.
Non-linear integrated quantum devices with multiple channels and tailored functionalities are required for implementation of suitable quantum circuits, which include high-performance quantum sources and fast electro-optic modulations on compact monolithic structures. We investigate concepts together with new fabrication technologies to establish a toolbox of integrated devices tailored for quantum applications. For the engineering of future-oriented quantum light structures, pulsed photon temporal modes are an attractive platform for advanced quantum information encoding. They are defined as field-orthogonal superposition states and constitute a high-dimensional quantum system, which is naturally present in current nonlinear quantum light sources. Here, the control of these temporal modes is key for the realization efficient quantum network architectures based on quantum inference. In integrated structures the pulsed temporal modes typically occupy only a single spatial mode and thus they can be efficiently used in single-mode fibre communication networks.
Time-multiplexed quantum systems allow for the efficient implementation of scalable and configurable networks with many modes and dynamic control of the underlying graph structures. This enables, e.g. feed-forward operations and source multiplexing for realizing efficient entanglement generation as well as the realization of flexible advanced quantum circuits for future quantum computation and simulation.
A plenary speaker presentation by Prof. Dr. Christine Silberhorn, Institute for Photonic Quantum Systems, Paderborn University.
She is fascinated by bringing fundamental science to a practical technology. In addition she is convinced that quantum photonics will bring real innovation to our current science and technology.
About Christine Silberhorn
Christine Silberhorn is professor at Paderborn University and Spokesperson of the Institute for Photonic Quantum Systems (PhoQS). She is best known for her work on the development of novel integrated-optical quantum devices and optical systems that lay the foundations for future quantum computers, in quantum communication and quantum metrology.
She completed her PhD at University of Erlangen and worked as post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford. She headed a Max Planck Research Group Leader in Erlangen, until 2010. Her research has been awarded by several prizes; she is Fellow of Optica and the Max Planck School of Photonics.
About Paderborn University, Institute for Photonic Quantum Systems (PhoQS)
PhoQS combines the expertise of over 30 scientists, including three ERC grant holders, from four disciplines. The research work of the 13 working groups from the departments of physics, mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering unites excellent basic research with application-oriented research at the highest level.
Research at PhoQS is currently funded nationally and internationally in more than 15 projects.
For more information visit the website.
Christine Silberhorn is plenary speaker at the 2024 edition of the European Conference on Integrated Optics.