Quantum Communications: a new possible scenario for photonic technologies

Quantum Optics is universally deemed to be the last frontier of photonics, because the use of quantum concepts could radically revolutionize most of the established methods exploited in data transmission and computation.

The road toward such achievement is, nevertheless, extremely long and hard, and fundamental breakthroughs in components and manufacturing processes are required to reach this goal.
Pirelli Labs, owing to its unique know-how in telecommunications  and optical nanofabrications , is ideally suited to be one of the forerunners in this race. In fact, one of the keys for the use of optics in "quantum information technologies" is the possibility to squeeze down the footprint of each individual optical gate,  allowing large scale integration.


The nanotechnology laboratory of PLabs, which has already gained an international reputation of excellence in nanooptical developments, will become a crucial resource also for this new endeavor.

The goals of PLabs quantum optics research are various; the most important ones can be summarized as follows:

• Implementation of advanced methods for quantum cryptography transmissions over fiber optics networks, with particular reference to the development of "quantum repeaters" which could enable ultra long-haul exchange of quantum keys. Pirelli Labs is cooperating, on some specific topics related to this area, with the FP6 EU Consortia QAP and SYNPHONIA
• Development of optical quantum computing "building blocks", enabled by the control of the most advanced optical nanofabrication techniques, often invented by PLabs themselves. The goal is to build miniaturized optical circuits able to carry out complex quantum functions, as the generation of entangled photons pairs.
• Opportunistic use of the know-how previously described whenever other applications can benefit of optical quantum approaches (medical imaging, metrology)

Cryogenic steady flux workstation

CRC102C,  with mounted inside the superconducting meander sample and the electronic read/write.

Janis, fed here with Nitrogen, for photon number resolving detector.

 

Photon Detection

Single Photon Detection of an optical pulse generated by a modulated DFB ps laser @ 1.55 um and 1MHz.