Atoms can be controlled by manipulating their internal states using agile, quiet and reliable laser sources. An external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) is a crucial enabling technology to realize such laser sources since it allows for the narrowing of the linewidth of a laser diode and precise tuning of the laser frequency. This project aims to miniaturize the external cavity using a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) (i.e., a single chip), which will increase the reliability and functionality of the optical frequency source for quantum experiments. A PIC ECDL will be designed and fabricated using aluminum nitride (AlN). Since several atomic transitions of interest in quantum applications are in the visible spectrum, AlN is an ideal material due to its large bandgap that allows for low-loss waveguide propagation. AlN also enables key functionality for preparing narrow linewidth and agile optical frequencies. Thus, an AlN waveguide will be fabricated and tested to ensure low waveguide losses at visible wavelengths. An external cavity feedback laser will be fabricated by coupling a laser diode directly into the AlN waveguide. A micro-ring resonator feedback circuit will be used to select and narrow the laser output. The light will be further coupled into fibre optics for delivery to atoms in a vacuum chamber, demonstrating the viability of using PIC ECDLs to interact with atomic energy levels. This AlN PIC ECDL would be a compact optical frequency source that could help enhance existing quantum experiments, enable experiments currently unviable with bulk optical setups and allow for the translation of quantum atomic technologies out of the laboratory (i.e., large-scale quantum computation, high-precision gravimeters for resource mapping and portable optical atomic clocks).
Figure 1. A conceptual render of an external cavity diode laser in an aluminum nitride integrated photonic circuit.
Related Content
![Novel High-Speed Receiver for Quantum Communication and Sensing](https://tqt.uwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/int_all_pixels_opt.gif)
Novel High-Speed Receiver for Quantum Communication and Sensing
Summary An essential aspect of a quantum channel is the detection and analysis of quantum signals in the form of photons. For most free-space applications, the photons are polarization encoded, e.g. by assigning the ‘0’ to horizontally polarized photons and ‘1’ to vertically polarized photons. However, where the geometric reference is not constant at all […]
January 1, 2019
![Plasmon Control of Quantum States in Semiconductor Nanocrystals](https://tqt.uwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Plasmon-Control-1.png)
Plasmon Control of Quantum States in Semiconductor Nanocrystals
Summary Thanks to the light-induced collective oscillations of free charges at the boundary between a conducting material and a dielectric, known as surface plasmon resonance, metallic nanostructures can exhibit strong light absorption and scattering. The sensitivity of these resonances to the local environment and shape of the metallic structures allows them to be used, […]
March 21, 2018
![Harnessing the Promise of Quantum Materials for Future Electronic Devices](https://tqt.uwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/YoonFigure.png)
Harnessing the Promise of Quantum Materials for Future Electronic Devices
Summary Two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials, such as graphene and molybdenum disulfide, have great potential for use in future flexible and wearable electronics applications. With traditional silicon-based electronics nearing their theoretical performance limits, nano-electronics made from 2D quantum materials offer breakthrough opportunities for energy-efficient, wearable ubiquitous computation. In this project, we will study integration of […]
June 14, 2018
![Portable Quantum Dot Measurement System](https://tqt.uwaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/VK_Image.png)
Portable Quantum Dot Measurement System
Summary Detecting heavy metals in water is essential to ensure clean drinking water and appropriate regulatory decisions following an accident (e.g., a spill) or an emergency. Traditionally, high-sensitivity detection of heavy metals requires bulky and costly (to purchase and operate) lab-based instruments. We propose developing a palm-sized, element-specific, highly-sensitive, battery-operated, smartphone-controlled system for on-site measurement […]
July 21, 2022