Optical manufacturing: femtosecond-laser direct-written waveguides produce quantum circuits in glass

Thomas Meany

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Integrated photonics can be written in glass through nonlinear absorption by focusing a short-pulse-duration laser into the glass; quantum-integrated- photonics (QIP) devices are being fabricated using this technique. The small size offered by integrated optics is of course also crucial to taking experiments out of laboratories and producing practical technologies. These on-chip optical circuits operate primarily by the process of total internal reflection. A fundamental theorem, called the 'no-cloning' theorem, precludes the amplification of quantum information; as a result, every photon in a quantum-information system is precious. An alternative technique to developing waveguides in glass is called the femtosecond laser direct-write (FLDW) technique. This exploits a nonlinear-absorption process that occurs at high laser intensities in a transparent material. Because of the potential to interface multiple different device platforms, it is likely that future small-scale quantum circuits will exploit the convenience of laser-written devices.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)25-28
    Number of pages4
    JournalLaser Focus World
    Volume50
    Issue number7
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2014

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Optical manufacturing: femtosecond-laser direct-written waveguides produce quantum circuits in glass'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this