Integrated Quantum Photonics and Opto-mechanics

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfram Hans Peter Pernice
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2011 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 190610266

Nano-mechanical devices promise to revolutionize our ability to measure extremely small forces and displacements. They hold tremendous potential for the realization of complete measurement systems on a chip when combined with nano-photonic components. While nanoscale devices have found a wealth of classical applications, their use for the investigation of fundamental physics has been very little explored. This project aims to investigate nanoscale opto-mechanical devices in the quantum regime. The gradient optical force will be used as the operating principle of a device architecture in which both quantum optical and opto-mechanical elements are laid out in much the same fashion as electronic components in integrated circuits. In order to observe opto-mechanical quantum effects, quantum optical input/output ports will be developed in the form of on-chip single photon sources and superconducting single photon detectors. Ultra-light, high frequency nano-scale opto-mechanical resonators will yield mechanical degrees of freedom. The nano-mechanical motion will be read out through evanescent coupling to photonic circuits, which will be explored for quantum communication and quantum information processing. The proposed architecture will be solely based on CMOS compatible fabrication processes and thus will feature high yield and high scalability. Combining quantum optical and mechanical quantum systems on a single chip will eventually enable robust quantum information processing in a non-laboratory setting.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups
• Major Instrumentation: Heliumbadkryostat