Executive Summary : | Quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize various fields, particularly in the field of quantum information. Bulk optical systems are commonly used for small-scale optical quantum information protocols, but for real-world applications, compact and portable quantum devices are needed. Integrated photonics play a crucial role in providing platforms that offer scalability, stability, compactness, and tunability. This project proposal focuses on the emerging integrated photonics platform, lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI), for building functional optical elements necessary for large-scale linear optical quantum information protocols. LNOI leverages the favorable optical properties of lithium niobate, such as wide transparency range, high second order non-linearity, and electro-optic effect, allowing for high quantum optical state generation and manipulation rates. It also allows for the fabrication of nanostructured waveguides with high refractive index contrast, resulting in nanoscale waveguides with small cross-sections, enabling dense integration of optical circuits.
The proposed research aims to address key issues hindering this platform, such as high losses, multimode features, and reliable design and fabrication of tunable elements. The project will adopt a comprehensive approach to designing, fabricating, and characterizing optical components such as low loss optical waveguides, beam splitters, and electro-optic phase modulators on LNOI. The project will establish state-of-the-art experimental setups in the quantum device engineering lab at IIT Delhi and train young students in integrated quantum photonics. |