University of Paderborn
PI: Christine Silberhorn
The University of Paderborn stands for both, modern education and innovative re¬search. With its mission as a “University for the Information Society”, the University of Paderborn embodies the concept of a modern profile university. The University of Paderborn hosts the “Center for Optoelectronics and Photonics” (CeOPP), an inter¬disciplinary consortium of working groups focussing on integrated linear and nonlinear optics, operating excellent cleanroom facilities. Long-lasting experience in the fabrica¬tion of integrated optical elements – based on different material systems, in particular nonlinear waveguides in lithium niobate – results from the fruitful collaboration inside the framework of CeOPP.
The focus of the research group Integrated Quantum Optics of Prof. Christine Silberhorn lies in the fields of integrated quantum sources, spectral engineering of ultrafast, pulsed quantum states of light and quantum information science based on multimode state en¬coding. In recent years, the group has developed different methods for the characterization of quantum states and their application in quantum communication pro¬tocols, novel photon pair sources based on parametric downconversion in waveguides and innovative circuits for demonstrating quantum walk systems.
Ongoing research activities of the group
The research activities of the Integrated Quantum Optics group are directed towards the implementation of advanced photonic quantum systems for appli-cations in quantum information processing and other optically based quantum technologies. Our goal is to realize systems which exhibit increased complexities in terms of number of channels, input states and non-classical properties. The quantum character of light is explored by studying particle-like as well as wave-like properties. To this end, we design, fabricate and deploy specifically tailored integrated optics devices in combination with ultrafast-pulsed pump light and photon number resolved detection.
The use of integrated optics reduces significantly the experimental effort for the realization of sources of quantum states and quantum circuits with multiple channels. Employing ultrafast pulsed light for quantum applications enables not only the synchronization of creation and detection events within one system, but it also allows running quantum communication systems at high clock rates and in time-multiplexed setups. In addition, the rich spectral structure of ultrafast quantum light pulses can be exploited for channel multiplexing and studies of higher dimensional systems.
In detail, current activities concentrate on the fabrication of integrated quantum devices, parametric downconversion sources based on non-linear waveguides, pulsed quantum states of light, interfaces for connecting quantum systems at different wavelengths, and quantum walk systems.
Link to the group page: http://physik.uni-paderborn.de/ag/ag-silberhorn/