QPhoton

The goal of the project is to:

• Establish a semiconductor technology platform, which enables reliable single photon experiments;
• Realize single photon devices and to test their potential for system applications.

The major application areas within the frame of the project are:

• Quantum key distribution (QKD)
• Quantum metrology (QM)
• Optical data processing (ODP)

Key devices for these applications in the framework of the project are:

• Single photon source (SPS)
• Single photon detector (SPD)
• Optical buffers based on electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT)

The devices will be developed for operation in the wavelength range of 1 - 1.3 µm.
Approaches for realization of the devices:

• Single devices for QKD and QM approach
• Integrated multi-functional devices on the single photon level for ODP applications

Complementary roads for:

• Exploration of the interaction of single particles (photons and electrons) in semiconductor nanostructures;
• Realization of semiconductor based single photon devices.

These roads are based on the same fabrication technologies and use self-assembled quantum dots embedded in a microcavity. Each of them has specific advantages for different applications:

• High-Q microcavity pillars with emission perpendicular to the substrate plane (Advantages: e.g., vertical access for excitation and photon emission, high direct fibre coupling efficiency, robust technology for single devices)
• High-Q microcavities realised in photonic-crystal membranes with in-plane emission (Advantages: e.g., potential for large scale integration and ultimate miniaturization, more favourable for the realisation of optical buffers by EIT due to the possibility to use waveguides with a very low group velocity)

The consortium combines leading European research laboratories from universities, public research institutes and the industry with complementary expertise in nanostructure technology, optoelectronic devices and quantum physics:
Project Partners:

• (coordinator) Universität Kassel, Institute of Nanostructure Technologies & Analytics, Germany
• Universität Würzburg, Technische Physik, Germany
• Thales Research & Technology, France
• Alcatel-Thales III/V Lab, France
• Commissariat à d'Energie Atomique, France
• Research Center DTU, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
• Kungl. Tekniska Högskolan, Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology (IMIT), Sweden
• Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Israel