Miniaturisation of laser sources is crucial to the translation of quantum technologies from the laboratory to the real world. Typically, the lasers required for cooling and trapping of atoms and ions make up a significant footprint of the measurement system. Increasing robustness and reliability whilst removing noise sources is a key challenge whilst reducing volume. Direct generation GaN based external cavity diode lasers offer lower SWaP-C compared to traditional frequency doubled alternatives. Butterfly packaged single frequency sources operation in the blue - UV allow numerous atomic transitions including Sr, Sr+, Yt, Yb+, Mg and Ca to be targeted.
The European H2020-SPACE-ORIONAS project targets the development of optical transceiver and amplifier integrated circuits and modules applicable to high-speed and compact laser communication terminals. This paper presents the most recent project achievements in two areas. Firstly, the fabrication of high-speed electronic-photonic modulator and receiver circuits monolithically integrated in the silicon photonics platform and their assembly in bread-board level photonic modules. Secondly, the assembly, integration and testing of a radiation resistant, high-gain optical fiber preamplifier which exploits hi-rel small form factor fiber optics to shrink the module mass and footprint.
H2020-SPACE-ORIONAS is a 3-year Research and Innovation Action program funded by the European Commission focusing on the development of compact optical transceiver and amplifier modules applicable to new generation optical inter-satellite links. ORIONAS explores photonic integrated circuits and small form factor fiber optics leveraging their success in datacenter interconnect and hi-rel aerospace applications to deliver miniaturized modules and devices that can shrink considerably the SWaP of lasercom terminals. This paper presents the most recent project achievements.
Quantum based devices offer distinct advantages over conventional technology, such as improved sensitivity for sensing applications or enhanced accuracy for metrology. To utilize this potential, a number of technical requirements must be met, such as the cooling and trapping of neutral atoms for their use as quantum systems. We present our work on InGaN-based semiconductor cooling lasers for a variety of atomic species such as strontium, magnesium and ytterbium whos target wavelength was met by quantum-well composition engineering. Results on growth-epitaxy, facet coating as well as different configurations such as ECDL and MOPAs are presented, depending on the requirement of the application.
Quantum 2.0 applications such as gravitational sensing require narrow linewidth lasers at specific wavelength and significant optical power. For single photon lidar applications such as to image through scattering media, intense yet short optical pulses are required. These are requirements not readily provided by existing laser systems. We suggest the use of master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) systems consisting of a seed source providing the required spectral and temporal optical characteristics combined with a semiconductor based tapered amplifier to amplify the seed power to levels adequate for the required quantum applications. Considerations of the construction of such systems are discussed. Furthermore, there operational specifications will be determined and the suitability for quantum applications will be discussed.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) directly exploits the quantum phenomenon of entanglement to allow the secure sharing of a cryptographic key for information encoding. The current generation of QKD devices typically operate over dedicated and expensive private ‘dark fiber’ networks, where they are limited in transmission range to 200-300km due to the lack of quantum repeaters. This paper is concerned with an alternative approach that can lift this range limit by exploiting QKD over free-space links between satellites. Typically, commercial QKD systems rely on phase encoding of information on single photons, and more recently on continuously variable schemes with more powerful lasers. However, these protocols are not suitable for communications through atmosphere. On the other hand, QKD by polarization-entanglement holds great promise for satellite-based QKD encoded communications links if the entangledphoton source can be packaged in a compact, robust and commercially-viable form. This paper will describe the development and packaging of an entangled-photon source utilizing space-qualified telecoms packaging techniques, resulting in a compact device that targets satellite deployment. The key design choices that impact performance in a space environment will be discussed and the results of device characterization in the laboratory environment will be shared.
Quantum Technologies (QT) hold the promise of a step-change improvement in many high-impact applications, such as ultra-stable clocks and extremely sensitive gravity and acceleration sensors for financial transaction timestamping, satellite-free navigation, oil and gas prospecting, land-surveying, secure communications and scientific research. The underpinning scientific principles of QT systems are largely developed, but for QT to fulfill its potential then orders of magnitude reduction in size, cost and power consumption of the enabling technologies is required. Stabilized laser systems are key ingredients of many quantum sensors. In many cases multiple lasers, each with specific wavelength, power and linewidth requirements, are needed for cooling, trapping, imaging and the clock references. In this paper we describe the design and packaging of a compact, frequency-stabilized 780nm laser module with integrated vapor reference cell. This stabilized source addresses the D2 transition of 87Rb that connects the ground and excited states, which is used for laser cooling, trapping and repumping in a rubidium interferometer. Component packaging techniques more normally employed in telecoms component packaging are utilized to minimize size and maximize stability. The resulting laser module lends itself to usage in applications in portable instruments outside of the lab.
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