Light-path engineering in disordered waveguiding systems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Integrated photonic devices interconnected by waveguides enable the realization of optical systems in which the interaction between propagating optical modes and matter can be conveniently engineered by joint numerical design and experimental implementation. Reliable nanofabrication method in particular allow for experimentally scanning relevant parameter spaces and provide devices with high reproducibility, thus supplementing computer aided photonic design with a reliable experimental testbed. The dense integration of different optical elements into complete systems allows for creating devices with compact footprint which has been exploited to devise functional systems. While traditionally highly optimized functional optical elements have been used for system design, disordered optical elements add additional photonic degrees of freedom to overcome limitations in optical bandwidth, sensitivity and compactness. These tuning knobs are of interest for applications both in classical optics, as well as for devices that operate in the single photon regime. In the first funding period we have focused on harnessing disorder to design compact spectrally selective systems which exploit disordered waveguides to enable broadband functional elements that directly benefit from photonic irregularities. Having implemented both efficient experimental approaches for the physical implementation of disordered devices and combined numerical and theoretical approaches for the theoretical study of disordered components, we will build on these results to realize functional systems that provide access to study fundamental properties of light. Specifically, we will move from classical optical devices to study single photon propagation through disordered waveguide structures. Disordered media will be analyzed for non-classical multi-path interference as well as for single photon scattering in randomized systems. Broadband operation in the classical regime will be complemented with broadband single photon detectors based on superconducting nanowires. Because of scalable fabrication approaches both for photonic components and active single photon elements, we will in particular focus on multi-detector architectures to harness disorder for imaging applications, as well as to exploit random speckle patterns to increase spatial resolution of fiber-based waveform transformations. These goals will be achieved through close collaboration within the consortium, both on a theoretical as well as an experimental level. By combining theoretical analysis/simulation and experimental verification a new generation of planar single photon devices will be created that harvest functionality from disordered media. Using synergies from theoretical studies and photon engineering will lead to a paradigm shift for implementing compact waveguide devices and novel single photon components for applications in classical optics and fundamental science.