MANATEE: Deterministic single photon sources for quantum computing and communications

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Single photons are the workhorse of the future quantum technology industry, being a fundamental component to high fidelity quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum imaging and some types of quantum sensors. They are also a fundamental step in ORCA's plans to build a fully-scalable, optical fiber based photonic quantum computing platform, which will overcome the connectivity and scaling challenges that other platforms face in the medium-term. However, these fields have been held back because of the availability of high-performance single photon sources. For quantum computing single photons are not deterministic, meaning that it is not certain that they will be produced. Instead, current single photon sources fire 'blanks' for most of the time, with spaces where the single photons should be. For quantum communications the rate at which single photons can be created is also limited, which limits the viability of commercial QKD systems. For many other applications, single photon sources are low maturity, high-cost or require cryogenic cooling; all features which significantly limit the extent of their market uptake. This project will leverage ORCA's patented optical memory technology, know-how in parametric down conversion and optical memories to deliver a highly efficient, deterministic single photon source.