Application of quantum mechanics to the realization of novel photonics concepts and devices

虽然半导体科学和技术的发展导致了电子时代和第二次工业革命，但越来越明显的是，光电子将成为下一个万亿美元的产业。越来越多的数据通过光脉冲在“信息高速公路”上传输，然而，当前光网络的主要限制源于必须执行从光到电子的笨拙转换来处理信号，然后再返回到光以传输信号。为了通信和其他应用，如光学计算和量子加密，对光的直接控制实际上是光子学的前沿。鉴于这种毋庸置疑的兴趣，我最近在INRS-EMT制定了一个强有力的光子学研究计划，特别是在集成光学方面。在目前的发现奖助金的框架内，我打算阐明量子力学、波动光学和(集成)光电子学之间的关系，以研究与光控制有关的两个基本方面。具体地说，在接下来的五年里，我将研究：a)使用相对新颖的量子力学概念，如我们所说的“奇偶时间”势，来解决该行业目前的一些挑战，包括为实现集成光隔离器而创建新型非互易材料的可能性；以及b)复杂集成器件(如波导阵列，即完全相同的、渐变耦合的波导阵列)中单光子光学的特性，首先使用基于Hanbury Brown和Twiss模型的“半经典”方法，然后研究合适的全光开关中的低计数光子关联。

While the developments in semiconductor science and technology have led to the electronic age and to a second industrial revolution, it is becoming clear that photonics will be the next trillion-dollar industry. An increasingly larger amount of data are transported across the "information highway" by light pulses, yet the main limitation of present optical networks originates from the necessity of performing a clumsy conversion from light to electronics to process the signal, and then back to light for its transmission. The direct control of light for communication purposes and other applications, such as optical computing and quantum encryption, is in fact the photonics frontier. Given this unquestionable interest, I have recently developed at the INRS-EMT a vigorous research program in photonics and in particular, in integrated optics. In the framework of the present Discovery Grant, I intend to shed some light into the relation between quantum mechanics, wave optics and (integrated) optoelectronics to investigate two fundamental aspects related to the control of light. Specifically, in the next five years, I will study: A) The possibility of using relatively novel quantum mechanical concepts, such us the so called "Parity Time" potentials, to address some of the current challenges in the industry, including the possibility of creating a new class of non reciprocal materials for the realization of integrated optical isolators and B) the properties of single photon optics in complex integrated devices (such as waveguide arrays, i.e. arrays of identical, evanescently coupled waveguides), first using a "semi-classical" approach based on the Hanbury Brown and Twiss model and then looking at low count photon correlations in suitable all-optical switches.