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

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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.