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

虽然半导体科学技术的发展引领了电子时代和第二次工业革命，但越来越明显的是，光子学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，然而目前光网络的主要限制来自于必须进行一种笨拙的从光到电子的转换，以处理信号，然后再返回到光进行传输。直接控制光的通信目的和其他应用，如光学计算和量子加密，实际上是光子学的前沿。鉴于这种毫无疑问的兴趣，我最近在INRS-EMT开发了一个积极的光子学研究项目，特别是集成光学。在目前的发现基金的框架内，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。具体来说，在未来五年内，我将学习：A)使用相对新颖的量子力学概念的可能性，例如所谓的“宇称时间”势，以解决当前行业中的一些挑战，包括为实现集成光隔离器创建一类新的非互易材料的可能性；B)复杂集成器件中的单光子光学特性（例如波导阵列，即相同的，瞬变耦合波导阵列）；首先使用基于Hanbury Brown和Twiss模型的“半经典”方法，然后在合适的全光开关中观察低计数光子相关性。

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.