soleil

Development of novel photon sources for quantum information based on hollow-core fibers

The specification requirements set on components and devices for the development of the second quantum revolution are increasingly stringent. For example, single photon sources, which are key components to quantum information, must combine high signal-to-noise ratio, high brightness, high purity and integrability in the telecommunications network. A combination that is still to be achieved.

Our team recently demonstrated that the generation of photon pairs by spontaneous four-wave mixing in a hollow-core fiber filled with an inert gas is a very promising approach in the production of both noise-free single photon sources (see the reference : M. Cordier et al., Scientific Reports 10 (1), 1-8, 2020), and entangled photon-pairs. This configuration stands out with two enabling features: i) the hollow-core fiber can be designed and fabricated in such a way that the dispersion meets very strict phase matching conditions to generate the photon pairs in the desired correlated quantum state, and ii) the gas-filled hollow-core fiber does not suffer from the Raman scattering effect, which has hitherto been an obstacle in the development of a noise-free single photon source.

In this context, the objective of this PhD project is to take advantage of these preliminary results and develop a versatile single photon and photon pair generator based on a fiber photonic platform.

The PhD program comprises the following two major tasks:
i) Design, fabrication and post-processing of highly tailored inhibited coupling hollow-core photonic crystal fibers for quantum sources.
ii) Design and development of a versatile single photon and photon pair generator. This quantum photon generator will be designed so its photon quantum correlation is tunable from fully separable to fully entangled, and the wavelengths of its emitted photon pair can be controlled. Initially, the quantum photon generator will be configured to act as a single photon source with the objective of improving current state-of-the-art in signal-to-noise, brightness and purity. Secondly, the quantum photon generator will be configured as an entangled pair generator to demonstrate quantum key distribution.

The candidate will rely both on the group’s skills in the design and fabrication of hollow-core fibers but also on the existing experimental set-ups which have made it possible from the functionalization of these fibers to demonstrate the first generations of photon pairs.

Research team :

The GPPMM group (Gas-phase Photonic & Microwave Materials) of the CNRS unit XLIM Research Institute is a multi and transdisciplinary research group and whose activities can be described as “Gas photonics”, which a new scientific theme that is set at the frontier of photonics, material science, nonlinear optics and quantum optics. These activities are all based on the pioneering work of the GPPMM in the field of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers (HCPCFs) and their functionalization named Photonic MicroCell. The GPPMM enjoys a worldwide reputation as a pioneer and leader in the field of Gas photonics in general and HC-PCFs in particular.

Scientific and technical skills desired for the candidate :

Skills in quantum optics will be preferred.

Other :

Application deadline : 31 may 2021.
Starting date : 1st october 2021.
Workplace : Xlim research institute– 123 avenue Albert Thomas – 87060 Limoges – France.

Contact :

Pr. Fetah BENABID, directeur de recherche CNRS : f.benabid@xlim.fr
Dr. Frédéric GEROME, chargé de recherche CNRS : gerome@xlim.fr