Two-dimensional quantum optoelectronics devices
- Reference number
- STP19-0014
- Project leader
- Zwiller, Val
- Start and end dates
- 200601-260531
- Amount granted
- 10 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- KTH - Royal Institute of Technology
- Research area
- Materials Science and Technology
Summary
We aim at developing new optoelectronic devices with two-dimensional materials and establish new industrial processes with complementary Swedish and Taiwanese research groups. Integrated photonic devices will generate and manipulate single photons at telecom wavelengths, the devices will be implemented both at KTH and Taiwan in quantum network testbeds. Devices will be fabricated through exchanges of materials, processes and researchers secondments. We combine our respective strengths: growth on full-wafers in Taiwan followed by wafer scale transfer of the atomically flat layers with a KTH process. We design, fabricate, test and operate devices on a large, full wafer scale to generate, manipulate and detect light with new performances in efficiency, speed and integrability. This project will result in new light sources, detectors and integrated photonic circuits along with fabrication processes, intellectual property, high impact publications, workshops, training and students exchange, as well as technological demonstrators. Our devices will push further the limits of communication technologies by unleashing new quantum materials to reduce energy consumption and offer increased information security. Our work on full-wafer scale two-dimensional systems represents a milestone in industrial-scale production of new materials with direct applications in emerging communication technologies.
Popular science description
Light generation and detection is important for communication and sensing technologies. To generate single photons, we currently rely on materials incompatible with silicon with important limitations preventing industrial applications. Here, we develop new devices to generate light efficiently with new atomically thin films on silicon wafers with standard fabrication processes on full wafer scale dimensions. A powerful technique to grow two dimensional materials on large scales was developed at the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, an important advantage over the current technique limited to small flakes. With a new technique developed at KTH, we transfer atomically thin films over complete wafers. This large scale process is compatible with standard industrial processes and will result in unprecedented large structures. We will realize large-scale integrated single photon sources and couple them to integrated photonics circuits as well as to frequency conversion devices to obtain indistinguishable single photons at telecom wavelengths. Fundamental questions such as the nature of the light emission in these materials along with new concepts to tune emission frequency using strain will also be addressed. The devices will be implemented in quantum networks to validate new quantum communication protocols. To guide our development, we bring together a strong industrial advisory board with important industrial actors in Sweden and Taiwan: TSMC to ensure industrial relevance of the new fabrication processes, Ericsson to optimize industrial significance of the devices and software to be implemented in quantum communication networks. Two-dimensional materials can also be used in gas sensing applications, a field where we have already established proof of concept experiments, Sense Air will guide us to further develop environmental monitoring devices. With HP Photonics, a leader in the field of frequency conversion, we will adapt the most efficient frequency conversion techniques to generate single photons at telecom frequencies. The intellectual property produced in the project will be assessed with KTH innovation. To realize our goals, we will exchange scientists, materials and fabrication processes between Sweden and Taiwan, we will hold a yearly general meeting alternating between Stockholm and Hsingchu. Extended stays of one month by senior PIs will take place in both directions and PhD students will all spend six months in the other country.