According to the team, it is the first time that simultaneous generation of qubit multiphoton and two photon entangled states has been demonstrated. Until now, systems developed by other research teams had only succeeded in generating individual two photon entangled states on a chip.
Generating entangled photon states in a compact and scalable way is said to be difficult. “What is most important,” said INRS researcher Dr Michael Kues, “is that several such states have to be generated simultaneously if we are to arrive at practical applications.”
The team, led by Professor Roberto Morandotti, focused its efforts on the realisation of quantum components compatible with established technologies. The chip was designed to meet numerous criteria for its direct use – the team says it is compact, inexpensive, compatible with electronic circuits and uses standard telecommunication frequencies. It is also scalable.
Dr Kues noted: “Frequency combs are extraordinarily precise sources and have already revolutionised metrology and sensing, as well as earning
their discoverers the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physics.”
