Fast, Low Loss, Electro-Optic Switch for Quantum Information Processing

Single photon sources and detectors hold the key to achieving success in several quantum communication and computation applications. Many of these goals can be achieved with the realization of low-loss high-speed switching for single photons. AdvR proposes a unique implementation of an electro-optic (EO) deflector with ideal properties for single photon switching. The device operates on the principle of electro-optically controlled prisms engineered into a ferroelectric substrate, and is designed to have very low loss (less than 0.1%), fast switching speed (sub-nanosecond), good isolation (Â?50dB crosstalk), and operation from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. AdvR has previously built and tested fiber-coupled EO switches and the demonstrated performance shows exciting potential for use in photonics-based approaches to quantum information science. This Phase I SBIR will investigate the use of the EO deflector technology for single photon switching and evaluate the feasibility of using engineered electro-optic deflectors to provide low-loss, high-speed switching for quantum information processing.