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SPIE Quantum Technologies

On-chip integration of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and reconfigurable optical circuits in lithium-niobate-on-insulator waveguides

Emma Lomonte, Martin Wolff, Fabian Beutel, Simone Ferrari, Carsten Schuck, Wolfram H. P. Pernice, Francesco Lenzini

Published May 31, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) is emerging as a promising platform for integrated quantum photonic technologies because of its high second-order optical nonlinearity, compact footprint, and low propagation loss in a broad wavelength range. Importantly, LNOI allows for creating electro-optically tunable circuits that can be efficiently operated at cryogenic temperature. Their integration with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDS) paves the way for realizing scalable photonic devices for fast manipulation and detection of quantum states of light. Here we report the monolithic integration of these two key components in a low loss (0.2 dB/cm) LNOI waveguide network. As an experimental showcase of our technology, we demonstrate the combined operation of an electrically tunable Mach Zehnder interferometer–an essential building block for the realization of reconfigurable optical networks-and two waveguide-integrated SNSPDs at its outputs. We show static reconfigurability of our system with a bias-drift free operation over a time of 12 hours, as well as high-speed modulation at frequencies up to 1 GHz.

DOI
10.1117/12.2621288

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Lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) is emerging as a promising platform for integrated quantum photonic technologies because of its high second-order optical nonlinearity, compact footprint, and low propagation loss in a broad wavelength range. Importantly, LNOI allows for creating electro-optically tunable circuits that can be efficiently operated at cryogenic temperature. Their integration with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDS) paves the way for realizing scalable photonic devices for fast manipulation and detection of quantum states of light. Here we report the monolithic integration of these two key components in a low loss (0.2 dB/cm) LNOI waveguide network. As an experimental showcase of our technology, we demonstrate the combined operation of an electrically tunable Mach Zehnder interferometer–an essential building block for the realization of reconfigurable optical networks-and two waveguide-integrated SNSPDs at its outputs. We show static reconfigurability of our system with a bias-drift free operation over a time of 12 hours, as well as high-speed modulation at frequencies up to 1 GHz.
Lithium-Niobate-On-Insulator (LNOI) is emerging as a promising platform for integrated quantum photonic technologies because of its high second-order nonlinearity and compact waveguide footprint. Importantly, LNOI allows for creating electro-optically reconfigurable circuits, which can be efficiently operated at cryogenic temperature. Their integration with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) paves the way for realizing scalable photonic devices for active manipulation and detection of quantum states of light. Here we demonstrate integration of these two key components in a low loss (0.2 dB/cm) LNOI waveguide network. As an experimental showcase of our technology, we demonstrate the combined operation of an electrically tunable Mach-Zehnder interferometer and two waveguide-integrated SNSPDs at its outputs. We show static reconfigurability of our system with a bias-drift-free operation over a time of 12 hours, as well as high-speed modulation at a frequency up to 1 GHz. Our results provide blueprints for implementing complex quantum photonic devices on the LNOI platform.
Lithium Niobate On Insulator (LNOI) has recently emerged as a promising platform for the realization of electro-optically reconfigurable waveguides combining small footprint and ultra-low propagation loss. Integration of these components with superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) opens up the possibility to perform on-chip manipulation and detection of quantum states of light in a physically stable and scalable architecture. Here we report recent theoretical and experimental progress towards the realization of fast electro-optic modulators compatible with cryogenic temperatures and high-performance NbTiN superconducting nanowires single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) monolithically integrated in LNOI waveguides.
Superconducting detectors are now well-established tools for low-light optics, and in particular quantum optics, boasting high-eciency, fast response and low noise. Similarly, lithium niobate is an important platform for integrated optics given its high second-order nonlinearity, used for high-speed electro-optic modulation and polarization conversion, as well as frequency conversion and sources of quantum light. Combining these technologies addresses the requirements for a single platform capable of generating, manipulating and measuring quantum light in many degrees of freedom, in a compact and potentially scalable manner. We will report on progress integrating tungsten transition-edge sensors (TESs) and amorphous tungsten silicide superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) on titanium in-di‚used lithium niobate waveguides. ‘e travelling-wave design couples the evanescent €eld from the waveguides into the superconducting absorber. We will report on simulations and measurements of the absorption, which we can characterize at room temperature prior to cooling down the devices. Independently, we show how the detectors respond to ƒood illumination, normally incident on the devices, demonstrating their functionality.
We demonstrate waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on thin-film lithium niobate (LN). Using a 250 um-long NbN superconducting nanowire lithographically defined on top of a 125 um-long LN nanowaveguide, on-chip detection efficiency of 46% is realized with simultaneous high performance in dark count rate and timing jitter. As LN possesses high second-order nonlinear \c{hi}(2) and electro-optic properties, an efficient single-photon detector on thin-film LN opens up the possibility to construct small scale fully-integrated quantum photonic chip which includes single-photon sources, filters, tunable quantum gates and detectors.
Here, we demonstrate waveguide-integrated superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors on thin-film lithium niobate (LiNbO3, LN). Using a 250 μm-long NbN superconducting nanowire lithographically defined on top of a 125 μm-long LN nanowaveguide, an on-chip detection efficiency of 46% is realized with simultaneous high performance in dark count rates and timing jitter. As LN possesses high χ(2) second-order nonlinear and electro-optic properties, an efficient single-photon detector on thin-film LN opens up the possibility to construct a small-scale fully integrated quantum photonic chip, which includes single-photon sources, filters, tunable quantum gates, and detectors.