Squeezed states, with their noise reduction below the standard quantum limit, are promising quantum states of light exploited for enhancing sensitivity in quantum sensing or as carriers of information in continuous variable quantum computing and communication. To make use of their quantum advantage, the main common challenge in generating these states is achieving high levels of squeezing in low loss setups.Over the years, several bulk optical nonlinear crystals and cavities have been employed for the generation of different types of high-quality squeezed states. However, recent progress in fabricating ultra-low loss integrated waveguides has shifted the interest of the community towards the integration of squeezing sources to gain advantages in terms of compactness, scalability, and reproducibility.The aim of this thesis is to investigate the main characteristics, limits, and requirements for the generation of vacuum and bright squeezed states by second- and third-order nonlinear devices, with more emphasis on integrated cavities. In particular, we demonstrate high on-chip intensity difference squeezing between bright mode pairs created in an engineered SiN microring resonator. In addition, we propose the use of the Ikeda map, a semi-classical simulation tool, for the investigation of two-mode quadrature squeezing generation in microresonators, discussing its competitiveness against standard quantum models. These results contribute to the optimization of engineered integrated devices with the aim of attaining high levels of squeezing sufficient to bring real advantages in classical and quantum applications.
Squeezed states, with their noise reduction below the standard quantum limit, are promising quantum states of light exploited for enhancing sensitivity in quantum sensing or as carriers of information in continuous variable quantum computing and communication. To make use of their quantum advantage, the main common challenge in generating these states is achieving high levels of squeezing in low loss setups.Over the years, several bulk optical nonlinear crystals and cavities have been employed for the generation of different types of high-quality squeezed states. However, recent progress in fabricating ultra-low loss integrated waveguides has shifted the interest of the community towards the integration of squeezing sources to gain advantages in terms of compactness, scalability, and reproducibility.The aim of this thesis is to investigate the main characteristics, limits, and requirements for the generation of vacuum and bright squeezed states by second- and third-order nonlinear devices, with more emphasis on integrated cavities. In particular, we demonstrate high on-chip intensity difference squeezing between bright mode pairs created in an engineered SiN microring resonator. In addition, we propose the use of the Ikeda map, a semi-classical simulation tool, for the investigation of two-mode quadrature squeezing generation in microresonators, discussing its competitiveness against standard quantum models. These results contribute to the optimization of engineered integrated devices with the aim of attaining high levels of squeezing sufficient to bring real advantages in classical and quantum applications.
Integrated nonlinear microring resonators are promising sources of bright twin-beams exhibiting intensity difference squeezing. To take advantage of the noise reduction of these quantum states, many applications require high squeezing levels. However, the attainable on-chip squeezing is constrained by the ratio of intrinsic to coupling loss, which is strongly related to design and fabrication limits. Here, we demonstrate a silicon nitride microring resonator engineered to enable a set of periodic strongly overcoupled resonances from which the estimated on-chip intensity difference squeezing is 11.8 dB, exceptionally high for an integrated device. Due to significant setup loss, we directly measure 1.4±0.2 dB of squeezing, corresponding to an on-chip level of 9.2±5.1 dB. In addition, the new, to the best of our knowledge, design inherently suppresses mode competition in the modes surrounding the twin-beams, enabling a constant high squeezing level up to moderate powers. These results represent a significant step toward the miniaturization of integrated devices whose performance benefits from surpassing the quantum noise limit using squeezed states, with particular relevance to sensing applications.
Squeezed light is an essential nonclassical resource for quantum sensing, continuous-variable quantum information processing, low-noise optical communication, and new photonic computing systems. However, to make practical use of it, we need compact, low-power squeezed-light sources that can fit on a chip. In this work, we introduce a theoretical model of a dual-pump microring optical parametric amplifier for squeezed-light integrated photonics. The model outlines cavity-enhanced Kerr four-wave mixing among two pump fields, a signal mode, and the conjugate idler sideband. We use a linearized quantum Langevin approach under the undepleted-pump assumption. We derive the frequency-domain inputoutput relation and assess the output quadrature noise based on several factors: external coupling rate, intrinsic loss, pump power, signal detuning, nonlinear coefficient, and dispersion. First, we analyze a dispersion-engineered silicon nitride microring that operates in the telecom band. It shows that moderate external coupling offers the best trade-off between intracavity field enhancement and squeezed-field extraction. With the right pump detuning, the simulated silicon nitride resonator achieves over 10 dB of quadrature noise reduction at milliwatt-level input pump powers. We also compare AlGaAs and InP microring platforms, demonstrating that the squeezing performance is influenced not only by the nonlinear coefficient but also by the combined effects of material nonlinearity, cavity quality factor, loss, coupling, dispersion, and detuning. This framework gives design guidelines for low-power, chip-scale squeezed-light sources aimed at future quantum and AI-oriented photonic integrated circuits.
Integration of quantum optical technique on-chip is crucial for large scale applications of quantum technology, which were proven in a free space environment to be superior to the corresponding classical technology. Squeezed states of light can be used for enhancing the sensitivity of quantum sensors and for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Although chip-based squeezed light generation has advanced significantly, practical impact remains limited because coupling losses between the chip and off-chip detectors destroy delicate quantum correlations, restricting the amount of observed squeezing. Here, we overcome this limitation by implementing the idea of on-chip quantum measurement with the aid of a parametric amplifier and applying it to the squeezed state generated by a silicon nitride (SiN) microring resonator. In our scheme, two matched SiN micro-rings are sequentially constructed. The first ring generates a squeezed state, whereas the second ring acts as a high-gain parametric amplifier (PA) that measures the squeezed state before the light experiences significant off-chip loss. This architecture is inherently loss-tolerant: the amplifier elevates the quantum noise well above the vacuum level, making the measurement insensitive to downstream losses. We directly observe a quantum noise reduction of 4.6 dB from the first ring, despite a chip-to-fiber coupling loss exceeding 5 dB. This work also demonstrates the first monolithic SU(1,1) interferometer with an estimated 5 dB signal-to-noise enhancement compared to traditional linear interferometers, and thus establishes a practical pathway for chip-based quantum sensors.
The work presented in this thesis aims to integrate sources and detectors of nonclassical states of light into a single photonic chip. Correlated pairs of single photons are among the most used sources in many quantum optics and quantum information experiments but their integration with detectors still remains a challenging task. In the first part of the thesis we exploit the generation of correlated pairs of photons in the visible spectrum using an integrated Silicon Nitride microring resonator. As the fabrication process of our sources is fully compatible with back-end CMOS technology, we also discuss the unique possibility of integration with silicon avalanche photodectors to provide a platform for commercially available, fully integrated, analogue quantum simulator working at room temperature. The drawback of universal quantum computation with single photons is its probabilistic nature that increases the technological complexity to obtain complete on chip integration of all necessary components to prepare, manipulate and measure quantum states of light. On the other hand, quantum information processing with continuous variables is completely deterministic. Therefore, in the second part of this work we report design, fabrication and experimental verification of an integrated source of broadband squeezed state of light on a photonic chip. We numerically investigate the amount of obtained squeezing and spurious noise that prevents us to observe shot noise reduction at short sideband frequencies. Additionally, we propose a design to extend our work towards hybridization with discrete variables to obtain qubits that can be protected against errors.
Squeezed states of light are essential for emerging quantum technology in metrology and information processing. Chip-integrated photonics offers a route to scalable and efficient squeezed light generation, however, parasitic nonlinear processes and optical losses remain significant challenges. Here, we demonstrate single-mode quadrature squeezing in a photonic crystal microresonator via degenerate dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing. Implemented in a scalable, low-loss silicon-nitride photonic-chip platform, the microresonator features a tailored nano-corrugation that modifies its resonances to suppress parasitic nonlinear processes. In this way, we achieve an estimated 7.8 dB of on-chip squeezing in the bus waveguide, with potential for further improvement. These results open a promising pathway toward integrated squeezed light sources for quantum-enhanced interferometry, Gaussian boson sampling, coherent Ising machines, and universal quantum computing.
Squeezed states of light are essential for emerging quantum technology in metrology and information processing. Chip-integrated photonics offers a route to scalable and efficient squeezed light generation, however, parasitic nonlinear processes and optical losses remain significant challenges. Here, we demonstrate single-mode quadrature squeezing in a photonic crystal microresonator via degenerate dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing. Implemented in a scalable, low-loss silicon-nitride photonic-chip platform, the microresonator features a tailored nano-corrugation that modifies its resonances to suppress parasitic nonlinear processes. In this way, we achieve an estimated 7.8 dB of on-chip squeezing in the bus waveguide, with potential for further improvement. These results open a promising pathway toward integrated squeezed light sources for quantum-enhanced interferometry, Gaussian boson sampling, coherent Ising machines, and universal quantum computing.