Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Solid-state semiconductor single photon emitters (SPEs) are foundational to enable most of the quantum applications, including quantum communications, quantum sensing/metrology, quantum cryptography, and quantum computing. SPEs are also crucial for advanced applications, including quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPIC) for on-chip communication and quantum imaging. The requested equipment is critical to study fundamental properties: 1) purity, 2) brightness, and 3) indistinguishability of the SPEs. It includes components to build a micro-photoluminescence and second-order autocorrelation measurement setup installed at INRS to develop next-generation quantum light sources operating at a wide spectral range. The requested components: monochromator, CCD, InGaAs detectors, and timing electronics, will form an essential part of the integrated system for non-classical quantum states characterizations. The important facility will enable us to perform various quantum science and technology-related research projects, including NSERC Alliance Quantum, NSERC Discovery, NSERC CREATE (Quantum), Quebec Quantum, NSF-NSERC Alliance Quantum and FRQNT (Quantum). The proposed program has compelling scientific merits and far-reaching potential applications related to quantum information processing. The applicants S. Sadaf and M Chaker (INRS), O. Moutanabbir (Polytechnique Montreal), K. Bevan (McGill), and H. Maher (Sherbrooke University) currently focus on the development of classical and non-classical nanostructured solid-state SPEs. The applicants' excellent track records and complementary expertise will ensure timely progress and overall success of the envisioned goals. Moreover, the project has attracted 10 national and local collaborators and industry partners. The requested components have unique features to study a wide range of materials, including III-V and II-VI semiconductors, defects/color centres, two-dimensional (2D) materials, and strain-engineered 2D/3D hybrid. Besides non-classical SPE development, the equipment will be used to develop classical nanoscale devices, including nanoLEDs, nanolasers, nanophotodetectors, and nanophotocatalysts. The proposed system will lead to a dynamic training environment for students to explore three unique materials platforms to develop high-efficiency SPEs at and above room temperature. The team currently supervises 25+ PhD students, 10+ PDFs (across four universities and departments: energy & materials, engineering physics, electrical engineering, and materials science). The students/PDFs will also learn state-of-the-art nanofabrication and spectroscopy. The project will lead to new partnerships with Canada's leading photonic companies in the quantum photonics field and spin-offs in the photonics sector. Finally, the proposed program will significantly enhance the growth of Canada's quantum research, technologies, and talents, as outlined in the national quantum strategy (NQS).